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USD $119.00
Rio Camuy Cave Park and Arecibo Observatory from San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
A trip to Puerto Rico is not complete without descending into the depths of a million year old cave! Few cave systems in the world are as massive or dramatic as the Rio Camuy Cave Park. If that's not enough, wait until you see the Arecibo Observatory, the world's largest radar/radio telescope, nestled in the tropical mountains of northern Puerto Rico.
This tour takes you from San Juan to Northwestern Puerto Rico, part of the third largest underground river cavern system in the world. You'll enjoy a safe, guided tour of the marvels. From sinkholes and cathedral-like caverns to views of the mysterious river and its eons-old stalactites and stalagmites. Be sure to wear comfortable, non-slippery shoes! This tour also takes you to where you'll see the largest radar/radio telescope. Operated by Cornell University, the telescope probes the ionosphere, examines planets and monitors natural radio emissions from distant galaxies, pulsars and quasars.
The caves at Camuy are actually 45 million years old, but it took a few million years for nature to adorn their towering ceilings with crystalline stalactites, their walls with flowing stone tapestries and their floors with mushroom mounds of stalactites. Few cave systems in the world are as massive or dramatic as the Rio Camuy Cave Park; none have a thundering tropical river traversing countless miles of uncharted channels. Three crater-like sinkholes and one cave of the huge system in the park are open to the public and they are truly memorable experiences.
The Arecibo Observatory is nestled in the mountains of northern Puerto Rico, about 30 minutes from Arecibo and is the world's largest radar/radio telescope. Here, scientists from all over the world use a giant 1000 foot (305 meter) diameter dish to listen to the universe. You may view the huge telescope from an observation platform, where its austere metallic symmetry shimmers in dramatic contrast with the dense, green, tropical landscape.
Please note that this tour does include lunch or entrance fees at the attractions.
The Camuy Caves are really spectacular and definitely worth the visit if you have extra time while visiting Puerto Rico. The tour essential is more transportation than a tour. They will pick you come from a major location, such a hotel and take you to the town of to theCamuy Caves and the Arecibo Observatory is. So basically, understand that the tour is more transportation from point A, B, C. Please note, when arriving to the Camuy Caves, expect at least 1 hour wait before being able to take the tour. And you will need to pay your own admission fee. Admission fees are not included in the tour. After visiting the Camuy Caves, the tour will take you to a small roadside restaurant for lunch. From there it's off to the Arecibo Observatory. The Arecibo Observatory is great for kids, lots of cool, educational displays. I would not necessarily put the Arecibo Observatory on the must see list unless you are doing this tour and it's included and you have extra time for your visit to PR. I will say the actual telescope structure is pretty magnificent! So even though you'll only need a few minutes to take in the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory, it's pretty awesome to see this magnificent feat. Again, you will have to pay your own admission fee to the Arecibo Observatory.
Review by: Rabz, July 2017
First of all, let me start by saying that both attractions are very nice and interesting and I enjoyed them both.
Review by: cln68, June 2017
This tour was interesting. The cave was amazing and the observatory was interesting, although the short hike up the mountain was a little more than we expected. The countryside was also really interesting.
Review by: Siu Y, March 2017
Operator was professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The Camuy cave park was impressive we went early in the day so it was not at all crowded. The Arecibo observatory's museum is geared towards a younger audience middle schoolers so we did not get as much out of the experience. Still nice to an impressive engineering feat.
Review by: Eric R, March 2017
Excellent, knowledgable, friendly guide. Great fellow travelers. The caves are majestic and awe-inspiring inside Arecibo is a also awe-inspiring for nerds and regular folks alike. Transportation exceeded expectations, and the day flew by.
Review by: brandt44, January 2017
Arecibo Observatory was a hike up the mountain to watch a movie to hear about the observatory._br/_ Rio Camuy was fun walking inside the cave was fun. Ricky Ricardo our driver was informative and fun.
Review by: Kira V, October 2016
It wasn't till I looked back at my reservation that I saw the sites they drive you to are extra. I think you need to RENAME this tour as Transportation to Rio Camuy Cave Park and Arecibo Observatory from San Juan
Review by: Madeline T, September 2016
amazing
Review by: Robert M, August 2016
The caves were spectacular and the weather held out for us on the visit up to the Arecibo Observatory. Both were well worth it and I highly recommend this combo tour!
Review by: a.franchini, July 2016
Very good tour. Rio camuy cave is marvelous and arecibo observatory is a mandatory destination if you go to Puerto Rico. Javier, the tour guide, has been very informative during the trip giving us a lot of infos about San Juan and the sorrounding areas.
Review by: Teneleldrn, June 2016
The guide/driver was very nice with interesting commentary, however, the price of this tour is kind of ridiculous considering you still have to pay to get into both attractions, the guides for each attraction took over, and you still had to pay for lunch. Basically you are paying almost 100 pp for a ride. We booked tow other tours one was the same price and included lunch and the other was similar but the guide for the rainforest actually was a guide through the forest.
Review by: Chiharu T, May 2016
It was a great time to visit Rio Camuy Cave Park, our driver was very nice as well._br/_ Arecibo Observatory was closed, so we didn't visit there.
Review by: Indira S, March 2016
Good trip.
Review by: Narayana R P, February 2016
It was alright.
Review by: Rashica L, November 2015
Great
Review by: Linda N, July 2015
The whole family had a great time. Thanks!!
Review by: Jasmin S, May 2015
Not what I expected
Review by: Sonia D, May 2015
Wonderful tour. Day was very hot and guide explaining aspects of Observatory stood in sun so hot many_br/_
of group had to step away from her so could not hear what she was explaining. This was guide at_br/_
Observatory not your guide. Thoroughly enjoyed day.
Review by: sandrews, May 2015
Caves are awesome!
Review by: Arlene A, May 2015
Great places to see outside San Juan. It was my first time to go in a cave . It was scary at first but I enjoyed it anyway. The Observatory is one of a kind and a must see since it's one of its kind in the world. Our driver/ guide was amazing!
Review by: apojudy, May 2015
This tour was well worth the money spent for our family of three. We were picked up at the hotel on time though it would be nice if the vans/busses themselves also has the company logo... even if a magnet... on the outside because the number of tour busses that passed through our hotel made it difficult to tell which bus was what and we had to rely on the guide's shirt logo. As we drove to the cave, Ricky our tour guide provided us with a running commentary about San Juan and the different areas of Puerto Rico we were passing through.
Review by: Cshigley, April 2015
The sites were great to visit and we had a nice tour guide, but the cost nearly 500 for 4 people didn't match what was provided- basically a car ride to the two sites and we still had to pay for entry fees plus lunch. To top it off they didn't pick up at our hotel so we had to drive 30 minutes to another hotel and had to pay 32 to park for the day then drive back to our hotel. We would have been much better off driving ourselves and would have saved 500.
Review by: Mario K, April 2015
FANTASTIC!
Review by: Joseph F, March 2015
Our guide, Tony, was terrific; informative, courteous, enthusiastic. I was surprised that for the cost that admission to the locations wasn't included, but the caves were fascinating and the laboratory was a lot of fun to see.
Review by: Alvin B, February 2015
Cave Park was great experience. Arecibo was OK. Tour guide talked too much and did not give bus audience much of a chance for feedback and questions. He was poorly informed on astronomy and got some facts wrong about Arecibo and the universe. He said it was 100 billion years old. True answer is about 14 billion years old. I have studied astronomy and know what I am talking about.
Review by: MIKE R, February 2015
very nice
Review by: mjesse986, February 2015
This tour was amazing! Our tour guide was great he answered every question and was very enthusiastic about his job and culure. He directed us to some amazing shops and restaurants in old San Juan.
Review by: Erin W, January 2015
the places are worthy of visiting.
Review by: Carmen J, January 2015
Joshua, the tour guide, was knowledgable, engaging, and resourceful. I highly recommend the tour as an overview of Old San Juan.
Review by: tomokazu, January 2015
Rio Cave was so huge, and was a little bit cold, recommending you bring something to cover you up._br/_
I wanted to stay more because we could stay only for 40 minutes or about that. I hope when I visit here next time, I want to walk around slowly._br/_
About Arecibo, unfortunately it was not worth seeing for me. We could see it only from a long distance like as from a picture.
Review by: Arthur F, September 2014
We had a wonderful time! Your driver was very friendly and informative, even finding a wonderful "local" place for lunch.
Review by: Sandra R, September 2014
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Chad S, September 2014
Scenery was great. Way too expensive, and the price does not include the admission to either the caves or the radar. You'd be better off renting a car and doing it yourself, or doing a completely different trip all together.
Review by: Nicholas H, August 2014
A good tour but we wish it was a little more professional. Not too much info was given but then it was raining hard, so we did not really get to see the dish and telescope as much. It is impressive though! I would still take the trip. The caves were wonderful.
Review by: Edward K, August 2014
Enjoyable!
Review by: Burhanuddin J, June 2014
Other than providing basic transport trip included nothing else. Would have been cheaper to rent a car and drive. Bad tour guide, poor food arrangement (took us to one scanty restaurant that only served pork!)_br/_
The tour was pointless. Better to do it on our own.
Review by: Tina W, May 2014
Driver was excellent and the tour was great. Just a little disappointed in the Caves.
Review by: joseph l, April 2014
the tour was great, and the guides were very informitive
Review by: Barbara Y, April 2014
We enjoyed our trip. Ricardo was amazing, picking us up on time and giving us many bits of history and insider info. The caves were awesome and I would highly recommend. The Observatory was interesting, but the approx 8 minute trek up the hill from the parking lot to the observatory was hot and tiresome, but in the end worth it. The hour and 20 minute trip from San Juan to these sites was worth every penny to see the landscape and wonder of Puerto Rico. It was nice to have an experienced driver who knew the way as both places seemed difficult to find and included twisting and turning roadways edging rather steep cliffs. Gave it a 4 star rating due to the hike up to the observatory which makes this tour challenging to physically impaired individuals.
Review by: Thomas N, February 2014
LOVED the caves. Robert our guide was AWESOME AND TOLD US SO MUCH about the island. Observatory was also interesting but we mainly went for the caves.
Review by: gail s, January 2014
Although it was clear in the description, this "tour" is transportation only - entrance fees and lunch are separate. We knew that when purchasing, but the van driver got lost twice during the day - so even the transportation was sub-par. Pickup at hotel was fine, although I had to call and get pickup info - would have preferred it be emailed. Drive to Cave Park was about 90 minutes, including getting lost time. Driver tried to give a brief travelogue, but in middle of van we could not hear it. The van was freezing, and when he got out to ask directions, unanimous decision was made among passengers to turn it off - it only had on and off settings. Cave Park was OK - and we had little wait time. Although we asked ahead of time, meeting place after was very vague and we left 45 minutes after designated time. Lunch was at roadside local place - and actually was fairly good. Then on to Observatory - during which time he got lost again. Not mentioned in the description is that there is a brutal hike up from parking area - many steep steps and then a 45 degree incline to climb. Visitors Center was fine - but just not in our area of interest. Again, because of vague instructions of meeting place and time, we were almost 60 minutes late leaving. Fortunately he did not get lost on the way back to San Juan.
Review by: linda ashby a, January 2014
had great time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review by: Alan c. S, January 2014
Excellent. As ever, not enough time for me.
Review by: Krishna M C, December 2013
The guide/driver (Ricky) is very good, fun and friendly. He introduced us (all the tourists in his vehicle) to a word "¡Ay, caramba!" and we still think of him. And his partner (who is an employee, but taking the tour along with us) is also very helpful explaining things, guiding and friendly. We would love to go with these two gentlemen again when we revisit.
Review by: Jasmina B, December 2013
very interesting places
Review by: Hermine F B, September 2012
I have seen better caves, but then, I have travelled to many places in the world. The cave tour was professionally done, no complaints.
Review by: Roman C T, September 2012
Wonderful Experience with and Excellent Guide who was very knowledgeable and helpful. Took his time to answer questions and did not provide a Hurried Environment". Rain Forest is a must.
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