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Meridiela.

Guajataca Tunnel

A disused railway tunnel on the northwest coast opening onto a rocky beach, walked through in a few minutes.

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Typetunnel
WhereQuebradillas
Nearest cityQuebradillas
Best seasonDecember to April
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereOn PR-2 between Isabela and Quebradillas; parking at the roadside
EntryFree

The Guajataca tunnel was cut through the headland in the early twentieth century for the railway that ran round the island carrying sugar, and when the line closed in the 1950s the tunnel was left. It is short, lit at the ends by daylight, and it opens onto a rocky shore where waves break against the cliffs. A boardwalk and steps lead down. The setting, a tunnel mouth framing the sea, is the reason it is one of the more photographed spots on this coast.

What you actually see

  • The tunnel - a short railway cut through the headland, walked in a few minutes.
  • The sea opening - the tunnel mouth framing the rocky coast beyond.
  • The shore - waves breaking against cliffs and rock platforms.
  • The old railway line - the route the tunnel was built for.

When to go

December to April is the drier season and the calmest sea. High surf makes the shore dangerous and it is best watched from above then. Weekends are busy.

Honest expectations

The rocks below are slippery and the surf here is powerful; people have been swept off. The tunnel is unlit in the middle and the floor is uneven. Parking on PR-2 is awkward and break-ins have been reported.

Nearby

Lago Guajataca is inland, and Isabela is west along the coast.

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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