By The Star Staff
Next Wednesday, Feb. 22, the Camuy River Caves National Park will reopen to the public at its regular schedule following the shutdown caused by Hurricane Fiona last September.
“We once again have the opportunity to admire the incomparable beauty of the Camuy caverns, located in the karst area, after several unfortunate events that have forced intermittent closures since the serious impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017,” Natural and Environmental Resources Secretary Anaís Rodríguez Vega said in a written statement. “At the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, through its National Parks Program, we have worked hard to rehabilitate the Caverns and make them a safe place for the public to enjoy this ecological, historical, and cultural value.”
To make reservations and visit the park, call (787) 898-3100 / (787) 999-2200 ext. 3474, or by email: cavernasdecamuy@drna.pr.gov. Prospective visitors must specify the day they want to visit the park and the number of people. Reservations will return a confirmation email with the time assigned to it, according to availability.
“Las Cavernas del Río Camuy must become the main attraction of northern Puerto Rico in terms of tourism and must be one of the axes of economic development in the area,” Camuy Mayor Gabriel Hernández said. “We have the capacity to have a recreational park, well cared for, that is an educational center that is distinguished by its natural beauty and that is among the best in the world.”
The Camuy River Caves National Park is located on highway PR-129 from Arecibo to Lares at kilometer 18.9. To get there from PR-22, take exit 77B, which connects with PR-129 in the direction of Lares.
The park is open from Wednesday to Sunday and some holidays, from 8 a.m., by prior reservation. The park is closed on Monday and Tuesday.