The observation deck at the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico-- home of the SETI project among other research missions.
Okay yes. More than likely you came to the Caribbean for sun and sand; for hammocks and piña coladas. Seven days of mindless enjoyment on a beach lulled by lapping waves and calling gulls. But if you are even slightly geekish in you outlook (okay-- maybe a tad more than slightly geekish) you might want to consider scraping the zinc oxide off your nose, and heading west to a truly remarkable experience: the Arecibo Radio Observatory.
Nested within a karst sinkhole, and up until very recently, the largest radio telescope in the world-- this is a true wonder of engineering and technology; and one that is only about an hour from Casa Clara Vista. It is also the place that if (or when-- depending on your point of view) ET phones, we will be receiving the call-- since Arecibo is also a prime component of the SETI Project.
But you don't have to be Jodie Foster (or even a fan of Carl Sagan's only novel, Contact) to get something out of your visit to the Arecibo Observatory. Surrounded by jungle, and itself a lovely drive-- the visitor's center has great interactive exhibits for all ages, educational film presentations, and of course, a walk out onto a deck overlooking the dish. And despite the jostling we got in Puerto Rico this past January, the observatory sailed through our tremors just fine, and has been reopened since January 29, 2020.
The visitor's center is open Wednesday thru Sunday (& Holidays) 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Mother's Day, and Thanksgiving. Admission is $12 for adults; and $8 for children 5 thru 12 years of age, and Seniors. Schools and special groups are advised to call for an appointment. The visitor's center can be reached at 787-878-2612 (Ext. 346) and 786-462-6950, or via Email at info@areciboobservatory.org. You can also check them out on Facebook. We hope your visit is out of this world!!! Don't forget to tell them you saw it on ClaraVistaRevista.com!!!
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