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All the United States Puerto Rico Isabela Tunel de Guajataca

Tunel de Guajataca

This former sugarcane transport tunnel is now a portal to a lovely beach.

Isabela, Puerto Rico

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joel
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Entrance to the tunnel   Jmundo / CC BY-SA 3.0
The tunnel has been ”decorated” with new graffiti (September 2019)   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
  austinhbell / Atlas Obscura User
A Trail past the tunnel, starting to give way (September 2019)   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
Light at the end of the Guajataca tunnel   leiris / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to “El Tunel Negro”   leiris / Atlas Obscura User
The west side of the tunnel, just before La Playa El Pastillo   leiris / Atlas Obscura User
Construction of the tunnel, circa 1904   U.S. Federal Government via Wikipedia / Public Domain
A mural in an abandoned structure nearby (September 2019)   CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This Puerto Rican original railroad tunnel is often called El Tunel de Guajataca. It is located on the western edge of the well known Guajataca Beach area of Isabela. El Tunel Negro (The Black Tunnel), is another railroad tunnel nearby but on the higher elevations of Quebradillas on the east side of the Guajataca River and its curved bearing permits for very little light to pass through. A leisurely stroll thru the Guajataca Tunnel leads to another spectacular beach. (A third railroad tunnel can be found in Cabo Rojo.)

The Guajataca Tunnel was constructed in the first years of the 20th century, as the American Railroad Company of Puerto Rico made a rapid push to expand transportation infrastructure. Puerto Rico had been annexed to the United States under the Treaty of Paris in 1898, and the Americans were eager for quick delivery of cheap sugar. However, in order for (tariff-free) exports to move at the desired pace, there would need to be a significant expansion of the national railway system.

The Guajataca Tunnel was part of a larger construction project that would eventually connect San Juan in the north to Ponce in the south. At around 514 feet long the Black Tunnel is the longer of the two tunnels connected by a tall steel bridge known as the Red Bridge spanning the Guajataca River. Trains carrying both passengers and sugarcane rumbled over and through them until 1953.

Although now only a paved walking path runs through El Tunel de Guajataca, it remains significant as both a feat of engineering and a marker of a moment of political transition. It was declared a historical monument in 2000.

Related Tags

Tunnels Railroads Sugar Taxes Trains Subterranean Sites

Know Before You Go

The tunnel lies between the towns of Quebradillas and Isabelas Guajataca Beach. From PR-2 follow the signs to Guajataca Beach.

Community Contributors

Added By

leiris

Edited By

hana, JRVR, gagiles41, CDVV86...

  • hana
  • JRVR
  • gagiles41
  • CDVV86
  • austinhbell
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

October 5, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/quebradillas/
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guajataca_Tunnel
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Puerto_Rico#National_railroad_system
  • http://redescubriendoapuertorico.blogspot.com/2013/07/aamerican-railroad-of-puerto-rico-tunel-negro-quebradillas.html
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=RYK87EBJWSMC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=american+railroad+company+of+puerto+rico&source=bl&ots=1KhmG0yVjy&sig=qw_faMbBzMjmOYErmXRbdcLX4XE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCoQ6AEwBjgKahUKEwjFyt37nqLIAhVBez4KHTOyBx4#v=onepage&q=american%20railroad%20company%20of%20puerto%20rico&f=false
Tunel de Guajataca
Unnamed Road
Isabela, Puerto Rico, 00662
United States
18.48902, -66.959115
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Nearby Places

La Cara del Indio

Isabela, Puerto Rico

miles away

Puerto Hermina Ruins

Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

miles away

Puente la Bellaca (La Bellaca Bridge)

Quebradillas, Puerto Rico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Isabela

Isabela

Puerto Rico

Places 2

Nearby Places

La Cara del Indio

Isabela, Puerto Rico

miles away

Puerto Hermina Ruins

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Puente la Bellaca (La Bellaca Bridge)

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Isabela

Isabela

Puerto Rico

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