Translation of cautivo

There were no lights on the highway and hardly any cars, but quiet a few motorcycles and funnily pedestrians walking on the emergency lane. There was a tropical atmosphere in the air, I liked it.
Nevertheless I think that we need to communicate. All in all, we will learn a lot from each other, mostly by writing, but speaking exercises are also really good for your Spanish skills. Is this OK?
We stayed there for a few hours observing the hugh ice blocks breaking off and falling into the icy waters leaving a water splash of over 100 meters. Each splash was followed by a dull thunder.