15 Best Caves in Puerto Rico for 2023 (By a Local)
Visiting the caves in Puerto Rico is an activity that should 100% be on your vacation itinerary.
Cave lovers and adventurers will find all kinds of caves to explore, from underground to beachfront and everything in between. They truly are one of the best things to do in Puerto Rico.
As a Puerto Rico local, I’ve explored many of the island’s caves and they never cease to amaze me. If you’re looking for an outdoor (or underground) adventure, then these are the 15 best caves in Puerto Rico you need to visit.
Let’s go!
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15 Best Puerto Rico Caves
Rio Camuy Cave Park
Discover the largest cave system in the west formed by an underground river
📍 Google Maps | Costs: $18 entrance
The Río Camuy Cave Park consists of hundreds of limestone caves and caverns, formed by the Camuy River – the world’s third-largest underground river. Only a fraction of this system is open to the public, but the main cave entrance is in Camuy. From there, you can take a cave tour through Cueva Clara, Cueva Espiral, Empalme Sinkhole, and Tres Pueblos Sinkhole.
👉 My Favorite Gear: Wearing shoes with grip is essential as the caves are slippery. The Columbia Newton Ridge plus hiking boots are lightweight, waterproof, and feature a rubber sole for a better grip.
Cueva del Indio
Descend into a cave carved by both nature and the Taino hundreds of years ago
📍 Google Maps | Costs: $5 per person or free on-street parking
Cueva del Indio cave is located inside an impressive cliff that rises over the coast of Arecibo. Besides the scenery seen from the top, this oceanfront cave is famous for hosting a group of Taino petroglyphs that history buffs can’t miss.
👉 Pro Tip: To save money, park on the street and walk along the shore to the cave. Exploring the cave is free, but there is a fee to use the private entrance to access it. If you’re a budget traveler, don’t miss my guide on how to plan a cheap trip to Puerto Rico.
Cueva Ventana
A cave with a window to the valley and the Río Grande de Arecibo
📍 Google Maps | Cueva Ventana Website | Costs: $20 entrance | Note: TEMPORARILY CLOSED (As of March 2022)
Cueva Ventana means window cave, and travelers can easily understand the origin of this name. This cave features a large opening at its end from where you can see the countryside and the Rio Grande de Arecibo flowing calmly below. The hike is strenuous, but the view is out of this world.
👉 Pro Tip: As of March 2022, Cueva Ventana is temporarily closed. Before visiting make sure to call ahead to confirm if they’re open again.
A beachfront cave with a picture-perfect location
📍 Google Maps | Costs: Free
If instead of hiking up cliffs and mountains to get to a cave, you rather walk along the beach, then this cave is for you. You can find this nameless cave in Navio Beach in Vieques, but you can only access it if you visit during the seasons with a low tide.
📚 Bookmark for Later: Best Puerto Rico Beaches
Cueva del Arco
A cave the size of a building that you can explore while walking, swimming, or rappelling
📍 Google Maps | Costs: free
Cueva del Arco is a huge open cave that rises over the Tanamá River in Utuado. While hiking to the cave alone is not entirely impossible, the trail is slippery and confusing, so it’s best practice to book a tour.
Besides admiring this natural wonder, visitors with a tour can do rappelling, river rafting, and cave tubing too.
Las Cabachuelas
Las Cabachuelas caves host petroglyphs and a variety of wildlife
📍 Google Maps | Website | Costs: $35-$85
After learning about the Camuy River Park, it’s hard to believe that any other city in Puerto Rico could have any more caves, but Morovis features more than 60 of them! You can explore the most popular of these caves within Las Cabachuelas Nature Reserve, where you can see Precolumbian petroglyphs and a biodiverse ecosystem.
👉 Pro Tip: While you can opt to hike to the caves yourself for free, it can be dangerous for unfamiliar visitors. You can book the tour of your preference with Cabacoop, to explore the caves safely.
Desecheo Caves
Scuba dive in underwater caves full of fish, coral, rays, and sharks
Not all the top caves in Puerto Rico are above sea level. Diving enthusiasts should take a trip to the underwater caves in Desecheo Island, where they’ll find plenty of marine life and coral reefs. At the moment, you can reach the island only with the private tour that Taino Divers offers.
📚 Related Reading: Popular Things to Do in Rincón
Cueva Arenales
A cave with formations that seem out of a Star Wars movie
📍 Google Maps | Costs: free
You won’t find stalagmite formations in Cueva Arenales, but it’s still one of the most popular caves in Puerto Rico. Visitors can swim in Charco Azul right inside this cave in Vega Baja but they should always follow common Puerto Rico safety precautions as the area is prone to flash flooding.
👉 Pro Tip: Park in this location instead of going all the way down to the dead-end of the street. The road is too steep and most vehicles have trouble coming back up. There is a neighbor that offers supervised parking for $3.
Cuevas del Convento
Explore the caves with a biodiverse ecosystem and underground springs
📍 Google Maps | Website | Costs: Free | Temporarily Closed to Public
El Convento Caves are some of the best caves in Puerto Rico’s south karst region. These caves between Guayanilla and Peñuelas feature one of the largest bat populations on the island and the largest underground spring system in the south.
👉 Local Tip: As of March 2022, El Convento cave systems are officially closed to the public due to the constant seismic activity in the city. Many locals still visit the area, but visitors proceed at their own risk.
Cueva Diamante (& Mona Island Caves)
Caves with Precolumbian petroglyphs in an inhabited island
📍 Google Maps | Costs: Free
Mona Island presents adventurers the opportunity of exploring cave systems with bats, insects, plants, and most impressively, petroglyphs from the Taino and first Spaniards in Puerto Rico.
While you get to discover some of the best caves in Puerto Rico in this uninhabited nature reserve, visiting Mona Island is possible only with permission from the government or through private tours that depart Cabo Rojo.
Cueva del Viento
A large underground cave with a ladder that descends from the mouth to the dark interior
📍 Google Maps | Costs: Free
Cueva del Viento, or the Wind Cave, is one of the most popular caves in Puerto Rico. While you won’t find any evident underground river in it, you’ll still see beautiful stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. This cave is inside the Guajataca State Forest, where hiking lovers can tour some of the popular hiking trails in Puerto Rico.
👉 Pro Tip: The descending wood stairs to the cave are in bad condition. Avoid visiting with kids and take headlamps with you. The Juninp LED headlamps have adjustable straps and last up to 10 hours on one charge.
Tanama Canyon
A canyon in the mountainous region filled with caverns, caves, and long narrow tunnels
📍 Google Maps | Costs: free
The Tanama Canyon in Utuado is a paradise for cave explorers. You can explore Tanama Canyon by hiking, body rafting, rappelling, and tubing.
Besides housing Cueva del Arco, the Tanama Canyon is home to dozens of caves and caverns. One of the most popular ones is Cueva Portillo, located at the base of the canyon. This long and underground river cave has sections over a thousand feet long.
Some of the tours offered in the area take you to these tunnels, where occasionally you’ll swift calmly in total darkness. Visiting it is definitely one of the best activities in Utuado.
👉 Pro Tip: In theory, you can visit the Tanama Canyon on your own. But, it’s far from recommended, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with the area. Book a Tanama Eco Adventure tour to enjoy a safe adventure!
Cueva de Las Golondrinas in Manatí
A beach cave name after the dozens of swallows that visit it
📍 Google Maps | Costs: free
Among all the great things to do in Manatí, one of the best activities is to visit Cueva Las Golondrinas. This open cave sits on the coast between Boquillas Beach and the infamous Poza de las Mujeres Beach.
Cueva de Las Golondrinas gets its name after the dozens of swallows that fly and nest inside it.
During the low tide season in the summer months, a natural pool forms inside the cave, and visitors can dip inside the bright turquoise waters. But, only do so when the tide is low.
👉 My Favorite Gear: If you’re planning on visiting Cueva de las Golondrinas, make sure to wear water shoes as the rocks are slippery and there are sea urchins in the area. The VIFUUR water shoes are quick-drying and super easy to pack.
Pozo de Jacinto
A beachfront pit cave with a famous legend behind it
📍 Google Maps | Costs: free
El Pozo de Jacinto isn’t exactly a cave you can enter, but you can appreciate it from the outside. El Pozo del Jacinto is a blowhole located on the coast of Isabela, between Jobos Beach and Montones Beach.
One of Isabela’s main attractions, this pit cave has a peculiar legend behind it. It’s said Jacinto was dragged by his cow into the swimming hole and now, if you call out “Jacinto, dame la vaca” which means “Jacinto give me the cow”, the water splashes you.
Keep in mind this cave is not for swimming!
Cueva Golondrinas in Isabela
A beautiful opening by the sea where you can take great pictures
📍 Google Maps | Costs: free
Puerto Rico has more than one cave named Golondrinas Cave, and one of them is in Isabela. Located in El Pastillo Beach, one of Isabela’s best sites to visit, Cueva Golondrinos is an arched opening right by the sea.
This open cave is accessible only when the tide is low, which is usually during the summer months. Like Cueva de las Golondrinas in Manatí, this cave is also the home of numerous swallows.
Hiking enthusiasts will love the 20-minute hike from the access point of the beach to where you’ll find the beach.
Although El Pastillo Beach is ideal for sunbathing and relaxing, it’s not safe for swimming.
FAQs About Caves in Puerto Rico
Does Puerto Rico have caves?
Puerto has thousands of caves and caverns spread across the island.
How many caves are there in Puerto Rico?
While there isn’t an official number, it’s estimated there are over 2,000 caves in Puerto Rico.
What is the largest and most important cave system in Puerto Rico?
The largest and most important cave system in Puerto Rico is the Rio Camuy Cave Park, which is also the third-largest underground system in the world.
How deep are the Rio Camuy caves?
The largest Caves in the Rio Camuy Cave Park measure hundreds of feet. It’s believed the system extends for miles and goes hundreds of feet deep under the surface. The Santa Clara cave is 215 feet high, and the Three Town sinkhole is over 400 feet deep.
What city are the Rio Camuy caves located in?
The Rio Camuy Caves are located between the cities of Camuy, Hatillo, and Lares in Puerto Rico.
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That’s the complete list of the best caves in Puerto Rico! If you want to explore other impressive sights then check out my list of the best destinations to see in Puerto Rico.
Las Cabachuelas estan abiertos al público? Algún contacto para conocerlas?