Cueva Ventana

Visitors craving a more comprehensive understanding of Puerto Rico, or who have more time to explore the island, should fly into Aguadilla and stay in the less luxurious Rincón area for a few days before heading towards San Juan. The drive from Rincón to the northern coast region is over two hours, but stopping at Cueva Ventana is a great way to break it up.

Adjacent to an abandoned gas station on the side of the road, it is easy to miss the trailhead leading to Cueva Ventana’s entrance. Pay the $10 entry fee and sign a waiver before heading a few hundred yards uphill, where guides, helmets and other visitors await. After finding the right size gear, join the group of mostly native Puerto Rican visitors and head towards the caves (be sure to tell your bi-lingual guide if you do not speak Spanish!)

Cueva Ventana is one large underground chamber broken up into smaller caves by stalactites, stalagmites and collapsed earth. Descending can be tricky, so this excursion is not recommended for small children or people with mobility issues. It is also not for the faint of heart. (Guides warn against stepping on the cockroaches and snakes on the cave floor and ask that nobody use flash photography, as the bats swarming on the ceiling are extremely sensitive to light.)

Persevere and you will see centuries-old graffiti from the native Taino culture scrawled on the walls and the magnificent vista that the cave opens to. ‘Ventana,’ is the Spanish word for window and the cave's opening overlooks green pastures, jungle-covered mountains and the “Rio Grande” of Arecibo.