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Cueva Clara
Cueva Clara, a truly magical underground cavern located in Puerto Rico. Caves consist of spectacular natural features, including towering stalactites, massive stalagmites, a dramatic sinkhole, and the sight of the underground river itself. Cueva Clara de Empalme, or Clara Cave, is a central attraction of the Rio Camuy Cave Park. The Cave is a single chamber of the extensive cave system developed for public access since 1986. The massive chamber itself measures 212 m. long and 65 m high.
Geology
The geology around Cueva Clara (Clara Cave) is a classic example of karst topography, a unique landscape shaped by the dissolution of soluble bedrock, primarily limestone.
Karst Landscape: Cueva Clara is situated in Puerto Rico’s vast Northern Karst Belt, which consists of Oligocene to recent carbonates (limestone) overlying older volcanic rocks. This limestone is highly susceptible to dissolution by slightly acidic water, a process that forms the characteristic features of karst. Cave Formations (Speleothems): Inside the cave, you can observe breathtaking speleothems, which are secondary mineral deposits formed by dripping water. These include:
The Río Camuy Cave National Park
The Río Camuy Cave National Park is centered on one of the world’s most impressive cave networks, carved by the Río Camuy, the world’s third-largest underground river. Spanning the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo, and Lares, this system was “discovered” and first documented in the 1950s and 70s, though it was explored by the Taíno Indians hundreds of years earlier. Mapping efforts have identified over 10 miles of caverns, 220 caves, and 17 entrances; however, estimates suggest that 800 more caves remain unexplored. The popular 268-acre park offers tours of select caves and sinkholes, making it a major attraction in Puerto Rico.
Tri-Towns Sinkhole
The Tri-Towns Sinkhole (“Sumidero Tres Pueblos”) is a massive geological feature measuring 650 feet (195 m) wide. Located at the meeting point of the municipal borders of Camuy, Hatillo, and Lares, the impressive crater offers visitors views of the Camuy River flowing 120 m below. Each of the three towns hosts its own observation platform, providing multiple vantage points along the sinkhole’s rim.
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Tourism
Cueva Clara, or Clara Cave, most commonly refers to a major tourist attraction. Visitors begin their experience in a 90-seat theater with a short film explaining the Rio Camuy Cave System and safety procedures, followed by a train ride to the cave entrance.
Inside, guests on the regular guided or audio tours can observe stalactites, stalagmites, unique formations, thousands of bats, and a stunning 60-meter-deep entrance shaft, the “Sumidero de Empalme,” visible from the cave roof. Since November 2010, special, weekly “ECO NIGHTS” tours have also been available by reservation.
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How to reach Cueva Clara
To reach Cueva Clara, drive to the Rio Camuy Cave Park in northwestern Puerto Rico, which is accessible via PR-129. From the park entrance, you will take a tram or trolley through a forest to reach the cave’s entrance, as the cave is part of the larger park system.
