Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Tres Pueblo Sinkhole
This massive depression
(main
image)
plunges 400 ft (120 m) and
was formed when the ceiling of an
underground cavern collapsed. The Río
Camuy at its base can be seen emerging
from one cavern and entering another.
$
Trolley Ride
^
Bats
Your visit begins with a ride in a
trolley
(above)
that snakes downhill past
bamboo and banana trees to the cave
entrance. The return journey passes by
the Tres Pueblo Sinkhole.
More than 100,000 bats roost in
the caves, where they cling to rooftop
crevices by day, before swarming out
in hordes at dusk to forage for insects.
&
Río Camuy
This river weaves its
way through the cave sys-
tem. It has been carving
out the subterranean
landscape for millions of
years, assisted by rain-
water that seeps into the
limestone, weakening the
structural joints
(below)
.
Sacred Caverns
The Taíno never lived in
caves, which they con-
sidered sacred portals
to the spirit world. They
drew pictures of fear-
some gods to guard the
entrances, and only high-
ranking community
figures, like shamans,
were allowed to enter.
These people believed
that their ancestral
spirits lived in caves and
only emerged at night
to eat fruits. Legend has
it that the spirits were
so occupied in gorging
themselves that they
were still outside the
caves when the sun
came up, turning them
into human beings.
*
Tarantulas
(
Cueva Catedral
These huge, hairy,
long-legged spiders are
numerous in the cool,
damp interior of the caves.
They play an important
part in the local ecology
and are harmless
unless provoked.
This cavern
(below)
contains more than
40 pre-Columbian picto-
graphs. Reaching the
entrance requires a
rappel down a rock wall
and should be arranged
with local tour operators.
)
Visitor
Center
Information
panels are on dis-
play in the timber-
and-fieldstone
visitor center. A
short film on the
cavern system
and its formation
is shown prior to
the guided tour.
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