Campamento Guavate Cayey, Puerto Rico

My first visit to the site of the Campamento Guavate was a surprise and left me stunned with a smile for the rest of the day, and three rolls of film to develop. There is so little information about this abandoned correctional facility that I figured I had better do some research and come back.



This structure was abandoned in the early 00's, and is said to have been a correctional facility for juveniles- which would explain a lot of the graffiti saying "Let our children go", etc. Other than being a spot for locals to test out new guns, and for teams to play paintball, it looked like the structure had been left abandoned, and untouched, for many years.



This series of structures (a ring of little buildings, some with bridges connecting) is located off the main road, and set rather deeply in the lush rainforest foliage. Bringing our car past the violently smashed front gate (looks like it was locked at one point and opened when meeting the front of a large truck), we hid the car behind one of the first main buildings so as not to attract attention from the police, passer-bys and locals. Before getting started on our journey, I gave some of the local dogs food so they would not follow us.


one of the first main rooms-check out the view!

Once inside, it was great to see funny things like the remnants of the naked women magazine clippings that were up still up in the lockers, and playing cards still all over the floor in some of the rooms. The beds, showers, kitchen, lockers, watchtower and some of the windows were all pretty much still in tact. Rusted and broken, but still present. We even found a "work card" of one of the kids, explaining he is to report to work in the kitchen.


area for toilets



After surveying the land, I saw very little security measures. I am sure there were guards, probably with big guns, but other than the watchtowers with their spiral staircases, I saw little else. The regular chain-linked fence, topped with razor wire, ran along the border of the main road, but I saw no other barrier between the site and the rainforest.

All in all, a fair example of what to expect of an abandoned correctional facility in the Caribbean. Everything that could rust did, the rest wasn't going anywhere. I recently have heard of another prison in Bayamon that is not only closed and abandoned, but apparently is going to be reconstructed and opened soon. I'll try to make it there before they do! stay tuned!

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