Is Río Camuy Cave Park open? (2026)

Who it's for: anyone planning a north-coast or karst-country day who has seen old blog posts saying the caves are open. Skip it if: you need a sure thing on a fixed date. Until the DRNA posts an opening date and a ticket system, treat the park as closed.

What we know right now

It is closed. A Metro Puerto Rico report from October 19, 2026 says the caves have been closed to the public indefinitely since 2023, after several reopening attempts following Hurricane María in 2017. A WAPA report from November 5, 2026 describes the park as out of service "for several years".

A partial reopening is promised for late 2026. In the November 5 WAPA report, DRNA Secretary Waldemar Quiles said the park "reabrirá parcialmente antes de que culmine este año" (will partly reopen before the year ends). He gave no date. Rehabilitation work has been going on for about a year, according to the same report.

This has slipped before. In October 2025, El Vocero reported that the DRNA expected a partial reopening between late 2025 and early 2026. That did not happen. We are not saying it will slip again, only that a promised date is not an opening date.

There is a fight over who runs it. The mayors of Camuy, Hatillo and Lares want the park moved out of the DRNA. Their October 2026 resolutions went to the Legislature. Secretary Quiles opposes the transfer. This does not change whether you can visit this month, but it could change who sells tickets later.

The DRNA website has no notice. On November 8, 2026, the DRNA home page had no notice, news item or ticket link for the park. It lists a general National Parks reservation line: 787-999-2200.

What will be open first (when it reopens)

According to the November 5, 2026 WAPA report, the first phase is planned to include:

• Cueva Clara, the main show cave. Lighting is being installed on the paths to it.
• Viewing platforms in Lares, Camuy and Hatillo, over the large sinkhole the three towns share and the Camuy River.

What will not be there at first, per the same report:

• The trolley. It is out of service, so visitors will walk. Expect steep paths. Plan on good shoes and some fitness.
• The cafeteria and gift shop. Both are going through an auction process. Bring water and food.
• Online tickets. The DRNA is still setting up a virtual ticket system.

Older guides list hours (Wednesday to Sunday), adult and child prices, and phone reservations. Those came from the 2023 reopening and are out of date. We will add hours and prices only when the DRNA publishes them.

[ISAIAH: first-hand note here, only when it reopens. Where the entrance is on PR-129, parking, how steep the walk to Cueva Clara is without the trolley.]

How to check before you drive

The park is on PR-129 between Camuy and Lares, about 2 hours from San Juan. Do not drive out on the strength of an old blog post. Before you go:

• Check here. We update this page when the status changes, with the date.
• Call the DRNA National Parks line, 787-999-2200. Older guides also list 787-898-3100 and the email cavernasdecamuy@drna.pr.gov for park reservations. We have not confirmed those are answered today.
• Search recent Puerto Rico news for "Cavernas de Camuy" (most coverage is in Spanish). An opening will be reported by El Vocero, Primera Hora, Metro or WAPA.

Even when it is open, the caves close in heavy rain. Call that morning if it has been raining.

Caves near Camuy you can visit now

Cueva Ventana (Window Cave), Arecibo

The best-known open alternative, about 35 to 45 minutes from the Camuy park [ISAIAH: confirm drive time]. It is a short guided walk through a cave to a natural "window" over the Río Grande de Arecibo valley. Run by a private operator, Aventura Cueva Ventana. From its own pages, checked November 8, 2026:

• Where: PR-10, km 57, Arecibo.
• Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (days of the week not listed; check when you book).
• Price: $29 per person plus IVU (sales tax). Children 3 to 10: $10 plus IVU.
• Length: about 90 minutes on the walking tour page (the booking page says 1 hour 15 minutes).
• Ages: children under 3 are not allowed, for insurance reasons.
• Shoes: closed-toe shoes required. No open shoes, wedges, heels, Crocs or beach shoes.
• Included: helmet and flashlight, and you must use them.
• Arrive 20 minutes before your start time.
• There is also a UTV "VIP" tour that drives you most of the way, for people who would rather not walk.

[ISAIAH: first-hand note here. How crowded the window was, whether the bats were out, how slippery the cave floor was.]

Tanamá River cave tubing, Arecibo/Utuado area

For a full adventure day rather than a short walk. Aventureo PR runs a Tanamá cave tubing trip. From its own page, checked November 8, 2026:

• Length: 5 to 6 hours, about "70% contact with water, 30% forest".
• Ages: kids older than 10, with parents who have outdoor experience. Adults should be in good physical condition.
• Meeting point: near the Arecibo Observatory. Hotel transport not included.
• Included: life jacket, helmet, showers and changing area, photos and video.
• Cancellation: free up to 72 hours before; 50% refund at 48 hours; no refund within 24 hours or for late arrival.
• Price: not shown on the tour page; see the booking page.

This is a river trip. Rivers in karst country rise fast after rain. Follow the guide's call on the day.

FAQ

Is Río Camuy Cave Park open in 2026? No, not as of November 8, 2026. It has been closed since 2023. The DRNA says it will partly reopen before the end of 2026, with no date announced.

When will the Camuy caves reopen? The DRNA Secretary said on November 5, 2026 that a partial reopening will happen before the year ends. An earlier target (late 2025 to early 2026) was missed, so wait for an announced date.

Can I buy tickets for the Camuy caves? Not yet. The DRNA is still setting up an online ticket system. Tours sold online "to the Camuy caves" should be checked carefully: ask exactly which cave you will enter.

What will be open when it reopens? Cueva Clara and viewing platforms over the sinkhole, per the DRNA plan reported on November 5, 2026. No trolley, cafeteria or gift shop at first.

What is the best cave to visit near Camuy instead? Cueva Ventana in Arecibo is open, with guided tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $29 plus tax per adult (checked November 8, 2026). For a longer adventure, Tanamá cave tubing runs 5 to 6 hours.

Who runs Río Camuy Cave Park? The DRNA. The mayors of Camuy, Hatillo and Lares are asking the Legislature to transfer it; the DRNA opposes this.