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We stayed at Casa Ensenada the last week in Dec. in the Estudio. The inn is conveniently situated in walking distance of restaurants and grocery stores (which are only open limited hours, especially on Sun.). The estudio is very spacious with a comfortable king bed and futon, mini-fridge and microwave. We found it difficult to get from the airport to Casa Ensenada, as there were no publicos around and when we tried calling some of them on cellphone, we got either no answer or a machine. (maybe that was because it was a Sunday, the day after Christmas.) The guest house has a nice dock in back for guests to use, but it can be crowded if 3 families/couples decide to use it at the same time. Overall, Casa Ensenada is a clean, comfortable, convenient place to stay on Culebra, with a lovely view on the water in back.
During our visit to Culebra we stayed at Casa Ensenada, a cozy guesthouse on Culebra's main harbor within walking distance to the ferry, grocery stores and restaurants. Our room, the perfect size for a couple, had a queen bed and kitchenette. Casa Ensenada provided a clean, comfortable, secure environment where to relax while sitting on a hammock chair watching boats in the harbor. Every need was thought for; a place to grill, picnic tables, chairs, even a kayak and snorkeling gear. We visited many beaches, some golden sanded and deserted others perfect for snorkeling. The small town and friendly atmosphere made sightseeing and exploring the island a truly enjoyable experience.
Casa Ensenada was a great get away. We were in the Grande suite. It was very comfortable and clean. We stayed over the Thanksgiving weekend. The view was beautiful, the staff was friendly (even though the manager had the flu) she was there and ready to help. The down side to the island is also the upside it has a very small population and very few stores. I suggest that you bring groceries with you especially if you are coming on a holiday weekend. We had planned to pick things up when we got there but our flight was delayed 3 hours and that put us in after everything had closed. They roll the streets up at 9pm. The next day was Thanksgiving and nothing was open. Luckily Mamcitas opened for lunch. They have a great lunch selection and the iguanas visit while you eat. The signs that say don't feed the iguanas are not a joke. I highly suggest you rent a car when on the island the beaches are several miles away from the town area. We went with Jerry's his cars are a little older but they get you where you need to go. He was nice and accommodating. The restaurants are great I don't think we had a meal that was not delicious. Some can be a bit pricy but you expect that on an island this small.I highly recommend this island and hotel for anyone who just wants to get away from it all. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A RESORT WITH CABANA BOYS AND PLANNED EXCURSIONS. If you want to unplug and be in the most relaxing and romantic place you can imagine this is the place for you.
That's our second time in Casa Ensenada and the first for my husband family, we love the place and their love it too. Excellent location. We hope to go back again. Thanks for the hospitality.
We stayed in the Grande room and It is centrally located with a nice patio/doc. The kitchen is well equipped which was the main reason we rented the property. The hot water is plentiful and the bedroom and livingroom are spacious. Culebra is a very low-key beautiful island (during the off-season- in august) I would recommend renting a Jeep as some roads can be rough. Flamenco beach is spectacular. We also Zoni beach and there is plenty of snorkeling around the island. We also explored side-roads to get a flavor of the island (we even made a quick trip to the local cemetary to get a sense of the local history. The only downside is lots of mosquitos in Culebra so bring repellent. (There is Raid in the room.) For a surprisingly good meal check out Mamacita's restaurant which is walking distance. The property managers are friendly and I would certainly recommend this property to anyone, see you in Culebra!!
My 8 year-old son and I stayed in the Pequeño unit over the Labor Day weekend. The guest house is very conveniently located - walking distance to the ferry dock and the restaurants "in town," and you could walk to the airport, though I would recommend a taxi. We rented a car and had no problem parking across the street the entire weekend. If you're planning to visit primarily Flamenco Beach and eat at the restaurants in town, you don't need a car. If you want to get out to some of the more remote beaches (Zoni, Tamarindo), or to the restaurants that are outside of the town, a car is useful.
The unit itself is comparable to a large hotel room in size. It does provide a hot plate, toaster, coffee maker and some pots, pans, dishes and glasses. It has a dormitory size refrigerator. If you're like me and use a lot of ice, you'd be smart to buy a bag and keep it in the fridge, as the tiny ice trays, while serviceable, won't keep you in constant ice. I wouldn't count on cooking any elaborate meals in the room, but we had no problem with making breakfast (coffee, toast, Pop Tarts). The bathroom is large and the shower water pressure was fine while we were there. The AC worked perfectly well. Bath and beach towels are provided.
Aside from the location, however, the best part of Casa Ensenada is the back patio, which is right on the bay. There is a gas grill available, though we didn't use it while we were there. There are chairs, tables and a hammock to sit in and relax while looking out over the water. I enjoyed taking my coffee out to the yard in the early morning and drinking it while looking out over the bay. There is a boat dock, and while we were there other guests in the Estudio and Grande units docked their boats there. I would imagine that having use of the dock is super convenient for those coming to Culebra in their own boat.
Although we arrived shortly after the brush with Hurricane Earl, we had no problems either at Casa Ensenada or in getting to and from Culebra from San Juan. We flew round-trip on Vieques Air Link from Isla Grande for $100 per person. To me, the savings in time and hassle realized by taking a 25 minute flight, compared with a one hour (if you're lucky) drive to Fajardo, parking, and getting on a 90 minute ferry ride, more than outweigh the additional cost. YMMV. That is not even taking into consideration the ferry problems in effect while we were there due to damage to the ferry dock from the storm. I do understand that the ferry problems have been (mostly) resolved as of now.
Long story short - I will definitely stay at Casa Ensenada again. If you plan on cooking most of your own meals, or simply want a bit more room, I would recommend the Estudio or Grande units, but if you are a couple who will be eating out for most of your meals and will not be using the room as much more than a place to sleep, the Pequeño is an excellent option.
Rented the "pequeño" and "grande" for the 2010 Labor Day Weekend. Went to Tortugo Beach, Dakiti, ect. Everything you would expect and much more! I do not have a thing to complaint about. Right at the water, walking distance to town, great views, excellent attention fron the administrators and equiped with everything you would need for a great weekend, week or month. Definitely will book it again, next time the whole "casa". Tx for the great memories!!!
Es mi tercera estadia en Casa Ensenada, el lugar esta bien localizado, area tranquila, comercios cercas los cuales pudes visitar apie. Lugar perfecto pra descansar, rentar un auto y visitar las playas o toda la isla.Personal servicial, buenos apartamentos.
It is my third stay at Casa Ensenada. The place is well located, a quiet area , close to shops which can be visited. A perfect place to rest, rent a car and visit the beaches or the entire island. Personal are helpful. Good apartments.
We arrived at Casa Ensenada April 28th & stayed 9 nights until May 6th, 2010. This was our first trip out of the US & we loved it! We stayed in the Pequeno unit at Casa Ensenada, a quaint room that was very clean. It had everything we needed - air conditioning, ceiling fans, dishes & silverware, a toaster, blender, hotplate, cooler to take to the beach & beach towels. There was even snorkel equipment left by a previous guest & we borrowed that while we were there. We took a small 8-passenger plane from San Juan over to Culebra & then on their advice took the ferry back. The manager recommended a car rental & we had fun driving around the island in a 1974 VW "Thing". The last day we were there, we chartered a water taxi and enjoyed our trip to the Island of Culebrita very much. Casa Ensenada was right near the downtown area & we were able to walk to the grocery store which enabled us to make our own breakfasts & lunches & then eat out at night -also within walking distance. And the taxis to Flamenco Beach drove by our villa & were easy to access. Gifts shops were also close as was the US Post Office, the clinic & the harbour. There were other nice touches - a bookcase in the lobby that had books available to borrow. Our room had a journal that previous guests had written in. This was very useful & gave us lots of good ideas. It was pleasant sitting outside near the dock to eat breakfast. We also enjoyed hearing the roosters crow every morning. Casa Ensenada is not the Marriott but we weren't looking for a Marriott. We wanted a place to stay that was affordable, friendly, where we had what we needed & could get a good night's sleep before heading off on our adventures. We loved Culebra & hope to return within a year - just the 2 of us again & then another trip with our 4 adult children. The ocean was just unbelievable as were the beaches & the coral reefs. Thank you Jackie, Butch & Karen for helping us make such a wonderful memory!!!
We spent a wonderful week in Culebra at Casa Ensenada. The weather was spectacular, the island was beautiful, Casa Ensenada was located close to town and the Grande Room was spacious and had a beautiful view of the harbor - not to mention the lovely additional outdoor space where we spent lots of time enjoying a cocktail and soaking up the sunshine. The whole trip exceeded our expectations & we would highly recommend this island/guest house for anybody looking for a slice of paradise!