The Best Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo, Puerto Rico

The Arecibo area on the northwest side of Puerto Rico offers some amazing outdoor adventures. There are outdoor activities for all levels of adventurers.

I stayed in Arecibo with my family for a week during the December holidays. Outdoor adventures we found near Arecibo included caving, rock climbing, hiking, snorkeling, and bodyboarding. I’ll give you all the information here to enjoy this beautiful outdoor area of Puerto Rico.

Where is Arecibo?

Arecibo is located on the Atlantic Ocean on the north coast of Puerto Rico. It’s about an hour’s drive west of San Juan. The area is known for its magnificent tropical beaches and volcanic rock shores.

In the winter, the waves of Puerto Rico’s north side crash constantly making swimming an adventure of being tossed around in the surf. Surfers and bodyboarders find this area a mecca for watersports.

Inland toward the town of Ciales, karst formations dominate the landscape. These limestone cliffs feature some of the best rock climbing in Puerto Rico. Wild caves formed by water dissolving the limestone rocks predominate in this area.

If you travel west to the beaches near Aguadilla on the Caribbean Sea, there are perfect places for snorkeling and surfing. The coasts are less exposed to the north winds so underwater exploration is more accessible.

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Logistics of Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo

The best way to enjoy the beaches, mountains, and trails near Arecibo is to have a car to get around. I use Discover Cars to find the best deals on rental cars. The best thing about Discover Cars is the reputable local car rental agencies they work with. Once again, I had a great experience with the car company I found through Discover Cars. They were friendly, helpful, not pushy, and gave me a very affordable price compared to other agencies. For those of you looking for a low-stress car rental experience, I highly recommend Discover Cars.

It’s difficult to rent outdoor gear in the Arecibo area so we brought our own snorkeling gear and climbing gear. We bought bodyboards at one of the big box stores on the way. Since many of the beaches have volcanic rock or sea urchins in the shallows, I recommend wearing water shoes. Tevas or Chaco sandals are always a good choice. Finally, good hiking shoes will prevent your feet from getting ripped up by the razor-sharp volcanic rock found on the trails.

Accommodations near Arecibo

If you want to be close to the best beaches near Arecibo, book a place to stay along Route 681.

The Ventana al Atlantico Boutique Hotel is a beachfront hotel with the white sand and ceruelean blue of the ocean just steps away. They have a pretty pool and a hot tub.

A lovely apartment with an ocean view has a kitchen. It’s right in the middle of the action if you like the beaches. Being outside of Arecibo puts you closer to many of the outdoor adventures.

If you want to stay closer to Arecibo, try the Jardin del Mar Guesthouse. The well-run guesthouse is close to everything you need including shopping, restaurants, and beaches.

Hiking Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo

La Cueva del Indio Hike

Don’t miss hiking La Cueva del Indio, a marine reserve and archeological site near Arecibo. The hike is on razor-sharp lava along the dramatic coast. Immense sea arches battered by the turquoise surf appear on the easy climb up a volcanic hill. All told, there are seven arches spaced along the breathtakingly beautiful coastline.

A huge double arch folded into a massive sea cave is a centerpiece of the hike. The surf pounds the rock arches in a rush of swirling Caribbean blue and white foam of the breaking waves. Views stretch east down the coast to a distant perfect stone arch and to the Arecibo Lighthouse on the westernmost point of land.

For film aficionados, La Cueva del Indio was a movie location for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Ancient Taino Rock Art

Eventually, you will see a stone amphitheater of carved steps in the rock. Crowds gather here to peer down into the sea caves below. Watch your step to avoid accidentally stepping into a hole in the lava that will drop you into the rocky cave below.

Ancient Taino rock art carvings adorn the walls of the cavern. While the ladder that used to give access to the cave is gone (probably wisely to prevent vandalism), it’s still possible to squeeze down a narrow passage to enter the cave.

Look for a keyhole in the wall of the amphitheater. Some basic rock climbing ability is useful to climb up to the opening. Then squeeze through a constricted tunnel and downclimb into the cave.

Up-close glimpses of the Taino petroglyphs will be your reward for the climb. The Taino people are the native indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. They supported themselves by farming and fishing in Puerto Rico. The Taino tribe was decimated by the violence of Columbus and other Spanish conquerors starting in the 15th century. However, now descendants preserve modern Taino culture throughout the Caribbean by protecting cultural artifacts such as these.

La Cueva del Indio hike logistics

Access to La Cueva del Indio is by guided tour from San Juan or by personal exploration with a car.

For those with a car, a parking lot and a privately run entry point are at the 9 km marker on Route 681 going toward Arecibo. Admission is $10 per person for adults, slightly less for seniors/juniors.

However, La Cuerva del Indio is a public marine reserve so you can enter for free at several locations. Park beside the road at the 8.3 km marker on Route 681 and enter at the sign for Cuerva del Indio. A pleasant trail through the palms will bring you to a crescent beach. Climb the volcanic plates to the left for the hike to the arches and cave.

Most importantly, I advise good hiking shoes rather than flip flops to walk on the sharp rock. In addition, bring water as there is no shade.

Survival Beach hike

The hike into Survival Beach takes only about 20-30 minutes. However, the scenery is spectacular, so take your time. The trailhead for the hike is at Surfer’s Beach near Aguadilla. Park in the large lot and find a signed entrance to the trail at the end of the parking lot. Follow over a bridge and through the tropical vegetation until you reach a rocky beach. The carved rocks are perched on pedestals surrounded by crashing waves.

Continue the hike up into the trees on a path overlooking the shore. Eventually, you will walk down to the spacious Survival Beach to enjoy a remote beach accessible only by foot. Wear hiking shoes as there is some boulder hopping along the coast and lots of roots and rocks on the trail.

In addition, there are some fine bouldering and rock climbing areas along the trail. Overall, it is a gorgeous trek through sculptured rock gardens to a white sand beach that stretches for miles.

Water Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo

Snorkeling at Shacks Beach

The best snorkeling area in northwest Puerto Rico is Shacks Beach. The long, narrow beach that adjoins the sheltered reef is uncrowded and peaceful. The crystal clear water is teeming with colorful tropical fish and sea turtles. Underwater features we saw included elkhorn, brain, and sea fan corals. You can see the extensive restoration of the reef while snorkeling. The variety of marine life you can see in this underwater paradise makes this an excellent beach to visit.

There is also a blue hole to explore, and for scuba divers, there are caves to wander through. Windsurfers and kitesurfers skim over the waters beyond the reef.

The currents run parallel to the beach and can be quite strong at times. We discovered the best way to deal with the current was to just let it push us along while snorkeling. Next, we would get out of the water further along the beach when we were done and walk back.

Shacks Beach is located toward Aguadilla on the northwest part of the island. Parking is on the road or open field before you drive into the neighborhood near the beach. This snorkel beach is close to Surfer Beach where the Survival Beach hike begins.

Related post -> Kayaking and Snorkeling with the Amazing Sea Turtles of Tenerife

Bodyboarding on the Beaches of Arecibo

The north beaches of Puerto Rico are known for their winter surf. The crashing waves are great for bodyboarding and surfing. We purchased body boards at a store on our drive from San Juan. The inexpensive boards sure added excitement to the trip as it’s an outdoor activity that is fairly easy to learn.

The best beaches to bodyboard are Playa Caza y Pesca and Playa La Poza del Obispo. Caza y Pesca beach is along Route 681 and has a large parking lot. The beach tends to be steeper than others in the area so the waves are bigger. Try a few places along the beach to find the perfect waves for your ability. The beach has some nice shady spots and it is spread out enough to feel uncrowded.

The most scenic beach near Arecibo is La Poza del Obispo. It is located on a right-hand spur road off Route 681 when it makes a T. Follow the directions to the Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park and turn right for the beach parking.

La Poza del Obispo has a cove protected by massive sea stacks that calms the waves a bit. However, high-energy waves crash over the rocks sending a frothy spout of water into the air. This makes the swimming cove as fun as any ride at Disney.

The best bodyboarding is in the surf next to the swimming cove. The beach is shallow, making for long rides on the breaking waves.

Make sure you check the riptide reports before swimming and bodyboarding at the Arecibo beaches. We saw huge waves after a big storm which made hiking a better option for that day.

Caving Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo

The limestone of the area is the source of many solution caves when water flows through and dissolves the rock. Wild caves can be found throughout the mountainous areas near Ciales, a 45-minute drive from Arecibo.

I hiked into the Cuerva Las Archillas, a three-chambered cavern east of Ciales. A local showed me the spot on Google maps where I could find the unmarked trail into the woods to get to the cave. From Ciales, take Route 145 east for about 4 minutes until the road turns sharply south. Just past that curve, park on the east side of the road and search for a trail cut into the woods.

The 30-40 minute hike through the jungle is steep in places. Fortunately, the trail was marked by orange flagging as it is hard to follow in places. As you approach the cave, there are excellent views of the valley. Continue around a cliff and hike for a few minutes more to arrive at the cave.

Exploring Cuerva Las Archillas

The cavern entrance is guarded by a huge black stalactite. The first chamber is open to the light. Duck under a low ceiling to enter the next chamber of the cave. Here, bats fly around the cave and hang from the ceilings. Be careful of the bat guano on the floor.

Continue toward the massive arch opening in the back of the cave that leads outside. Many stalactites and stalagmites can be seen here. Go all the way to the opening because a tunnel to the third cavern appears on the left. Head through the tunnel to discover the biggest of the cave rooms. Enjoy the many cave features of this huge chamber. The enormous double arches opening up to the jungle are the centerpiece here.

There is a lot of natural light in the cave rooms, however, using a headlamp lets you see the gorgeous cave formations and the bat colony much better.

Rock Climbing Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo

It’s not surprising that the pocket-filled limestone cliffs in Puerto Rico make for great rock climbing. We climbed at two different areas on the island. Mountain Project has all the beta for the many climbing sites inland and on the ocean cliffs.

Julio Enrique Monagas National Park near San Juan has some fun climbs as well as hiking and mountain biking trails. It’s wonderful to find this oasis of green for outdoor adventures tucked into the city limits. The climbing here is on tuffaceous rock with its friendly holds. The cliff looks like a cave uplifted from underground as it is covered with flowstone curtains.

The premiere limestone crag is near Ciales, a short drive from Arecibo. Flying Coconut Crags was developed by ex-pat Eli and his family as first-class climbing area near the Toro Negro Mountains. There are 58 sport climbs ranging from 5.7 to 5.12+ in difficulty. The impressive cliff is a destination for climbers from around the world.

Wrap Up of Outdoor Adventures near Arecibo

Puerto Rico is full of hidden gems for outdoor adventure. You will need to talk to the locals to find these perfect spots to adventure. Don’t expect perfectly manicured trails or plentiful signage (or any signs). Ask the locals to tell you their favorite places and scribble it on the back of a napkin and set out. Sometimes the adventure is just finding a secret spot. However, if you aren’t into cryptic scrawls to find a place, local tour guides are knowledgeable and skilled.

I have adventured many times on the east side of Puerto Rico. I’ve backpacked in El Yunque, kayaked the bio bay of Vieques, snorkeled the waters of Culebra, and paddled to tiny islands. This post unveils activities in nature I have found on the other side of the island. As always, treat this fragile island landscape with care. Here is a 4-day Puerto Rico itinerary for exploring other parts of the island. For more ideas of places to see in Puerto Rico, check out PR iconic rapper Bad Bunny’s suggestions.

Related post -> Outdoor Adventures on the Yucatan Peninsula