Mona and Monito Islands Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Mona Passage, Puerto Rico.
The Mona and Monito Islands form a nature reserve in the Caribbean with dramatic limestone cliffs, caves, and varied marine life. The two islands rise from the sea with steep coastal rocks and feature an array of ocean ecosystems along their shores.
Archaeological findings show that Taíno people lived on Mona Island from around the 12th century onward. Later, the islands became a Spanish colonial trading outpost before eventually becoming a protected natural area.
The limestone caves contain rock carvings and objects left by Taíno people who once lived here, revealing how they used the islands and their way of life. Walking through these spaces, you can see these marks and understand the connection between the original inhabitants and this place.
Visiting requires special permits from Puerto Rico's environmental department, so plan ahead before going. The islands have limited camping and research facilities, making it important to arrange accommodations and supplies in advance.
The reserve is home to the Mona ground iguana, a lizard found only on these islands and nowhere else in the world. The islands also shelter plant species that grow nowhere else and host large colonies of seabirds.
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