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The artifacts found on Culebra support the theory that Taínos and Arawaks inhabited the island in pre-Columbian times. A good book about the Taínos in Puerto Rico in general: The Taínos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Received Columbus.



The spaces were named on Pasaje Island and in the 18th century it was used primarily by pirates for hiding.

The governor snake primer called the crown in 1875 was a surname of Stevens. The Vieques government was the one who read this authorization. His main responsibility was to protect the coastal fishing industry against foreigners.



The colonization of Culebra began in 1880, organized by Don Cayetano Escudero. The first establishment received its name in honor of San Ildefonso de la Culebra, bishop of Toledo. I am located in the area where the Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife is located. The cemetery is the only witness that falls from that time.



Coat of Arms: The cross and the staff representing Saint Ildefonso. The name ´Culebra´ is represented by the greenish serpent. The crown of three towers represents the municipality. The golden color corresponds to the Culebra band that originated with the committee in favor of the defense of Culebra. The green color that also appears on the shield connects Culebra with the rest of Puerto Rico.



In 1891, the town of San Ildefonso de La Culebra was described as several houses made of straw. There was a church, a government house, and a water tank where people got water.



In 1894, a written report, which indicates the growth and progress of the people of Culebra, indicates that there are 519 inhabitants living in five communities. The communities are called: San Ildefonso, Flamenco, San Isidero, Playa Sardinas I and II and Frayle.



The public buildings built in San Ildefonso until 1894 were the following:

• The delegation house

A church

The public water tank, paid for by the government of Puerto Rico

The cemetery

The public order house, wood and zinc section with funds from Puerto Rico

Pier, built on the rocks





There are 84 individually built houses on the island. Twenty-four of them are located in the community of San Ildefonso and the rest are spread throughout the island in the other communities.



Agriculture rules the land. The following products were produced and exported: wood, turtle acceptance, tortilla shells, salt-cured fish, tobacco, cattle, sows, goats, Country cheese, bananas, dumplings, chips, yams, garlic, corn, tomatoes, oranges, coconut, cotton, melon, cut mango, charcoal and turkey.



Building materials, seeds and fertilizers have to be imported, in this respect very little has changed.



The Spanish flag determined that the land of Culebra was public property with the exception of areas reserved for the use of the central government. When the Spanish-American War ended in 1898, the land was turned over to the United States government with the promise that title deeds granted by the Spanish government would be honored. The titled land would not be confiscated by the military government established in Puerto Rico. These were achieved in the treaty of Paris and by the general order number 1 of the military government of the United States of Puerto Rico.



In 1901 the United States armed forces moved to Culebra to establish a practice area for bombers and conduct military exercises. At that time the military took control of the community of San Ildefonso and reestablished the people who lived in San Ildefonso in other areas of the island. This is a violation of the Paris treaties. Only of the stone houses that were built by the military in the area of ​​the Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife that were like the last vestiges of this time. There is a museum in the house that is marked 1908.



The Navy decided to use Culebra for its bombing practices in 1975. However, the destruction of the reefs and the esteem of the inhabitants will take decades to heal. Hermetic tanks are found in the Flemish game as a testimony.





Culebra is part of Puerto Rico, which is an autonomous Commonwealth in association with the United States.



It is a municipality. The employee is the highest elected official.



The head of state is the president of the United States. The head of government is an elected governor. There are legislative compartments: the House of Representatives, with 51 seats, and the Senate, with 27 seats.



Puerto Rico has authority over its internal affairs. The United States controls interstate commerce, international trade and relations, customs administration, air, land and sea control, immigration and emigration, nationality and citizenship, currency, maritime laws, military service, military bases, army, navy and force. air, declaration of war, legal constitutionality, jurisdictions and legal procedures, treaties, radio and television communications, agriculture, mining and mineral exploration, deposits, postal system, social security and other areas generally controlled by the federal government in the United States . Internal affairs are normally controlled by Puerto Rican institutions unless US law is involved, such as in matters of public health and pollution. The main differences between Puerto Rico and the 50 states are; your tax system and be exempt from paying entry fees. The lack of voting rights in presidential elections and representation in the houses of Congress. The lack of right to receive certain monetary credits reserved to the United States.



The main entrance to Culebra comes from construction, tourism, and a pharmaceutical plant located in Dewey. There are many natural resources that can be exploited economically. Puerto Rico's economy generally depends on the industrialization programs and tax incentives offered by the United States.

Flora and fauna

With the exception of some wild animals on the eastern tip of the island, Culebra does not have large mammals. The goats and birds of Cayo Norte and Luis Peña are considered defeated. Iguanas, frogs and lizards abound, you will also find bats that walk at night.



There are as many as there are on the main island of Puerto Rico, and you may even find it from time to time, a very small place but a very national symbol. What will definitely be heard when singing at night!



In addition to all the tropical pieces found in the beach guides, there are many forms of marine life that inhabit the coastal waters, including a large corner of barracuda, horse mackerel, mullet, mackerel, tuna, lobster, and oysters.







A discovery for many tourists is this small island half an hour from San Juan, Culebra is a haven of peace, in the Caribbean Sea and an aquatic paradise. The island is an important habitat for several classes of endangered sea turtles.

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