Caving

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Visitors should not be surprised that Costa Rica, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, is also home to some of the best spelunking in the Americas.  The country's wide range of adventures is not limited to the surface of the Earth.  Beneath are hidden caves where stalactites hang down, holding tightly to the ceiling.

Stalagmites cling to the floor, pointing upward, some even reaching the roofs of these massive cathedrals. Columns form when stalactites and stalagmites join, adding to the feel and ambiance of a tranquil house of worship. Such underground caverns and their magnificent calcium formations are the hidden beauty beneath Costa Rica.

Some of the best caving in Costa Rica is found in Barra Honda National Park where the Santa Ana cave dips down to 790 feet below sea level.  A two-hour hike through the forest, where spelunkers may glimpse interesting plant and animal life, leads to a dark hole in the rock.  Here, professional guides carefully fasten you to a pulley system allowing safe entry into the abyss.   At the bottom awaits raw nature.  There are no handrails or man-made walking paths:  only your group, your guide, and a faint path trodden by the footsteps of previous visitors.

Unlike many cave parks throughout the world, Barra Honda has not been developed for wide-scale tourism. As a result, park guests are treated to a genuine caving experience: delicate stalactite and stalagmite formations, untouched terrain and exhilarating cave climbs. In fact, because of vertical entrance shafts which require special spelunking equipment to enter, Barra Honda’s caves are exceptionally well preserved.   This rugged nature makes sneakers or boots a requirement at Barra Honda.

There are a number of other caving locations in Costa Rica: namely the Venado Caves in Arenal, and the caves of Ballena Marine National Park on the South Pacific coast.  Discovered by the Guatuzos aborigines, the Venado caves formed 15-20 million years ago during the Miocene period. The kayak journey to the marine caves of Ballena Marine National Park in the South Pacific is almost as fun as exploring the caves themselves.