What is the fastest way to drive from Rincon or Ponce to Camuy Caves and to the Arecibo observatory? Which would ould it be faster without "fear of heights", direct to the caves and observeratory. How long for each choice? 've just found out that both are closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so I have to rearrange my trip plans but have to start from Ponce or Rincon not San Juan. Thanks.

If driving from Ponce you're best bet is to drive around the west coast along Rt 2 towards Arecibo and then take Rt 129 south towards Lares. The entire drive should take about a good 2 hours.

Wow, I didn't expect that I'd have to drive all the way around the island (but will if you still think its best). How about 10 out of Ponce, to Utado for the night and then on the Camuy and then the Observatory? Is 10 too twisty? Will the fear of heights factor rule it out?

We had this same problem a couple of weeks ago! You really need to drive all the way around. We tried to go through the center but had to turn back as some of the roads are washed out - we were coming from Rincon to the caves and then going to Ponce after. Trust me it is faster to go around as the first person said. They are very nice but long wait for transportation and i am not sure if we had it to do over if we would have gone so far out of our way to see them. You are resticted to the one cave and as i said most of the time is waiting for their transportation but it was fun. I have to say Ponce was a huge disapointment we stayed at the Hilton.

Ponce Hilton dissapoints the uninformed---- their facilities have a casino, nice grounds, but no beach whatsoever. This is in posted many places in the internet, including guidebooks. Their staff is very nice, but again, I wouldn't stay there if looking to swim in the ocean. Ponce itself is a beautiful city, again, if you research it properly. The main square, the Cathedral, the Seralles Castle, the picturesque Fire Station, the nice kioskos on the ocean boardwalk (approx. one mile boardwalk by the ocean (chance for local music performers), even a visit to the Ponce Mall is a cultural experience on its own.

human-- have you considered staying in Mayaguez for the Rincon and Arecibo visit. The Mayaguez Hilton is a gorgeous hotel.

I do not like being "snippy" but I was also not uninformed. Ponce had very little to see except for the fire station. It was the only place I felt uncomfortable in our travels around the island. It was hard to find local restaurants as they are very spread out in neighborhoods that did not feel safe. They must not be safe as there are more police per square foot than in New york. Anyways Rincon was nice and so was the Isla Verde section of San Juan but i cannot think of a single reason to return to Ponce. Just my opinion!

WOW......anybody that would prefer Isla Verde to Ponce is in serious need of a good guidebook....YIKES. Isla Verde is a concrete jungle with fast food restaurants and traffic as main attractions. Again, anybody that visited Ponce and think the Fire Station is all there is....WOW. If you go to Ponce and do not know about the Serralles Castle (residence of the Bacardi Family- Rum Barons, open to the public, gorgeous grounds and vistas), then you probably need to stay in Isla Verde.... Again, nothing that a goofd guidebook and a map can't fix.

Isla Verde which is in Carolina, not San Juan, has a lot of hotels, casinos, nightclubs, bars, it's more of a nightlife place. Ponce has more cultural things to see: Castillo Serralles, Torre del Vigia (watch tower, the fire house, Museo de Arte de Ponce ( the best art museum in PR), etc. So it just depends on what you are looking for, nighlife or culture. Definitely Ponce is not what it was before and if you're coming to PR for the first time the San Juan area is my recommendation for first time visitors. BTW the Serralles Castle IS NOT OR WAS IT EVER owned by the Bacardi family. It was owned by the Serralles family, makers of the "DON Q" brand of rum, the best rum (subject of debate) made in PR. For Bacardi, visit their factory in Cataño.
To the first poster if you are unaware of the roads in PR or have never been, I recommend, like others have posted here, to take PR-2 west from Ponce and then PR-129 South and that should take you to the caves; the entrance will be on your left. Be there early as they stop accepting visitors before noon.