Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) says the Camuy River Cave Park National Park will partially reopen before the end of the year, after several years out of service. Secretary Waldemar Quiles said maintenance work is underway: new plants have been planted, and the viewing platforms for Lares, Camuy and Hatillo are practically ready, letting visitors see the sinkhole shared by the three towns and the Camuy river channel.
The trolley that once carried visitors to the caves remains out of service, and transportation alternatives are still being evaluated, so visitors will walk the grounds for now. Lighting will be installed on the paths leading to Cueva Clara, a main attraction that survived the impacts of recent hurricanes. The cafeteria and gift shop will not be available initially because both spaces are in an auction process.
State-funded investment so far is about one million dollars, with rehabilitation work lasting roughly a year; the DRNA also holds four million dollars in FEMA funds it expects to use for further improvements. Quiles said a partial reopening should not wait for all work to finish, because the park needs to start generating revenue to fund other rehabilitation projects.
The DRNA is also implementing a virtual ticketing system and other administrative tools. The mayors of Camuy, Lares and Hatillo have proposed transferring ownership of the park from the DRNA to the towns, but Quiles said doing so now would be a mistake.