Built by Cornell University in the 1960’s the Arecibo Observatory is the world largest single aperture telescope. It has played a key role in many astronomical discoveries, including the rotation period of Mercury.

The enormous thousand foot diameter radiotelescope was constructed inside the depression left by a karst sinkhole and is over 150 feet deep and covers roughly 20 acres. Its strategic location near the equator allows Arecibo to view all of the planets of the solar system.

The Observatory is also a star in its own right having appeared in a slew of films such as James Bond’s Golden Eye and Contact starring Jodie Foster and Matthew Mcconaughey.

After this scientist interlude unwind with lunch and tropical drinks at a waterfront restaurant.