Camuy River Caverns Park
Located on the northwestern area of Puerto Rico and just 1 hour and a half from San Juan, Camuy is a little town famous for the Camuy river and the Camuy River Caverns Park, a 268-acre park with the third largest cave system and underground river (which helped shape the caves) in the world, presumed to be 45 millions years old.
The underground river flows through dramatic landscapes of sinkholes, unique formations and several caves with stalactites, stalagmites and interesting fauna, like bats and blind fishes.
The system is said to be discovered in 1958, however there are archaeological evidence that shows these caves were explored by the Tainos (natives of Puerto Rico) hundreds of years ago. The park features 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves and 17 entrances, although this is only one fraction of the entire system, which is believed to hold at least 800 caves.
The most famous (and accessible to the public) are:
Clara Cave and Empalme Sinkhole
“Cueva Clara de Empalme” or Clara Cave for short is one of the main attractions of the park. Only one of the chambers of this cave is open to the public. The chamber is 700 ft (212 m) long and 215 ft (65 m) high. Once entering the “Sumidero de Empalme”, you will see the sun rays getting in through the sinkhole entrance, 450 feet above as well as stalactites, stalagmites, unique formations and bats. There is a “fountain of youth” inside, a natural spring from where you can drink. The sound of the waterfalls, the water flowing and the sun rays give a magical and relaxing vibe to this place.
Spiral cave and Sinkhole
This interesting cave requires good physical conditions thanks to its challenging design. The access to the cave is through a scenic 205-step boardwalk, special permission is required to penetrate the cave, that is off limits once you reach the bottom.
Tri-Towns Sinkhole (Tres Pueblos)
This giant sinkhole measures 650 ft (195 m) wide, offering observation platforms located alongside the opening of the crater. As the crater is located between the city limits of Camuy, Hatillo and Lares, each platform is located in separated towns.
Besides visiting the caves, the park is also equipped with picnic areas, walking trails, food and souvenirs shops. There is a ticket stand by the entrance, required to access to the park. Arrive early as there are no reservations and entrance is limited.
Transport yourself to another hidden world in the Camuy River Cavern Park.
