Jamaica's Secret Interior -- A Spelunker's Paradise: Interesting & Unusual Tourist Destinations
by www.SixWise.com
Most tourists head to Jamaica for the sun, the beaches and,
perhaps, the coffee and the rum. But there is more to Jamaica
than meets the eye, including a vast underground world filled
with caves, grottos, and subterranean lakes.
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Two-thirds of Jamaica is covered with cave-containing
limestone.
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For spelunkers (those who make it a hobby to explore or study
caves) or anyone else looking for an adventure, Jamaica is
a rare treat. Its interior karst region -- an irregular area
made of limestone -- known as Cockpit Country contains huge
underground chambers along with narrow gorges and 40-foot
cliffs, but there are other interior regions with caves as
well. In fact, two-thirds of Jamaica is covered with cave-containing
limestone.
More Than 1,000 Known Caves
Jamaica is home to more than 1,000 known caves, but there
are likely many more that will soon be discovered. Much of
the exploration is being done by the Jamaican Caves Organization
(JCO), a non-profit group founded in 2002.
For those looking for a beginner's caving expedition, Green
Grotto Caves is one of the most well-known and easily accessible
areas. Once used as a hideout for runaway slaves, pirates
and native Arawak Indians, the caves are located between Ocho
Rios and Montego Bay, near Discovery Bay.
Visitors can take a tour of the more than 5,000-foot long
Green Grotto Caves (tours are offered daily) to see stalactites,
stalagmites, rock formations, light holes and "ceiling
pockets." Also not to be missed is Grotto Lake, the cave's
huge subterranean lake.
Guided Tours the Best Option for a Real Jamaican Cave
Experience
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There are more than 1,000 known caves in Jamaica ...
many more wait to be discovered.
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It is not recommended that tourists enter caves to explore
on their own. Instead, a guided tour will keep you safe and
expose you to the most interesting sites. The JCO offers several
different cave tours, at varying difficulty levels, for those
looking for a caving (or hiking) adventure:
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Deeside Roaring River Cave: One of the "easier"
tours with beautiful rock formations.
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Peterkin Cave (Rota System): An interesting set of caves
with large, active stream passages and relatively wide
passages (some swimming is required).
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The Caves of Rock Spring: Several large caves in one
area, visitors can choose either a day-trip or a two-day,
overnight expedition.
For More Information:
Those looking for spelunking opportunities in Jamaica would
greatly benefit from these two resources:
Recommended Reading
The
10 Most Beautiful Places on Earth
Piracy
on the Seas: Believe It or Not, It Still Exists and May be
Surging Again!
Sources
The
Jamaican Caves Organization
Caving
in Jamaica
WorldTravels.com
Jamaican
Caves Page