Private Tour
The Taino Route
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Journey into the past on this full-day tour of Puerto Rico's human history. Your private group (no larger than 6 people) will be guided by an archaeologist through the 6000-year human history of the island, where you will learn firsthand about the culture and mythology of Puerto Rico's indigenous past and how it's still alive in the blood and culture of modern-day Boricuas. We travel to the center of the island to the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Center and its ball courts, where you will be immersed in the serene and beautiful landscape were our Taíno ancestors came together in community to celebrate Areitos and play the ball game. After the park we stop for lunch before heading back towards SJ, on our way back we stop at the town of Manatí and the area of Mar Chiquita Beach where we find Cueva de las Golondrinas. In the cave we find everything expected, such as bats, stalagmites and stalactites plus ancient rock art in the form of petroglyphs. Sacred site of our Taino ancestors
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Children must be accompanied by an adult
A maximum of 6 people per booking
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Driver/Professional art historian guide
Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
Transport by private vehicle
Gratuities
Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Parque Ceremonial Indigena de Caguana
The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Center is the most important taíno archaeological site in all the Antilles Islands. This is an on-site archaeological museum, compiled of ten ceremonial courts where the Tainos played the famous ball game called Batey.
Playa Mar Chiquita
We find Cueva Golondrina which we visit
Options
The Taino Route
Pickup included
Reviews
41 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An amazing way to learn about the Taino people of Puerto Rico!
38lindseyk,
Apr 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time learning from our guide at the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park. Beyond the super interesting archaeological site, he taught us so much about native plants that the indigenous Taino used and the unique artifacts that are presented at the site. He also taught us about some of the native fauna as well. He was super knowledgeable and learning from him was the most enriching part of our trip to Puerto Rico. We highly recommend this tour!
100% required for anthropology buffs
katek809,
Dec 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went on this tour with Javier almost three years ago and I still think about it. Javier knows so much about the pre-Columbian history of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean - he wrote his master's thesis on it. My husband and I learned so much visiting these sites with Javier! The entire Caribbean was extremely interconnected, and visiting the site of the ball game courts drives that home. This is an *absolute* must-do tour if you are at all interested in anthropology, archaeology, and/or history. Probably one of the most informative travel experiences I've had ever.
A day of Learning and reckoning with history: The beauty of the New Taino Route
Barbara D,
Jun 6, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00I came to learn more about the Taino people, the culture, history and the Taino area. This tour exceeded my expectations. Our guide was so knowledgeable and so friendly. I had so many questions but our guide was so patient and kind. We had an amazing time visiting the cultural site and the caves. I would recommend this tour to everyone and anyone. I went on this tour with the hope I would learn what I needed about the Taino people for my research. I learned so much and so much more. I learned about the people, culture and had a great lunch. It was like spending a day with Indiana Jones. The views were incredible and this history is so important. We must support the culture and survivance of Puerto Rico and her indigenous population.
Immersive look at the Taino Culture
William T,
Nov 23, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Javier is an excellent guide with a passion to tell the story of the Taino. We now have a much better appreciation for the Taino people, their culture and beliefs. Javier gladly answered our many questions and helped us to understand that not everything about the Taino people can be learned by studying the few artifacts left behind and the written notes from a Spanish explorer. Lunch and a visit to a cave ended a very special day.
Great day with Javier learning about Puerto Rico!
Chris K,
Aug 3, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00My spouse and I had a fantastic day with Javier learning about the Taino culture and much more about Puerto Rico. This private tour took us to Caguana archeological site with its ceremonial plazas and then to the Cueva del Indio site which is also a Marine and Natural Reserve. Our conversations while driving were super interesting and provided important context. Wear decent, rugged shoes to the Cueva - the "dientes de perro" limestone is wicked. Highly recommended!
Knowledgeable tour guide and insightful history tour
aleksandrakS6467VR,
Jul 21, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband I went on the New Taino Route tour with Javier in July, 2023. This was a very insightful tour, and Javier was very knowledgeable and patient in explaining the local history, archeology, and geography. We would have never found out about the petroglyphs if it hadn't been for Javier, and it was an amazing experience. Thank you, Javier!
A detailed, personal and unforgettable experience!
U227UKdaniell,
Jun 17, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I cannot say enough good things about this experience. Javier picked us up (a family of 5) early in the morning. We had an initial parking snafu (our fault) that Javier was able to help fix for us and off we went for the next 7 hours getting a personal tour starting from Arecibo, to Utuado and ending in Manati. Javier has a phenomenal knowledge of Puerto Rican history and culture, as well as the ecology and geology of the island, and was willing to share everything with us. The trip to the Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Center in Utuado is one that we’ll never forget. We received personal and detailed explanations of all of the exhibits of the museum. We stopped for a fantastic lunch in Utuado and then saw more petroglyphs and explored a natural spring and the entrance to a cave in Manati. All the way, Javier pointed out fauna and flora of the area. This was probably the best travel tour that I’ve ever taken.
10+ on a 1 to 5 Scale
joannecreuter,
Jun 11, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour far exceeded my hopes. There is no way one could visit and understand the places we saw without Javier, a historian and archaeologist. The tour is unique and he is the real deal. It was really a privilege to explore and see eye-popping beauty and learn eye-opening archaeology, history, politics, art, science and even poetry with this expert. I felt I was getting a unique tour from a friend. I didn't think it could get much better until I went on Javier's Sacred Rainforest Tour. I urge you to take that one too. All the five-star reviews before mine are completely right. Javier's car is gorgeous and comfortable; he even has videos to show you. I am kind of creaky, and Javier enabled me to enjoy everything, although the less creaky crowd will have opportunities to push a bit further to the pools and waterfalls in the woods. Really great value for the money. If you go on Road Scholar trips, this was like one of them.
Stimulating and fun
Julie G,
Apr 19, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00The wonderful discussions we had about the culture of the Taino and their artforms. Also loved the discussions with my fellow travelers and the guide about Puerto Rico culture and politics now.
Fantastic tour for anyone interested in learning about the past, present, and future of the island.
nsackin,
Jan 25, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Javier was an excellent guide. He is a locally based archeologist so not only did he show us some amazing sites, he knows the history and is a fantastic storyteller. We spoke with him before the tour and he personalized the tour for what we were most interested in. Anyone who is interested in learning about the past and present history of the island, I cannot recommend this tour enough!
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Operated by Sojourn Puerto Rico