The Tale of Cueva Ventana

By Savannah Ortiz '22

Cueva Ventana, also known as the Window Cave, is a stunning cultural landmark of Puerto Rico. It is located in Arecibo, on a limestone cliff that overlooks the Río Grande de Arecibo Valle. This place is rich in flora and fauna, including species that are near extinction. 

This magnificent natural structure contains Taino petroglyphs, which are stone carvings created by the island’s inhabitants. They represent deities, human figures, animals, and natural elements. You can spot them as you explore the several smaller caves and caverns, always making sure not to disturb the large bat population that resides there. The goal of this exploration is to reach the large window at the end and bask in the beauty of the island's lush vegetation. Though the captivating nature of Cueva Ventana is what draws many visitors to the attraction, it is not the only alluring quality of this historical site.

What most people don’t know is that Cueva Ventana is the site of an old folklore tale hidden deep within the history of Puerto Rico. Like the bulk of Puerto Rico’s folklore, there isn’t a lot of information about it, but there is a consistent storyline among the writings that can be found. The story goes as follows:

In 1680, a man named Don Julián Correa owned the Hacienda Cafetalera El Consejo, but his greatest pride was his 17 year old daughter, Salomé. Every afternoon, Salomé rode her horse along Abacoa River and would rest under the shade of a 100 year old tree. One day, when Salomé was going for her daily ride on her horse, her father insisted that Juan, the son of the wealthy landowner Don Ramón Rivera, should accompany her. He insisted in hopes their bond would grow and she would one day marry him. When they reached the riverbanks together, Salomé dismounted her horse and spotted a radiant flower floating downstream. As she leaned over to grab it, she slipped on a stone and plunged into the river. While being pulled by the rapid currents she had cried out to Juan for help. However, Juan was so afraid that all he could do was run back to the Hacienda shouting that he would find someone to come help her. 

Believing she would surely drown to death, the girl prayed for someone to save her. At that moment, she saw a bronze arrow-like shadow dive into the river and she suddenly felt powerful arms carrying her out the river. When she opened her eyes, a young man with copper skin and eyes the color of honey stood before her. His name was Aruaca and he was the last of the Taino warriors, son of Urayoán and Cecilia the Spanish, grandson of the cacique (chief) Abacoá. Salomé instantly fell in love with him. Aruaca carried Salomé all the way back to the hacienda where he was swiftly attacked by men of the hacienda. Before Don Julian could kill him, Salomé jumped between her father and the man she loved, shouting “You owe my life to this man; it was he who saved me from death in the currents of the river, while this coward beside you, whom I am never marrying, abandoned me!” Don Julian restrained his rage and hatred for Aruaca and the Tainos. As payment for saving his daughter, he threw a bag of coins at Aruaca’s feet but Aruaca walked away, never picking up the bag.

From that day forward, Salomé returned to the river in hopes of seeing Aruaca again. Many days later, Aruaca returned and confessed that all this time he had been watching her from the window of the cave where he prayed to his gods as he slowly fell in love with her. The day she fell he had been watching her and dived into the waters to either save her or die with her. They swore their eternal love for each other on that day. From then on, Aruaca and Salomé would meet in secret each night by the river fearing that their worlds were too different for them to truly be together.

Don Julian became suspicious of where his daughter was running off to every night so he secretly followed her. When he got to the river he saw Salomé being held in Aruaca’s arms. In a blind fury he began to shoot at Aruaca. Once again, Salomé threw herself in front of her lover shielding him from her father. Tragedy struck as the bullet struck right through Salomé’s chest into her heart. Aruaca watched in anguish as his beloved fell to the ground, dying at his feet. Don Julian ran back to the Hacienda believing he had killed his daughter and thinking of pinning the blame on Aruaca. Aruaca ran back towards the cliffs, knowing that the only way to save Salomé was to pray to his gods in the cave. When he reached the cave, he prayed to his gods as he took water from the spring and cleansed her wound.

Miraculously, the water revived Salomé and Aruaca thanked Boiníaex and Marojú, the two stone cemíes he had there. Aruaca told Salomé to stay in the cave while he delivered the good news to her father, because she was still weak from the wound and the blood loss. Before leaving, he declared his eternal love for her promising to return safely and handed her his necklace.

When Aruaca arrived at the Hacienda, he was unable to tell Salomé’s father the good news that his daughter was alive. The moment he arrived, Don Julian shot and killed him before he could have the chance to speak. Don Julian was never able to find out that his daughter was alive. Salomé stayed in the cave waiting for Aruaca, praying for his return, using the necklace he had given her as a rosary. For 150 years she lived off of only her memories of him and their love. She died never seeing him again, but it is said that if you look deep within the darkest corridors of the cave you can see Salomé and Aruaca walking together forever happy and in love.

Cueva Ventana was the window to their sacred love and remains the window to the sacred nature and history of Puerto Rico.

Editors: Amanda Syversen, Ms. Brilliant, Cecilia Fiorindo.

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