Rio Camuy Caves
Encyclopedia
The Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy (Camuy River Cave Park), is one of the largest cave systems in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. It is located between the municipalities of Camuy
, Hatillo
and Lares
in northwestern Puerto Rico
, but the main entrance to the park is located in Quebrada, Camuy. The caverns are part of a large network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways carved out by the third-largest underground river in the world, the Río Camuy (Camuy River). The cave system was discovered in 1958 and was first documented in the 1973 book Discovery At The Río Camuy (ISBN 0-517-50594-0) by Russell and Jeanne Gurnee, but there is archaeologic evidence that these caves were explored by the Taíno
Indians, Puerto Rico's first inhabitants hundreds of years ago. Over 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves and 17 entrances to the Camuy cave system have been mapped so far. This, however, is only a fraction of the entire system which many experts believe still holds another 800 caves.
Only a small part of the complex is open to the public. The 268-acre park built around the cave system features tours of some of the caves and sinkholes, and is one of the most popular natural attractions in Puerto Rico.
The Río Camuy is the world's third-largest subterranean river.
The park closes once reaches its 1,500 visitors daily capacity.
17 entrances, over 220 caves, two other smaller cave systems and more than 10 miles have been mapped so far and experts still say the cave system could be larger.
Camuy, Puerto Rico
Camuy is a municipality in Puerto Rico located on the Valley of Quebradillas, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Lares; east of Quebradillas; and west of Hatillo. Camuy is spread over 12 wards and Camuy Pueblo...
, Hatillo
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Hatillo is a municipality located on Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over 9 wards and Hatillo Pueblo...
and Lares
Lares, Puerto Rico
Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
in northwestern Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, but the main entrance to the park is located in Quebrada, Camuy. The caverns are part of a large network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways carved out by the third-largest underground river in the world, the Río Camuy (Camuy River). The cave system was discovered in 1958 and was first documented in the 1973 book Discovery At The Río Camuy (ISBN 0-517-50594-0) by Russell and Jeanne Gurnee, but there is archaeologic evidence that these caves were explored by the Taíno
Taíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
Indians, Puerto Rico's first inhabitants hundreds of years ago. Over 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves and 17 entrances to the Camuy cave system have been mapped so far. This, however, is only a fraction of the entire system which many experts believe still holds another 800 caves.
Only a small part of the complex is open to the public. The 268-acre park built around the cave system features tours of some of the caves and sinkholes, and is one of the most popular natural attractions in Puerto Rico.
Clara Cave and Empalme Sinkhole (Cueva Clara y Sumidero de Empalme)
"Cueva Clara de Empalme" or Clara Cave is the main attraction at the Rio Camuy Cave Park ("Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy"), located at the Hatillo portion of the system. A single chamber of this cave system was developed for the public since 1986. Regular cavern guided tour and audio tours are available at the site. Since November 2010, night tour called ECO NIGHTS are organized weekly under special reservations. The tours start showing a short movie in a 90 people seated theater, explaining the Rio Camuy Cave System and site safety rules, followed by a tram ride that takes you into the entrance of Clara Cave. The huge chamber is 700 ft (212m)in length and 215 ft (65m)high. Once inside this chamber viewers are able to see an entrance from the roof of "Sumidero de Empalme" that is 60m from the surface, stalactites, stalagmites, unique formations and thousands of bats.Spiral Cave and Sinkhole (Cueva y Sumidero de Espiral)
Visitors must be in good physical conditions in order to walk into "Cueva Clara" and reach "Sumidero y Cueva Espiral" to see the mouth of this cave. They must go down to it through a scenic 205-step boardwalk. The challenge is getting the way back to the tram. Once walking down the 205 steps into the sinkhole, the cave itself is off limits to reach. Only experienced spelunkers can penetrate the cave and the underground river with special permission from the National Parks Company of Puerto Rico. This sinkhole is believed to have once been an enormous cavern that collapsed thousands of years ago. At the opening of the cave there is an impressive sight. This portion of the system is located in Hatillo.Tri-Towns Sinkhole ("Sumidero Tres Pueblos")
"Sumidero Tres Pueblos" is a giant sinkhole measuring 650 ft (195m) wide. The Camuy River can be seen 400 ft (120m) below from three observation platforms that are located at different points alongside the opening of the impressive crater. The sinkhole is located where the borders of the towns of Camuy, Hatillo and Lares meet. Each town has its own platform overlooking the sinkhole.Statistics
The Camuy River Cave Park is home to more than 13 species of bats, among hundreds of other arachnid, frogs and insects species.The Río Camuy is the world's third-largest subterranean river.
The park closes once reaches its 1,500 visitors daily capacity.
17 entrances, over 220 caves, two other smaller cave systems and more than 10 miles have been mapped so far and experts still say the cave system could be larger.
Books and Articles
- Discovery at the Rio Camuy (amazon link) by Russell & Jeanne Gurnee
- Puerto Rico Opens Brand New Attractions (google link)