Arecibo Tourist Attractions
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Founded in 1515, Arecibo is Puerto Rico's largest city in geographical size with an area of 125sq.mi/330.4sq.km. The city is the site of a successful battle fought between Spanish Captain Antonio Correa and soldiers in order to repel a British sea invasion.Arecibo is not a particularly impressive city but there are a number of interesting sights within close proximity to the city, making it a good place to serve as a base for exploring. Some of the attractions in the area include the Observatorio de Arecibo, the Rio Camuy area.
Arecibo Radio Telescope
The Observatorio de Arecibo (Arecibo Radio Telescope) features a 20ac/8ha dish set in a sinkhole. Here, astronomers have proved the "music of the stars" (pulsars and quasars) and examine the moon, the earth's ionosphere, and other planets. There is an ongoing Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program at the site as well. Also, scenes from the Jodi Foster film Contact and others have been filmed at the observatory.The setting is amazing and the complexity of the Observatorio de Arecibo is so impressive it is well worth the drive up the winding road that leads here.
Río Camuy Cave Park (Cueva Clara de Empalme)
The Río Camuy Cave Park features a very large cave system covering 268ac/109ha and thought to be the third large cave system in the world. A trolley bus transports visitors to a 200ft/61m deep cave, or sinkhole, which is now a preserved area known as Cueva Clara Empalme. The caves feature various rooms, in some cases with extremely high ceilings, stalagmites and stalactites, and rivers rushing through. A guided tour leads visitors through the Cueva Clara Empalme.In addition to the natural wonders the cave system presents, it's also interesting to note that the caves were used by the indigenous population long ago.
Cathedral Cave
Visitors can choose to either rappel down a cliff or hike to the 400ft/122km-long Cathedral Cave (Cueva Catedral). The Cathedral Cave, part of Tres Pueblos, is known for its 40 plus petroglyphs, and is usually visited in conjunction with Cueva Clara de Empalme. Arrive early in the day for the guided tours; the last ones depart mid afternoon but if they're full you may be out of luck.
