Flamenco Beach by Alana Taylor

My first impression of the Caribbean was amazing and memorable: as our plane declined in altitude and descended upon the rickety runway, I witnessed the breathtaking view of Flamenco Beach on the Island of Culebra. A scene that quite literally left me breathless and was only an enticing taste of what was to come.

Flamenco Beach is one of the many beautiful and not so popular destinations situated in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Considering it wasn’t the Northern Hemisphere’s typical summer holiday period, we found ourselves in a seemingly secluded locale littered with empty beaches and vast expanses of blue sky. With temperatures reaching a sultry 35°c and the ocean averaging around 25°c, the crystal clear waters were inviting and, as the rhythm of the place set in, we submerged ourselves within the pleasures of a perfect climate and constant seclusion.

We flew to Culebra in an old-yet-reliable 8-seater plane and we were told after arriving that it is the second most difficult island in the Caribbean to land. This information seemed quite late to matter and would have made sense as we were thrown around the plane twisting and turning between mountains seconds before touching down, a tale we fortunately live to tell. But the menace of the incoming flight was instantly dispelled as we were revealed to Culebra and its wonderful ambience.

Accommodation is cute and comfortable, the best spot being Culebra Beach Villas, situated right on Flamenco Beach. The villas’ are quite literally only steps away from Flamenco’s whitest of white sand. Days on Flamenco Beach are best spent reading and sunning along the 2km beach, bush walking through to other surrounding beaches or in the privacy of your villa’s own hammock.

With the small amount of restaurants the only businesses in the area, one finds a true feeling of solitude, as if remote and far away from the world and its pressures and deadlines. I found it perfect for a refreshing break from the hustle and noise of city life and an ideal way to get back in touch with nature and for rejuvenating ones soul.

Alana Taylor is an eyewear designer.