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| Time traveling made easy in Camuy |
by Gabriela Gonzalez
DownIsland Staff
DownIsland Staff
Imagine traveling back to a period in time when the land was pristine and
our natural resources intact. Hard as this may be, there’s a place in Puerto
Rico that will take you as close as you can get to this scenario.
The Río Camuy Cave Park features an extensive cave system connected
by the Río Camuy, the third largest underground river in the world. Since its
formal discovery in the late 1950’s, the Río Camuy cave system –which
extends approximately 15 km– has gained worldwide recognition as one
the most unique and impressive specimens of its kind.
Although visitors cannot explore the caves on their own, the park offers
guided tours led by trained, bilingual National Parks Company staff.
The tour begins on a trolley, which travels through lush, tropical vegetation
on narrow roads and paths to take visitors to specific points of interest,
like the Sumidero Tres Pueblos (Three-Town Sinkhole). Located on the
spot where the towns of Hatillo, Lares and Camuy converge, this 400-foot
deep sinkhole allows onlookers to marvel at the immensity of the Camuy
Caverns.
Other tours –like the hike down to Cueva Clara de Empalme– are done on
foot, since the trolley both can’t and shouldn’t venture into the caves.
Considered the main attraction at the Río Camuy Cave Park, the trip to
Cueva Clara is perhaps the most rewarding experience, particularly
because visitors feel like real life explorers going through virgin territory,
while safely remaining in a special path designed to take them through
certain spots.
Caves included, the park itself spreads out over more than 250 acres of
land in total, where visitors will also find camping and picnic grounds, as
well as the Visitors Center facilities, which house the administrative
offices, a cafeteria, a souvenirs shop, a theatre, and more.
The park usually opens for tours at 8:30 am from Wednesdays through
Sundays, with the last tour departing at 3:30 pm. Weather conditions and
other variables affect the tour schedule, so those planning a trip to the
Camuy Caverns should call ahead.
For more information, call the Río Camuy Cave Park at (787) 898-3100 or
the National Parks Company of Puerto Rico at (787) 622-5200, or visit
www.parquesnacionalespr.com
our natural resources intact. Hard as this may be, there’s a place in Puerto
Rico that will take you as close as you can get to this scenario.
The Río Camuy Cave Park features an extensive cave system connected
by the Río Camuy, the third largest underground river in the world. Since its
formal discovery in the late 1950’s, the Río Camuy cave system –which
extends approximately 15 km– has gained worldwide recognition as one
the most unique and impressive specimens of its kind.
Although visitors cannot explore the caves on their own, the park offers
guided tours led by trained, bilingual National Parks Company staff.
The tour begins on a trolley, which travels through lush, tropical vegetation
on narrow roads and paths to take visitors to specific points of interest,
like the Sumidero Tres Pueblos (Three-Town Sinkhole). Located on the
spot where the towns of Hatillo, Lares and Camuy converge, this 400-foot
deep sinkhole allows onlookers to marvel at the immensity of the Camuy
Caverns.
Other tours –like the hike down to Cueva Clara de Empalme– are done on
foot, since the trolley both can’t and shouldn’t venture into the caves.
Considered the main attraction at the Río Camuy Cave Park, the trip to
Cueva Clara is perhaps the most rewarding experience, particularly
because visitors feel like real life explorers going through virgin territory,
while safely remaining in a special path designed to take them through
certain spots.
Caves included, the park itself spreads out over more than 250 acres of
land in total, where visitors will also find camping and picnic grounds, as
well as the Visitors Center facilities, which house the administrative
offices, a cafeteria, a souvenirs shop, a theatre, and more.
The park usually opens for tours at 8:30 am from Wednesdays through
Sundays, with the last tour departing at 3:30 pm. Weather conditions and
other variables affect the tour schedule, so those planning a trip to the
Camuy Caverns should call ahead.
For more information, call the Río Camuy Cave Park at (787) 898-3100 or
the National Parks Company of Puerto Rico at (787) 622-5200, or visit
www.parquesnacionalespr.com
Click on pictures to enlarge
