A little more than an hour outside San Juan, Puerto Rico, the northwest part of the island is home to karst formations that feature narrow canyons, sinkholes, underground rivers and caverns. The Río Camuy Cave System is believed to be the third largest in the world. Thousands of people each year visit the commercial Río Camuy Cave Park, complete with picnic areas and paved walking trails. But those looking for more of an Indiana Jones-type adventure can go off the beaten path and see the caves in their natural state.
Photo: Jill K. Robinson
My daylong adventure began by hiking on a trail through the verdant jungle with a small group of people led by guides Karel and Juan from The Outside Group. Soon, we encountered the Río Camuy—due to the rich sediment in the water, it’s a café-au-lait color. Waterfalls fed the river from the edges of the canyon, and we walked right off the trail into the water, carefully making our way to the mouth of Resurgence Cave. It’s here where the river emerges from its underground travels and into the jungle.
We hiked among the stalactites, squeezed through small rock formations and watched bats fly through the cool air. The only light provided was by the headlamps on our helmets. (Helmets are very handy in caves. I can’t count the number of times I accidently knocked my helmet against the hard rock.)
At the end of our underground adventure, we walked back into the river and floated out the mouth of the cave into the dappled sunlight. From there, we hiked a short distance down the trail to a cliff overlooking the water. Juan readied each of us, one at a time, for a rappel trip down the cliff face to the river—where Karel was waiting.
Photo: Jill K. Robinson
The full trip lasted about eight hours, including transportation from our hotel. I’d easily do it again. Prices run approximately $164 per person (for a minimum of six people, including hotel transfers).
If caving and jungle outings aren’t quite your cup of café, consider another type of adventure—this time, in the warm turquoise water off the northern coast of Puerto Rico. The Walking on Water (WOW) Surfing School teaches surfing and stand-up paddle boarding classes. My class was in the beach town of Luquillo, however classes are also available in San Juan. Owner Wiliam “Chino” Sue-A-Quan is a professional surfer in Puerto Rico, and made it extremely easy for us to get up on our boards and get paddling. A sample class price for a group of six people is $90 per person; hotel transfers are extra. Prices vary, depending on the number of people in your group. The WOW Surfing School also rents surfboards, paddle boards and boogie boards. Rental prices are $25 per day for boogie boards and $50 per day for surf boards ($60 for fiberglass surfboards).
It’s easy to arrange these trips, plus a wide variety of adventures, through Travel Services, a service for tours and activities in Puerto Rico. A handful of hotels have Travel Services desks, or you can call 787-982-1200 or visit www.destinationpuertorico.com for more information. Prices for outings will vary, depending on the location, how many people are in your group and whether you need hotel transfers.
Disclosure: My trip was sponsored by the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, however the opinions are my own, and there was no promise of type of coverage.
