Going north: Caguana Ceremonial Park
Up north in the town of Utuado lies the second most important ta?no dig site on the Island, the Caguana Ceremonial Park. In reality, it is widely believed that for the Indians the Caguana site was more important than Tibes, albeit its smaller size. Unlike Tibes, Caguana is a lot smaller and only contains a few bateyes. However, documentation found from ta?no historians indicate that the Caguana location had a more significant spiritual value to the Indians than Tibes, and some scholars argue that Tibes was more like a recreational / market facility and Caguana was a spiritual center of sorts.
More evidence to this theory is supported by the ?Tres Picachos? (or Three Peaks) chain of hills. This rocky formation consists of three round shaped hills and looks very similar to a ?cem??, a religious figure that is often seen on ta?no culture. The shapes and sizes of the bateyes on Caguana are different than those of the ones in Tibes, which support the idea that the Caguana Site had a different use than Tibes.
To get there simply take Road #10 towards
The museum at Caguana is undergoing some renovation, but you can still see some of the artifacts found on the site. There is no guided tour as the location is small, but it is not less magical than Tibes. Once on the site just make your way towards the largest batey, from which you will be able to get a close-up view of the Tres Picachos hills and let your imagination soar.
You can make the trip to both Tibes and Caguana locations in a single day. You first need to make your way to Ponce, then after visiting Tibes in the morning head north towards Utuado. To learn more about how to make the trip in one day, check our Road Guide of Road #10 from Ponce to Arecibo.
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Well, that?s it for this road trip, keep tuned for more only at PuertoRicoExplore.com!
