Hyatt North Course /Frazier Nivens
North February-2004, By:Joanne Curcio
Experience the North Shore
Dorado, Arecibo, Camuy. Golf, Caving and “Big Science,
Beyond its coastline with a string of fabulous beaches, the north of the Island has several natural and man-made attractions that shouldn’t be missed. Whether your taste runs to golf, caving, forests or “Big Science,” you will find it in the North.
For golfers, the municipality with the highest concentration of golf courses in Puerto Rico is Dorado, with five impressive 18-hole golf courses, four of which were designed by the renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr. The fifth course was recently opened after a redesign by Puerto Rican golf legend Chi Chi Rodríguez.
“Big Science” is found just inland of the town of Arecibo at the Arecibo Observatory. This is the largest single dish radio telescope in the world. The huge dish may be viewed up close from an observation deck that is part of the visitors center. The center also includes exhibits that explain the workings of the instrument and the wonders of the cosmos.
Not far from Arecibo are several national forests noted and protected for their beauty, fragility and unique karstic landscape - haystack rock formations and limestone sinkholes.
Two types of caving are available in the North. The first and best known is the Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy. This is one of the largest cave systems in the world. Run by the Department of Natural Resources, you will find a visitors center and a trolley system to take you down for a tour through this well developed cave. A perfect trip for the whole family and not to be missed. For the more adventurous (actually a lot more adventurous) a number of tour operators offer adventure tours such as rappelling and rafting in the caves and rivers of the North.
In addition to the year round cave experience, in the month of March, Camuy features the family-oriented, nature-friendly Balseada del Río Camuy which brings thousands together to enjoy the great outdoors and the Camuy River. The all-day activity begins in the Camuy town center where families gather before heading to the river to float on rafts, inner tubes, kayaks and creative homemade people-power vessels.
Another water theme event is the Festival and Maratón de la Chopa in Toa Alta. The chopa is a freshwater fish in Toa Alta’s La Plata Lake. The marathon portion of the activity includes running, boxing and fishing for chopa. The fish caught during the tournament are cooked up and served to the crowds. Besides the excitement of the marathon and festival, Toa Alta’s other attractions make it worth a visit. The town plaza, which is one of the oldest on the Island, has the well-preserved 250-year-old church, Parroquia San Fernando Rey, as well as an extremely rare century-old Arbol Bala de Cañon (Cannonball Tree). The tree has beautiful white, yellow and red flowers and its fruit looks like a cannonball, hence the name.
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2005-08 Dorado
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