Arecibo is on Puerto Rico's north coast, about 80 kilometres west of San Juan. It is most easily reached by road.
By car: Highway 22 (the northern expressway) runs from San Juan to Arecibo in about 1.5 hours. A car is by far the most practical option for visiting Arecibo and the surrounding karst attractions — the Cueva del Indio, Río Camuy Cave Park, and the Observatory are all spread out and poorly served by public transport.
By public transport: Públicos (shared minivans) connect Arecibo to San Juan's Río Piedras terminal and to nearby towns, but they are slow and infrequent. Getting to the outlying attractions by público is impractical for most visitors.
By air: Antonio (Nery) Juarbe Pol Airport is a small regional airfield about 5 kilometres southeast of town, with limited scheduled service. San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the practical entry point for most visitors.