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City and municipality in Puerto Rico
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Jpatokal at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
Parts of the state forest are open to visitors for hiking, mountain biking, camping and bird-watching.
Seaside restaurant with views of the lighthouse, specializing in fresh seafood cooked to order. Their menu includes red snapper, crab, octopus, mofongo, yuca and more. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Charming, family environment. Their mojitos are reportedly very good. They sell pizza as well.
Ocean views while enjoying a Piña Colada, also has a casual elegant dining room - The Fried Red Snapper is reported to be good.
Inn with free parking, pool, 24-hour service, has a restaurant on site. This is in Hatillo, adjacent and very close to Arecibo.
On the coast and located near the Arecibo lighthouse, this small inn features a restaurant.
A retail center with stores like Big K-Mart, Anna's Linens, Capri and Radio Shack.
By car
Arecibo is about 80 km (an hour's drive) west of San Juan along PR-22.
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