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Caves
Located just
north of Quepos, the gateway the Caves . Dating back over 7 million
years, the Caves are the direct result of water currents penetrating
and passing through the surrounding limestone rocks. Over time,
the continual flow of water opened crevasses and forced sediments
to flow throughout the caves, leaving in it's wake an endless
network of deep tunnels. So complex and deep, absolutely no light
penetrates these caves, except for a few isolated incidents which
are located in one of the quarters. As a result, it is mandatory
that you carry a flashlight with you during your trip. (We recommend
that you request an extra battery or two before entering the caves,
as this is not a good place to find yourself with low batteries.)
The structure
of the tunnels vary tremendously with some displaying ceilings
of nearly 20 feet in height, while others requiring that you slide
through like a serpent. While one can enter on your own, it is
highly recommended that you utilize the services of a guide. The
guides experience and in depth knowledge of the numerous paths
can dramatically improve your experience in the caves. Depending
on your physical fitness and sense of adventure hours can be spend
crawling from one section of the caves to another, challenging
the most fit and adventurous. A hard hat is also mandatory as
the walls and ceilings are comprised of hard, porous limestone;
traveling within the caves without a hard hat would be foolish
and asking for problems.
Within the
caves one can find five thousand year old rock formations, such
as the "papaya" which is a vertical formation formed
by the union of two different rock types; the name is derived
from it's shape, which you guessed it, looks just like a papaya.
The rock face
within the cave grows approximately 3 cm every 10 years. At the
same time, there exists in the caves the formation of coral, which
if touched will retard the growth process. Covering approximately
2 1/2 km (1.5 miles) in length, the caves contain 10 separate
quarters (salas in Spanish), however, the area limited for tourism
use is only 600 meters (1,800 ft). Throughout the caves water
in continually flows along the floor of the caves, at times a
few feet high. In fact, during the height of the rainy season
visitors are prohibited from entering the caves due to the current
flowing through them. The ever present water creates a moist,
if not humid climate within the caves, therefore, the caves remain
quite cool as a result. For the most secure footing we recommend
that you wear hiking boots for your visit, although a good pair
of sneaker will do just fine. While guides commonly use sandals,
the footing can be very tricky due to the pitch black surroundings.
Expect to get wet and dirty, particularly if you plan on discovering
the more intimate places within the caves.
The caves
contain four different species of bats and numerous types of spiders,
many of which are endemic to the area. Some of the spiders have
extremely long feelers, designed to assist them in total darkness.
The bats fly endlessly above, sometime clustering in groups of
a hundred or so. It is more common to find them attached to the
ceiling above than along the walls. When your footing is secure,
shine the light above and you should find them looking down on
you below.
The time you
spend within the caves depends on your agreement with the guide,
however, a normal tour normally lasts approximately 2 hours; there
is really no limit to the amount of time you spend within the
caves.
Video cameras
and photographs are prohibed from being taken into the caves,
post cards are sold outside for US $1.50 per card. The entrance
fee is 1100 colones to enter, approximately US $4.40. You pay
outside the caves, and after will receive your hard hart and flashlight.
Boots are provided, however, if you have large feet don't count
on it happening.
A
tropical getaway at your pace
Costa
Rica Rentals Contact
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