RSSFajardo Lighthouse
The Fajardo Lighthouse is located inside the Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. The reserve is a nature-lover’s paradise with trails passing through major tropical habitats. To preserve the fragile ecology of the reserve, open-topped trams transport visitors to the lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in the 19th century by the Spanish, and overlooks the 316-acre El Yunque Rainforest, endless expanse of sea dotted with islets and far off islands. There is a small nature center on the lower level of the lighthouse, while an antique iron staircase leads up to the observation deck.
The Fajardo Lighthouse is usually open to the public Friday through Sunday. Reservations are required (787) 722-5882 or (787) 860-2560 on weekends.
Maunabo Lighthouse
The lighthouse at Punta Tuna in Maunabo was built in the 19th century just before the Spanish lost the Spanish-American War. Maunabo is a little seaside village situated at the point where east of Puerto Rico meets south. The town is surrounded by the Cordillera Central mountain range just before they tumble into the Caribbean Sea. From the observation deck of the lighthouse this breathtaking views comes even more alive. The lighthouse is still functional and used by the US Coast Guard to warn ships of the risk of sailing too close to Maunabo’s shores. The antique fresnel lens of the lighthouse has been replaced with state-of-the-art technology.
Arecibo Radio Telescope
Nestled among the karst-country hills in the northwest of the island is one of the largest research facilities in the world. The highlight of this facility is the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory of Radio Telescope. The impressive size of the tiled dish is visible clearly from the viewing platform. The dish rests in a sinkhole and is always aimed at the sky. Its function is to detect the slightest sounds emitted by the stars, even those that are farthest from the Earth. This observatory is the base for NASA’s SETI program, and the Visitor’s Center has interactive scientific exhibits that demonstrate how the telescope is used to study radio emissions from space.
The Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory is open Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Saturday, Sunday and most holidays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
