What place am I urging you to visit this Travel Tuesday? A gem of a cave in the northwest coast of Puerto Rico that you must visit before it gets too crowded: Cueva Ventana Arecibo!

The two caves will wow you with their stalactites, stalagmites, bats and other critters that are part of this ecosystem—while the final, dramatic “window” provides panoramic views of Rio Grande de Arecibo in the adjacent valley.

See for yourself!

Ready to take the plunge into Cueva Ventana Puerto Rico, then…?!

How to Get to Cueva Ventana, Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Cueva Ventana is located on St # 10 in the northwestern town of Arecibo. To get there, simply take Expreso 22 from San Juan. Once in Arecibo, take Exit 75B toward Utuado.

When you see a Texaco gas station, you’ll be charged admission fee. Adults over 15 years of age pay $5; kids are free.

secret road we took after gas station — so our local guide saved us the admission fee 😉

Past the gas station, you begin walking down the path on the left for about 10-15 minutes. Then, you’ll encounter the first cave—underneath a dramatic tree!— which is surprisingly small and quite easy to enter and exit.

Afterward, you’ll see a clearing, at which you take a sharp right. There, you will quickly see the opening of the second cave. This is where it can get tricky!

Inside the first cave

There are some arrows drawn into the rock inside the second cave, pointing toward the “final window” or actual Cueva Ventana.

Aaaand we’re here *scary silence in the background*

Cueva Ventana Travel Tips

• If you’ve never been inside a cave though, you might get disoriented. For this reason, I highly recommend you contact the Sierra Club Puerto Rico to book a tour or simply go with a local Couchsurfer!
• You MUST bring some flashlights and sturdy rubber sole shoes, as the caves are dark (and sometimes slippery)!
• Make sure you get here no later than 9 AM to beat the crowds! This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the sounds and solitude of this hidden gem.
• Please, DO NOT use flash inside the caves. It will bother the bats and disturb their natural habitat. If you want to get a good shot of the stalactites, simply take photos of the ones close to the cave’s opening (no flash needed!).

Be wowed by Mother Nature!

Have you been to Cueva Ventana Arecibo? If not, would you visit?

CLICK HERE for more Cueva Ventana & Arecibo photos!