Cuevas Arenales — Attraction in Vega Baja

• TOURISTS PLEASE READ *

This place was absolutely AMAZING. The drive was beautiful and the swim hole is divine. My partner and I went on a day it was raining and it amplified our experience. We also met a very cute native to the swim hole (a very friendly stray dog that follows you around). But there are some tips and MUST KNOWS FOR TOURISTS as follows;

the drive over (we drove over from Carolina) is beautiful but very narrow two way roads. So please be careful, some roads are even along the cliff side. Good practice is to honk before coming up on a tight curve. the road then continues onto a small off-beaten road (I believe called Morovis) and you will reach a parking lot that has a sign saying they accept $3.00 donations, WE RECOMMEND TO PARK YOUR CAR HERE (reasons will follow). There are reported break-ins at this parking lot but just make sure to take all your belongings. This is still the best option. if you choose to continue left of the parking lot you will have to proceed down A VERY STEEP HILL to which you will have to REVERSE YOUR CAR all the way up out of in order to exit. Locals will also poach tourists and park their tow trucks really close to the exit roads to try and get you to fall over a slight ditch.

If you're able to find a local or friend you can trust to take you down it is 5/5 worth the experience. OR if you're able to find safe parking just outside before Morovis begins and just walk the rest of the way, I would definitely recommend it! Just trying to look out for whomever is thinking of going. Although it was quite a fiasco towards the end of the experience, we wouldn't change it for the world.

Highly recommend if conditions are fair! Hope this is helpful.

Photos will be attached!...

Been to PR twice, stopped here both times. Can pay local property owner to park at the top of the hill then walk down, or drive down a steep narrow hill to a parking space beliw and park for free. From there you walk up the river a short way. When we went the 2nd time there was a guy with a jeep offering rides from the parking lot above all the way to the caves, including up the river, for a small fee.

The spot is a place where a rocky river cuts through a hill side forming a cave river maybe 100 feet or so long. Water is very deep, but very slow. You can easily swim up through the cave, there are a couple rocks here and there you can take a break on. There are several places you can jump ranging from a few feet in height to maybe 20ish if you go to one of the shelves in the cave.

Not a lot of space to just sit and relax, it's rocky not sandy. But it's definitely worth a visit just for the uniqueness/beauty of the spot. Local people we met there...

Listen... everyone else who recommends paying for the $5 parking is wise. The road going down only has maybe room for two vehicles right before where the old yellow gate used to be. Do not drive past those yellow posts. The road down is steep, and most vehicles will struggle to get back up. Forget about it if the road is wet. There is a tow truck number at the bottom, and I can only imagine the fee is as steep as the road. Even if you dare to drive to the bottom, then you have a slippery rise and rough broken road that is steeper than any pictures portray. An ATV or dirt bike may be ok, but not a car, maybe a jeep if it's a real offroad vehicle. Maybe. Then be ready to get fully wet getting to the cave. Very worth the swim. Use a dry bag if you can. Not sure what is upstream of the cave, but it's fun to swim in. Jump off some rocks, and beware of the submerged boulders. Posted pictures are after reaching the bottom of...