Caja de Muertos (; also in English: ''Coffin Island'') is an uninhabited
island
An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
off the southern coast of
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
, in the municipality of
Ponce. The island and its surrounding waters are protected by the
Caja de Muertos Nature Reserve
Caja de Muertos Nature Reserve (Spanish: ''Reserva Natural Isla de Caja de Muertos'') is a nature reserve in southern Puerto Rico consisting of the islands of Caja de Muertos, Cayo Morrillito, Cayo Berbería, and their surrounding reefs and wa ...
, because of its native
turtle
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked tu ...
traffic and ecological value of its dry forests and reefs.
Hiker
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
s and beachgoers are often seen in the island, which can be reached by
ferry
A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi ...
from the
La Guancha Boardwalk
Paseo Tablado La Guancha (English: ''La Guancha Boardwalk'') is a boardwalk in the La Guancha sector of the Playa barrio in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, facing the Caribbean Sea. It was built under the mayoral administration of Rafael Cord ...
sector of
Ponce Playa. Together with
Cardona,
Ratones,
Morrillito
Morrillito is a small uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The island is protected by the ''Reserva Natural Caja de Muertos'' natural reserve because of its native turtle traffic. Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Raton ...
,
Isla del Frio
Isla or ISLA may refer to:
Organizations
* International Securities Lending Association, a trade association
* International School of Los Angeles
* International Bilingual School, later named International School of Los Angeles
People
* Isla (g ...
,
Gatas, and
Isla de Jueyes
Isla de Jueyes are a group of three small uninhabited islands off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Morrillito, Ratones, Cardona, and Isla del Frío, Isla de Jueyes is one of seven islands ascribed to ...
, Caja de Muertos is one of seven islands ascribed to the municipality of
Ponce.
History
It is believed the island is only some 4,000 years old, and stone art left on the island attests it has been visited by man over milennnias.
[''Caja de Muerto: ¡mucho con demasiado!''](_blank)
Héctor Sánchez Martínez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, PuertO Rico. 30 December 2016. Accessed 27 July 2020. Taíno
The Taíno were a historic Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the ...
natives made frequent trips to the island on fishing expeditions, and when they were defeated by the Spanish during the 1511 battle of
Spanish–Taíno War for Borikén, the natives attempted a retreat to the Caja de Muertos but shortly afterwards they were either captured or killed. During much of the 17th century, the island is known to have been used as a hideout by pirates and mutineers. For example, in 1599-1600 it was used by a group merchants-turned-pirates who, after learning of a Portuguese ship filled with gold, silver, precious stones, other treasures, attacked it and appropriated its contents. As they attempted to travel back to England, though, the faced an attempted mutiny and, surviving it, they took refuge at Caja de Muertos. Venturing to the Puerto Rico mainland for provisions, they were killed, except for one, who later confessed to the existence of the hidden treasure. The Spanish colonial governor then appropriated the remaining treasure for construction projects among other uses.
In 1842, the first known map was drafted using the name of the island as it is known today.
[''Caja de Muerto: ¡mucho con demasiado!''](_blank)
Héctor Sánchez Martínez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 30 December 2016. Accessed 27 July 2020. In 1880 the Spanish government started construction of a lighthouse on the island, completing it in 1887.
[''Reserva Natural Isla Caja de Muertos.''](_blank)
Grupo Editorial EPRL. Enciclopedia Puerto Rico. 27 August 2014. Accessed 27 July 2020. During the 19th century, the island was also hideout for Puerto Rican patriots who sought independence from Spain. Some of the patriots who hid there include
Ramón Emeterio Betances
Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán (April 8, 1827 – September 16, 1898) was a Puerto Rican independence advocate and medical doctor. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares revolution and is considered to be the father of the Pu ...
and
Segundo Ruiz Belvis
Segundo Ruiz Belvis (13 May 1829 – 3 November 1867) was a Puerto Rican abolitionist who also fought for Puerto Rico's right to independence.
Early years
Ruiz Belvis was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico (then a barrio of the municipality ...
.
[''Reserva Natural Isla Caja de Muertos.''](_blank)
Grupo Editorial EPRL. Enciclopedia Puerto Rico. 27 August 2014. Accessed 27 July 2020. During these decades it was the secret meeting places of
masons when they were persecuted on the mainland.
In 1928,
Cayetano Coll y Toste
Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste (November 30, 1850 – November 19, 1930), was a Puerto Rican historian and writer. He was the patriarch of a prominent family of Puerto Rican educators, politicians and writers.
Early years
Coll y Toste was born in th ...
wrote a novel titled "El Tesoro del Pirata Almeida" (The Treasure of Pirate Almeida) inspired by Caja de Muertos island, and in 1883, it inspired
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...
to write the novel "Treasure Island".
In 1898, at the time of the
American invasion, the island had a population of 64 permanent residents, and a decade later only 16 residents remained. These residents had no fresh water in the island, so water was brought in from the mainland when, during periods of little rain, it could not be collected from the rainfall.
The island eventually became uninhabited, except for the lightkeepers. In 1945 when the island's lighthouse was automated, there was no longer a need to have lighthouse keepers and the island became deserted. After this, the island became a day-trip vacationing spot for some owners of private vessels who might venture to the island for a day trip or for fishing.
On January 2, 1980
the island was declared a nature reserve by act of the Puerto Rico Legislature and entrusted to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources to be guarded and administered. It is administered in conjunction of the Ponce Municipal Government.
In 1985, the Government of Puerto Rico gave its approval for the development of a tourism center at Caja de Muertos. The lighthouse was restored by the
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
Department of Natural Resources and for a while it housed a museum.
[''Recursos Naturales y Ambientales dará prioridad a Caja de Muertos.''](_blank)
Primera Hora Access 3 April 2009 The
Puerto Rico Ports Authority
The Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA) ( es, Autoridad de los Puertos; AP) is a government-owned corporation of Puerto Rico charged with developing, operating, and overseeing all seaports and airports in Puerto Rico. The Authority is ascribed to ...
had public transportation to the Island until 1993; shortly thereafter a company called “Island Venture” started offering daily trips. Service was interrupted twice, after
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria was a deadly Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 5, Category 5 Tropical cyclone, hurricane that devastated the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico. It is regarded as the wo ...
and after the
2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes, both of which badly damaged
La Guancha
Guancha is a Chinese news site founded by Eric X. Li.
Guancha or La Guancha may also refer to:
* ''Clathrina'', a genus of sponges also known as ''Guancha''
* La Guancha, Tenerife, a municipality in Tenerife, Canary Islands
* Complejo Recreativo ...
, the area on the mainland where passengers boarded the
catamaran
A Formula 16 beachable catamaran
Powered catamaran passenger ferry at Salem, Massachusetts, United States
A catamaran () (informally, a "cat") is a multi-hulled watercraft featuring two parallel hulls of equal size. It is a geometry-stab ...
s to the island. The
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER) is the executive department of the government of Puerto Rico tasked with protecting, conserving, developing, and managing the natural and environmental resources in Pue ...
built a dock, barracks for reserve personnel, as well as a small museum, trail signs, and compost bathrooms for tourists.
In 2009, the government of Puerto Rico announced plans to make development of the island and its restoration of its lighthouse, both for tourism purposes, a priority of the DRNA.
By the summer of 2012, there were three businesses making tour trips there, including one for charter trips only. In 2010, Playa Pelícano received the
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards.
The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE, which is a not-for-profit non-gov ...
certification.
[ In 2017, much of what DRNA had built was destroyed by ]Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria was a deadly Saffir–Simpson scale#Category 5, Category 5 Tropical cyclone, hurricane that devastated the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico. It is regarded as the wo ...
and the tourist ferry was halted, but restarted about a year later.
However, government inaction following the 2019–20 Puerto Rico earthquakes left the reserve without DRNA rangers for over a year, since the housing structure was severely damaged and not timely repaired or replaced and they limited to maritime patrolling despite having obsolete equipment and expired bulletproof vests. In 2021, the last of three vehicles assigned for this task broke down and the rounds stopped altogether. This had several repercussions on the natural reserve, leading to tourists illegally breaching the perimeter, anchoring in the sand, riding jet skis, camping, hosting parties and vandalizing the remains of the fallen structure.[ The preservation program that monitors and protect the reproduction habitat of the ]hawksbill sea turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle (''Eretmochelys imbricata'') is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Eretmochelys''. The species has a global distribution, that is largel ...
was halted, due to the rangers being unable to follow up on their nesting habits, leaving 25 stations unattended.[
When queried about the situation in April 2022, the DRNA claimed that the housing structure would be eventually reconstruct since disaster mitigation funds had been approved for that purpose.][ However, the process was still in the early stage, since the government had yet to name a contractor for the project. The agency also claimed that patrolling had taken place when the boat “was available”.][
]
Location
Caja de Muertos is located 5.2 mi (8.4 km) south of the Puerto Rican mainland and is part of the Playa barrio
''Barrio'' () is a Spanish language, Spanish word that means "Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter" or "neighborhood". In the modern Spanish language, it is generally defined as each area of a city, usually delimited by functional (e.g. residenti ...
of Ponce, Puerto Rico, municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
.
Geography and climate
The island measures long northeast-southwest, and up to wide on the average It has an area of . Close by are Morrillito
Morrillito is a small uninhabited island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The island is protected by the ''Reserva Natural Caja de Muertos'' natural reserve because of its native turtle traffic. Together with Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Raton ...
Key off the southwest point,
Off or OFF may refer to:
Art and entertainment
* ''Off'' (video game), a video game by Mortis Ghost.
*Sven Väth, German DJ and singer who uses the pseudonym OFF
* ''Off'' (album), by Ciwan Haco, 2006
* ''Off!'' (album), by Off!
*Off!, an America ...
and Berbería Key to the northeast, both part of the ''Caja de Muertos Natural Reserve''. Berbería Key belongs to ''Rio Canas Abajo'' barrio
''Barrio'' () is a Spanish language, Spanish word that means "Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter" or "neighborhood". In the modern Spanish language, it is generally defined as each area of a city, usually delimited by functional (e.g. residenti ...
of Juana Díaz
Juana is a Spanish female first name. It is the feminine form of Juan (English John), and thus corresponds to the English names Jane, Janet, Jean, Joan, and Joanna. Juanita is a common variant. The name Juana may refer to:
People
*Juana I (14 ...
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
.
The climate is dry and the island supports dry forest
Dry or dryness most often refers to:
* Lack of rainfall, which may refer to
**Arid regions
**Drought
* Dry or dry area, relating to legal prohibition of selling, serving, or imbibing alcoholic beverages
* Dry humor, deadpan
* Dryness (medical)
* ...
. A still-functioning lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Lighthouses mar ...
, Caja de Muertos Light
Caja de Muertos Light, (''Faro de la Isla de Caja de Muertos'') is an 1887 lighthouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico, that is unique amongst all other lighthouses in Puerto Rico for its unusual Cross of Lorraine, double-arm, T-type shape structure. The ...
, established in 1887 and automated in 1945, sits atop the highest hill on the island. This 170 foot high hill is located at the southwest extreme of the island.
Features
The island has four beaches: Pelicano, Playa Larga, Carrucho, and Coast Guard. The island also possesses fauna and flora not found anywhere else in the world. The island has no permanent residents, but the Government of Puerto Rico maintains Department of Natural Resources staff and security personnel there. In 1899, it registered a permanent population of 64 residents, but it since declined to zero.
Etymology
Since 1511, the island has been called by different names including Isla Abeiranas, Abairianay, Antías, Jutías, Yautías, Utías, Abeianay, Angulo, Isla Bestia, and Isla del Tesoro, in addition to the translations as ''Coffre A’morr'', ''Deadman’s Chest'', and ''Coffin Island''. Caja de Muertos can be translated into English as "Coffin" or "Dead Man's Chest", there is no consensus on how the island got its current name. The official version of the origin of the name, as given by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, and under whose care the island is currently entrusted, is as follows: "Its name is attributed to the 18th-century French writer Jean-Baptiste Labat
Jean-Baptiste Labat (sometimes called, simply, Père Labat) (1663 – 6 January 1738) was a French clergyman, botanist, writer, explorer, ethnographer, soldier, engineer, and landowner.
Life
Labat was born and died in Paris. He entered the ...
who called it ''Coffre à mort'' (Caja de Muertos) or ''Bomba d'Infierno'', making reference to the fact that when the island is seen from certain places in southern Puerto Rico, it gives the impression of seeing a dead person laying on a plateau."
Etymological theories
Maritime fiction
In 1901, it was suggested by one A. W. Van Buren of Yale University that the island's name may be related to the sea shanty
A sea shanty, chantey, or chanty () is a genre of traditional Folk music, folk song that was once commonly sung as a work song to accompany rhythmical labor aboard large Merchant vessel, merchant Sailing ship, sailing vessels. The term ''shanty ...
"Dead Man's Chest
"Dead Man's Chest" (also known as "Fifteen Men on the Dead Man's Chest" or "Yo, Ho, Ho (And a Bottle of Rum)") is a fictional''Fictional sea-song'' - in this sense means a sea-song that first appeared in a work of fiction, and not an authentic se ...
", first written by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...
for his novel ''Treasure Island
''Treasure Island'' (originally titled ''The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys''Hammond, J. R. 1984. "Treasure Island." In ''A Robert Louis Stevenson Companion'', Palgrave Macmillan Literary Companions. London: Palgrave Macmillan. .) is an adventure no ...
''; However, no scholar since Van Buren has made this connection nor is there any evidence to support such a claim. Further, Van Buren says that Stevenson did not write the song "Dead man's chest
"Dead Man's Chest" (also known as "Fifteen Men on the Dead Man's Chest" or "Yo, Ho, Ho (And a Bottle of Rum)") is a fictional''Fictional sea-song'' - in this sense means a sea-song that first appeared in a work of fiction, and not an authentic se ...
" himself, that he "picked it up somewhere", which is another baseless claim (see "Dead Man's Chest
"Dead Man's Chest" (also known as "Fifteen Men on the Dead Man's Chest" or "Yo, Ho, Ho (And a Bottle of Rum)") is a fictional''Fictional sea-song'' - in this sense means a sea-song that first appeared in a work of fiction, and not an authentic se ...
" for more information on the fakelore surrounding this song).Vincent Starrett
Charles Vincent Emerson Starrett (; October 26, 1886 – January 5, 1974), known as Vincent Starrett, was a Canadian-born American writer, newspaperman, and bibliophile.
Biography
Charles Vincent Emerson Starrett was born above his grandfathe ...
. ''Buried Caesars: Essays in Literary Appreciation'', 1923
Page 189-204
José Joaquim Almeida
One story given by Kurt Pitzer and Tara Stevens is that of a Portuguese pirate, José Almeida.[Adventure Guide to Puerto Rico. By Kurt Pitzer and Tara Stevens.](_blank)
/ref> A former merchant sailor, Almeida fell in love with a Basque woman in Curaçao
Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...
, married her in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and took her pirating with him around the Caribbean. On the first raid, she was killed by a stray bullet. Distraught, Almeida had her embalmed and placed in a glass box inside a copper coffin. He buried her in a cave in a deserted island near Ponce. He would come every month to gaze over her preserved body and leave half of his treasure in her grave. Almeida, however, was caught in the Puerto Rico mainland, tried, and executed in Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, also known as El Morro, is a citadel built between 16th and 18th centuries in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[ww ...](_blank)
in 1832. Many years later, a Spanish engineer discovered the glass and copper coffin, and identifying the cay on a map gave it its present name. The treasure found, if any, was kept secret.
British shipwreck
In 1599, several English merchants departed to China with a letter from Queen Elizabeth to the Chinese government. However, the expedition was dangerous and a ship was lost to the weather. Off the Indian coast the group turned to piracy and after learning of a Portuguese ship filled with gold, silver, precious stones, other treasures and other valuables (spices, silk, some clothing), they attacked and captured the vessel. The fleet managed to capture another vessel, but in the process lost its flagship and a large part of the crew was fatally injured, including the fleet commander. Shorthanded, the group decided to return to England aboard a smaller ship, taking part of the loot with them. After surviving an attempted mutiny, the Englishmen decided to take a canoe left behind by a frigate off Puerto Rico's eastern coast from where they took refuge at Caja de Muertos. Losing the smaller vessel, the Englishmen traveled to the main island in search of provisions, but one of them left behind to mind the canoe was captured and let the presence of the treasure known to the local authorities.
This led to an incursion to take the treasure, where all but one of the Englishmen were suddenly executed despite negotiations and the Spanish took the treasure with them and reported it as being captured in a battle with the English. The lone survivor, named Thomas, managed to build a makeshift boat out of wood remnants and drifted to Puerto Rico, being taken to San Germán and telling his version of the events. The governor of Puerto Rico grew suspicious and an investigation was held between the autumn of 1599 and early 1600, which lead to a confession by one of the murderers. The authorities then began confiscating the treasure seized during the incursion, with other parts disappearing and reportedly ending in the hands of the governor's own nephew. The treasure confiscated was auctioned, with about 4,000 ducats of Indian silver remaining by 1602. The following governor employed another part in construction, with a collection of jewels and bars that were left behind being sold. The last piece, a large gemstone, was sent abroad for transport to Spain. From these events, the island would gain the moniker of "Isla de Caja de Muertos" ("Dead Man’s Chest").
Natural reserve
The island was designated as a nature reserve in 1980 after a meeting was held in Puerto Rico by the Puerto Rico Planning Board wherein they considered the recommendation set forth by the Coastal Management Zone Program to turn the island into a protected wilderness area. The island has remained a protected area ever since.''Visiting Caja de Muertos Island Nature Reserve.''
Puerto Rico.com: The Puerto Rico Channel. Accessed 5 May 2018. The protection is mainly due to its heavy turtle traffic which is an endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
.
Beaches
The island is home to five beaches: Playa Pelícano, Playa Ensenadita ("Pocitas"), Playa Larga, Playa Blanca (also called Playa Coast Guard), and Playa Chica.[''Caja de Muertos: Un tesoro en las aguas del Mar Caribe.''](_blank)
Mydalis M. Lugo Marrero. Revista Marejada. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2013. Playa Pelícano has been named a blue flag beach.[''El secreto paraíso del Caribe.''](_blank)
Carmen Cila Rodríguez. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. 22 June 2010. Accessed 23 July 2020.[''Bandera azul para Caja de Muerto .''](_blank)
El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
*Playa Pelícano ![Blue flag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Blue_flag.svg)
- located on the western (docking) side of the island, between the boat dock and Cerro Morrillo.[''RESERVA NATURAL ISLA CAJA DE MUERTOS: LABORATORIO NATURAL PARA FOMENTAR EL ESTUDIO DE AVES DENTRO DEL ESCUTISMO.''](_blank)
Javier González Delgado. Universidad Metropolitana, Escuela Graduada de Asuntos Ambientales. San Juan, PR. 7 Diciembre 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2013.[Topographic Map of Caja de Muertos, showing roads and hiking trails](_blank)
"Topografico Playa de Ponce (N1752.5 W6630/7.5)." Drawn by J. A. Dones. Oficina de Planificacion de Recursos Costaneros. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico. 1962. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
*Playa Ensenadita ("Pocitas")
*Playa Larga - a protected (and thus not accessible) beach on the southeastern side (the open Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...
side) of the island between Cerro Morrillo and Caja de Muertos Light
Caja de Muertos Light, (''Faro de la Isla de Caja de Muertos'') is an 1887 lighthouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico, that is unique amongst all other lighthouses in Puerto Rico for its unusual Cross of Lorraine, double-arm, T-type shape structure. The ...
.
*Playa Blanca (Playa Coast Guard) - located on the northwest side of the island (facing the city of Ponce), northwest of the Caja de Muertos Light.
*Playa Chica (Playa Carrucho) - located on the northern and northeastern end the island, facing the Puerto Rico mainland.
See also
* List of islands of Ponce, Puerto Rico
This list of islands in Ponce, Puerto Rico, is a summary of the seven islands that form part of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It consists of islands, keys, and cays, and similarly named geographic features surrounded by large bodies of ...
* List of beaches in Ponce, Puerto Rico
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
External links
Natural Reserve, official page
Topographic Map of Caja de Muertos, showing roads and hiking trails
"Topografico Playa de Ponce (N1752.5 W6630/7.5)." Drawn by J. A. Dones. Oficina de Planificacion de Recursos Costaneros. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico. 1962.
Welcome to Puerto Rico! Caja de Muertos
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caja De Muertos, Puerto Rico
Uninhabited islands of Puerto Rico
Protected areas of Puerto Rico
Cays and islets of Puerto Rico
Islands of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Beaches of Puerto Rico
1980 establishments in Puerto Rico
Tourist attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico