After leaving the Arecibo area we drive to Rio Camuy Caves Park one of the major attractions in Puerto Rico. There are lots of locals and a few tourists from Europe so after standing in line for tickets for 3/4h we are happy that our timed ticket is in only 1/2hr. The tour starts with a train ride from the visitor center almost to the bottom of the sink hole from where we hike to the cave entrance.
The vegetation is luscious but it is difficult to enjoy it given that you have to follow the guide closely to hear any comments she might be making. Luckily we were also provided with a recording with headphones that we use quite often to supplement what we hear from the guide.
The trail goes around a cave with multiple light holes and even a viewpoint of a river far beneath the cave. Another highlight is a section where we see a few bats.
The light holes can be quite scenic especially with the light flooding the cavern, we find them quite mesmerizing.
After returning while waiting for the car we see a fenced area in which it almost looks like someone is intentionally cultivating mushrooms. Overall the whole tour takes about 1.5 hours and at the end we are beat so we decide to eat lunch near the car in the parking lot (like a lot of Puerto Rican families also seem to be doing).
After the cave we want to make one more stop in a mountain park, Bosque Estatal De Guajataca, but unfortunately the road is closed due to repairs so we drive through to our next accomodation El Combate Beach Resort.
The room is quite comfy and after settling in we exit to eat dinner at the nearby restaurant Annie’s Place where we order a typical Puerto Rican dish the mofongo. It is quite an interesting concoction with meat stuffed in a plantain and it is good but in the end we are chased by the mosquitoes back to our room to rest for the night.
