Puerto Rico

Arecibo

Puerto Rico

Population
49,318
Currency
USD$1.000/$

Arecibo is a city of 88,000 people (2020) on the north coast of Puerto Rico, and was best known for its giant radio telescope, which collapsed in late 2020. It is one of Puerto Rico's oldest colonial-era settlements, dating from 1616.

Guide content adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Arecibo". Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Weather

Live

31°C

Mainly clear · feels like 34°C

  • 61%
  • 17 km/h
  • AQI 17
  • SunThunderstorm25° / 31°
  • MonThunderstorm25° / 31°
  • TueThunderstorm25° / 31°
  • WedThunderstorm24° / 31°
  • ThuOvercast25° / 33°

Measured at 18.472, -66.716 · America/Puerto_Rico

Arecibo map

Understand

Understand

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The limestone karst landscape along the Northern coast (Arecibo included) form some of the most distinctive Puerto Rican geographical features and make for scenic panoramas.

Getting there

  • San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
  • Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
  • Ponce: Mercedita Airport
Map of Arecibo

Arecibo is about 80 km (an hour's drive) west of San Juan along PR-22.

Getting around

Get around

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What to see

  • 1 Arecibo Pueblo (downtown Arecibo). See the historic Roman Catholic church, Spanish-style recreational plaza, and the municipal buildings surrounded by streets and shops.
    You can drive around the pueblo or park your car and walk around the square and into the plaza. The Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for celebrations and festivities.
  • Río Camuy Cave Park. Nestled in the forests south of Arecibo is the Rio Camuy Cave Park. This is one of the largest cave systems in the world. Bring your lunch with you as there is a wait, but it is well worth it. Wear shoes with grip because the cave is damp and slippery. Watch out for guano
  • Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park. M-F and holidays 9AM - 6PM, Sa Su 10AM - 7PM. A cultural theme park in the surrounding area of the Arecibo Lighthouse. It has an innovative and unique concept that includes among other things five cultural representations of the Puerto Rico's history, which transports visitors through historical and cultural events from the Spanish Conquest of 1493 when this lighthouse was built to 1898 when the Spanish-American war occurred. In the restored lighthouse you will find original marine artifacts, and from the roof a breathtaking view of the Arecibo Town and the Atlantic Ocean, and if you are lucky, whale watching while in season. Adult 13-64 $12, child 2-12 or senior 65+ $10, parking $3..
  • 2 Arecibo Observatory (approximately ten miles south of town), ☏ . Closed until further notice for repairs. On a mountainous and somewhat isolated (but fairly well signposted) road, the Arecibo Observatory is home to what was for over 50 years the world's largest radio telescope, operated by SRI International, USRA and UMET, under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The telescope collapsed in December 2020, but the observatory is open to visitors as of March 10, 2022.

All guide text on this page is adapted from Wikivoyage and reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Prices and opening hours change — verify anything that matters before you rely on it.

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