San Juan Caving

Caving in San Juan

The topography of Puerto Rico offers various caverns, sinkholes, canyons, and underwater streams that are ideal locations for adventurous explorations. A caving tour, therefore, is a must-have on a visitor's itinerary of Puerto Rican excursion.

The Rio Camuy Cave Park is one of the most famous natural sites in the island. This 268-acre reserve features an astounding cavern system composed of more than 200 caves and an underground river that runs through it. This natural structure is said to be the third largest underground river cavern system in the world. The caves, estimated to be about 45 million years old, are adorned with stalactites and stalagmites as well as other fascinating stone formations.

Only two caves and three crater-like sinkholes are open to the public though since the park is a protected area. Visitors will ride on a trolley that will take them down to one of the sinkholes. Another tram will take them to a viewing platform where they can gaze at the 400-foot deep Tres Pueblos Sinkhole.

Visitors can also explore the Spiral Sinkhole and Cave, walking down the 205 steps, but only experienced spelunkers can go inside the cave. Advanced caving enthusiasts may also arrange for special tours and rappelling sessions in the more difficult terrains of the cavern system.

The Rio Camuy Cave Park also features walking trails, an exhibit hall, a theater, a cafeteria, a picnic area, and a gift shop. The park is located in the northwestern part of Puerto Rico, about a 1¼-hour drive away from San Juan.

Another impressive cavern in the island is the Angels Cave. Getting to this cave is already an adventure in itself since it requires a Tyrolean traverse, a technique that involves traveling across two ropes strung between two elevated points. After this heart-stopping traverse, spelunkers must that rappel down a 200-foot wall to get to the Angeles Sinkhole.

This harrowing journey is rewarded with breath-taking sights inside the Angels Cave. Calcite formations line the walls and ceiling of the cavern while the clear natural pools are practically sparkling with purity. After exploring the cave, visitors will then go down into the Camuy River through a mudslide. The journey is unconventional to say the least but the exhilaration of caving is totally worth it.