The Culebra archipelago is a unique ecosystem worthy of conservation. Composed of land masses and coastal fringe on the main island of Culebra and offshore keys. The refuge supports a tropical island fauna and flora representative of the most healthy resources viewable in Puerto Rico today. The absence of development in refuge units protects fragile marine ecosystems from damage by erosion and sedimentation, helping to keep surrounding waters clear. While our trust resources benefit, visitors can enjoy spectacular views both above and below the water line.

A Brief History

The first known inhabitants on the island were pre-Taino Indian (ca. 500 A.D.), followed by colonists in 1880 from neighboring Vieques and Puerto Rico. At the end of the Spanish-American war, Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the U.S. (1898), and in 1901 the Culebra Naval Reservation was established. With the outbreak of WWII, the Culebra archipelago became the primary gunnery and bombing practice site for the U.S. Navy, which continued on Culebra until 1975. The next year the Navy turned over jurisdiction of these protected areas to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Approximately one quarter of the Culebra archipelago’s total land mass is now included within the refuge.

Offshore keys provide a variety of habitat types for 13 species of migratory seabirds, including Laughing Gulls, Sooty, Roseate, and Bridled Terns, White-tailed and Red-billed Tropicbirds, and Brown Noddies. Throughout the year three species of Boobies, Magnificent Frigate birds, Brown Pelicans and Royal Terns are found in remote areas of the archipelago.

Several species of lizards can be seen along the hiking trails of Culebrita and Luis Pena, where coral and sandy beaches have been designated Critical Habitat for hawksbill turtles. Leatherback sea turtles nest on or nearby Refuge Units from April through July. Seagrass beds bordering offshore keys support the largest known aggregation of resident juvenile green sea turtles in Puerto Rico and are noted for their irreplaceable significance. A fringing coral reef ecosystem near Refuge keys and along the Flamenco Peninsula supports the life cycles of multitudes of marine organisms.  Brackish lagoons and salt ponds which fluctuate with rainfall and tides are important sites for waterfowl and shorebirds, especially during winter months.

The mangrove areas of the Refuge form unique habitat vital for coastal wildlife. Here protein-rich waters provide ample food sources for crustaceans and small fish. In turn these food sources, a vital link in the food chain, attract larger predatory fish. The mangroves form bountiful nurseries for marine life, where newly-spawned fish and crustaceans mature in the protected waters. Bird life benefits as the area attracts marine feeders such as Tri-colored, Little Blue and Great Blue Herons. The mangroves of Puerto del Manglar and Ensenada Honda serve as roosts and nesting sites for Cattle Egrets, Brown Pelicans, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Scaley-naped Pigeons and White-crowned Pigeons. These vital trees serve as a buffer, filtering sediment carried by runoff from the surrounding sloping terrain, again helping to protect marine water quality.

Flora

The Mount Resaca and Luis Pena units of the Refuge preserve two of the few remaining blocks of dry tropical forest on Culebra. Large boulder-strewn areas of Mount Resaca comprise a part-like forest of cupey and jaguey trees with their impressive stilt roots. The boulders support orchids, bromeliads, anthuriums and the endemic Peperomia wheeleri. This was once the abode of the Culebra giant anole which has not been documented since the 1930's. Other vegetative zones, including the thorn thickets, palm forest types and cactus scrub associations support diverse bird and reptile species.

Wildlife management in the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge concentrates on maintaining and restoring the wide range of nesting habitats needed for colonial seabirds and sea turtles. Unique habitats such as the Mt. Resaca Unit and the mangrove areas are kept in their natural condition. Entry is the nesting colonies is prohibited to prevent disturbance to species sensitive to human intrusion and because of the presence of unexploded bombs.

Beaches and hiking trails on Culebrita and Luis Pena are open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. Swimming , snorkeling, photography, picnicking or just plain relaxing can be enjoyed on both islands. There are no tourist facilities, so please come prepared with adequate drinking water and sun block. Don’t pollute. Please take your trash with you and dispose of it in a trash can. Water taxis offer transportation to the islands; please contact the Refuge office or Culebra Tourism for information. The trails range from .3 km to 2.0 km in length. The Culebrita lighthouse is not open to the public due to the hazardous condition of the buildings. DO NOT ENTER!

CAUTION! No campfires are permitted in the Refuge. One careless act can result in the destruction of the entire island’s resources.

• Flamenco Peninsula and several of the cays were sites of intensive bombardment by the military, so are closed to the public. Unexploded bombs are present throughout these areas and could explode at any time. DO NOT TOUCH, APPROACH or DISTURB ANY BOMBS SEEN ANYWHERE IN THE ARCHIPELAGO.
• Please learn to recognize and avoid the manchineel tree. All parts are toxic, including the sap that drips from the leaves during rainfall.
• Visitors entering the water from the Refuge beaches do so at their own risk. Rocks, coral and other marine organisms can cause injuries, so please familiarize yourself with things to avoid.
• In order to protect the rich and diverse resources, the following public use regulations apply to the lands administered by Culebra National Wildlife Refuge:
• The molestation, hunting or possession of birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, hermit crabs, and land crabs is prohibited.
• Collecting of coral, living or dead, is prohibited.
• All plant material is protected.
• Littering, fires, firearms and motorized vehicles are prohibited.
• No domestic or wild animals may be brought onto refuge lands, as they could trample turtle nests, prey on wildlife or reproduce and disrupt the natural ecosystem.
• No anchoring above mean high tide line due to the presence of hawksbill turtle nests.

Comments/Suggestions/Additional Information

Should you have any comments, suggestions, or require additional information please contact the following:

Teresa Tallevast
Refuge Manager
Culebra NWR
P.O. Box 190
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Phone: 787/742-0115
Fax: 787/742-1303
E-mail: Teresa_Tallevast@fws.gov