Camuy Caverns and Arecibo Observatory
Camuy Caverns and Arecibo Observatory
Upon departing the your SeaDream yacht, you will proceed directly to the Ruo Camuy Cave Park located at the northwest side of the island. Your ride will carry you past the hills that typify karst geography, an area once rich in limestone deposits where over the centuries, the limestone has washed away leaving behind hundreds of mounds of more durable stone deposits covered with extremely dense tropical vegetation, commonly known as "haystack hills".
The extensive subterranean cave systems of the park are reported to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Until the completion of the expanded highway leading west to Camuy, the driving distance discouraged many from seeing this remarkable cave system. Today, a drive of approximately forty five minutes from Arecibo takes you past lush landscape, pineapple farms and jagged eroded limestone cliffs as you near the area of this massive subterranean wonderland.
Your visit to the park begins with a short open-air trolley ride that twist and turn their way through the road carved out of verdant foliage, before reaching the entrance to the cave. After this ten-minute trolley ride, you will have the time to experience the caves on a self-guided audio tour through the enormous 200 feet high and a half-mile long cave. A large opening at one end of the cave allows light to filter through part of the cave, creating beautiful photographic opportunities. From this opening you will see one of the many sinkholes carved out by the Camuy River, the world's third largest underground river. As you walk through the interior of the cave, passing stalagmites and stalactites, you will experience the eerie illusion of timeless steps into the earth's creation. The actual adventure in the caves takes approximately one hour.
Head of the line privilege at the park cannot be guaranteed. However, the administration is advised of the group's intent to visit in advance and in writing, and normally they are quite cooperative. Nevertheless, there can be waits on some occasions.
Following your visit to this fascinating underworld, there will be time for a luncheon at a nearby Puerto Rican style family restaurant before proceeding to the observatory. After lunch you will then head inland, gradually increasing altitude, until you arrive at the Arecibo Observatory, site of the world's largest electronic radio telescope, run and operated by Cornell University. The huge 1000 feet in diameter dish is suspended above an underlying karst sinkhole, and has been the site for various Hollywood movies such as "Contact" and "Goldeneye," plus various television shows.
The personnel at the observatory have arranged a very interesting display in the main building overlooking the dish and antenna, one which truly gives you an appreciation for the mission - listening for signs of extra-terrestrial life 24 hours a day - of this unique installation. In addition, you will have an opportunity to step out onto the balcony and personally gaze out at this incredible instrument. After this unique visit, you will have your transfer back to your SeaDream yacht in Arecibo.
Notes: Camuy Caves are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Camuy should be visited in the mornings, and not in the afternoons. The Arecibo Observatory is open daily until 4:00pm.
Guests are requested to wear comfortable walking shoes with rubber soles as it can be slippery!
A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures and some have limited capacity. This program is booked onboard only so please make your reservations as soon as possible after boarding to avoid disappointment. All adventures and prices in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. Not all of the land adventures shown will be offered on all voyages and departure times are subject to change. Final pricing and departures times will be published onboard.
Port: Arecibo
Duration: 7:15 hours
Current Price: 158 USD