TravelWorld International Magazine Fall 2022

Recently reopened,
the Camuy Caves were
carved out by the thirdlargest
underground
river in the world.
Camuy River Cave Park
Once again open to the public after extensive
post-hurricane repairs, the Camuy Caves in
northwestern Puerto Rico are impressive.
Although you’ll typically enter through Cueva
Clara, it’s part of a massive limestone cavern
network extending from Camuy River, the
third-largest underground river in the world.
A tour guide leads you through the caverns,
explaining limestone formations and pointing
out indigenous vegetation and native species
such as the tailless whip scorpion spider -
arachnophobes beware.
Cabo Rojo Lighthouse Trail
The Cabo Rojo
Lighthouse Trail
ends at a gentle
crescent beach.
Short but splendid, the 1.5-mile Cabo
Rojo Lighthouse Trail is located on the
southwestern corner of Puerto Rico. It starts
by the reddish salt flats and climbs up to the
historic Los Morrillos Lighthouse. The view
here is spectacular. Tall limestone cliffs and
arches create a natural bridge over tourmaline
waters.
Best of all, this trail ends near the serene
crescent-shaped Playa Sucia, perfect for a
quick dip or a beachside nap.
Bioluminescent Bays
There are three
bioluminescent bays
in Puerto Rico, but
the brightest of them
all is on Vieques.
There are only a few bioluminescent bays
worldwide, three of which are in Puerto Rico.
In the Caribbean, a species of phytoplankton
called dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamese
glows blue when agitated. However, it takes
calm waters and dark night to observe the
phenomenon.
The brightest of the bioluminescent bays,
probably due to less light pollution and greater
enforcement of natural resource management,
can be found on the offshore island of Vieques.
There are a handful of tour companies offering
nightly kayak tours of Vieques’ Mosquito Bio
Bay. Still, only Abe’s Snorkeling & Bio Bay
Tours consistently gets the highest praise from
locals.
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