Camuy River Cave, Lares, PR (July 11th, 2014)

Again up fairly early to get to the Camuy River Cave. It is in the middle of the island, toward the northwest side. GPS wouldn't find it by name so put in the coordinates we were able to find via then internet. This got us very close and then started taking us through fields and back roads. We finally decided to turn around. We tried asking several people if they knew where the Camuy River Caves were, but the language barrier made it difficult. We saw lots of small farms and cattle ranches. Cattle were in grass that went well above their stomachs. We saw a cow in the back of a truck, just riding along. The driver was driving faster than we were, on roads that were very rough, and cow just stood there!

Who needs a trailer when you have a really small truck?

We arrived at the cave at 10:30. Tickets were $12 each and $3 to park. After waiting about 20 minutes they took us about a mile in a small train like transport to the cave entrance. 

It appears the cave is owned by the National Forest Service and is run by an independent operator. It is very easy walking as all of the paths are concrete, and most have hand rails, there were also lots of lights on the concrete paths. The largest room was 350 feet long, 200 feet wide and 75 feet tall. All tours have a guide that keeps the group together.  Very cool but fairly commercial. 

Outside the cave looking in

Stalagmites and stalagtites are everywhere

Inside the cave looking out

If you keep your eyes out, you will even see some of the local inhabitants. 

He was huge!

After the cave we headed to the town of Lares. This is a small town where our friend Kathy’s husband grew up. The town was difficult to find as it’s in the middle of the jungle with lots of vegetation and located on the side of a steep hill. Upon arriving in town we had a light lunch at Pizza Columbo. The owner spoke no English nor did most people in the town. We made him very nervous, although we didn’t mean to. We spoke as much Spanish to him as we could, but we are pretty poor Spanish speakers.  

We were looking for an ice cream shop that our friend Kathy had recommended, so we used our daughter, who is fairly fluent in Spanish, as our interpreter to see if the shop owner knew where it was. He explained to her that it was closed for a long time, but that was all that she could get out of the conversation. We were able to find someone in the pharmacy who spoke English very well, and she was able to tell us that unfortunately it was closed as owner had recently passed away and family wasn't planning to reopen it. She then told us where we could find another shop as we were all wanting ice cream (helados). 

Cooling off with some wonderful helados

We walked by a shoe store with cute shoes (zapatos) in the outside window. Found greats sandals for $10 to $12 a pair. Ended up buying four pairs! Great souvenirs! It started raining as we were in the shop. After it stopped the Mosquitos came out. They even came into the store as the front door was open. These were the only Mosquitos we had seen on the entire trip. Used some deet and they stayed away. 

On our way back to Condado, we noticed that all of the trucks use steel window wells instead of fenders. What a great way to recycle!

It was a really fun day in Puerto Rico, which we are really beginning to like a bunch!