Petroglyphs
Faces and symbols.
Monroe, W.H — Public domain · Yueyuemia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Felix Lopez — CC BY 2.0
A sea cave in limestone cliffs on Puerto Rico's Atlantic north coast, protected as a nature reserve and named the «cave of the Indian» for the many petroglyphs the Taíno carved on its walls: faces, symbols and human figures dating from centuries before the Spanish arrived. Visitors walk over rugged cliff-top rock above the sea, between natural rock arches and holes carved by the waves, where breakers burst into white foam. Then they climb down a metal ladder into the cave, which opens wide onto the ocean, its walls bearing the carvings. The view from the clifftops is among the north coast's finest, and the waters in front protect seagrass meadows where manatees feed. It makes a day trip from San Juan, combined with north-coast beaches. The rock is sharp and slippery, so wear sturdy shoes, keep back from the edge when waves are high, and do not go into the water. The sun is strong all year, so carry water, a hat and sunscreen.
Faces and symbols.
Wave-carved.
Above the ocean.
Islote, Arecibo, about an hour west of San Juan
It means walking on sharp rock and climbing down a metal ladder, so it suits adults and older children with care.