Barra Honda's Caverns
In Nicoya, in Guanacaste province, is Barra Honda National
Park, at 244 Km. from San José.
Even though their main attraction are the caverns; this National
Park has other attractions like its vegetation of transition
forest from dry tropical to rainy tropical, its creeks of
fresh and pure water that can be seen on the paths in winter;
and the mirador located on the highest point, in Barra Honda’s
Hill (423 meters over sea level), from which Nicoya’s
Gulf and some of its islands can be contemplated, being the
bigger of them Chira Island.
There are more than 40 caverns in Barra Honda, but just 19
of them have been explored. The public access is allowed only
in two of them: La Terciopelo and La Cuevita (for children).
To get into La Terciopelo, it is necessary to descend with
a 17 meters stairway, while you are held with a rope that
one of the guides holds and looses as the visitor descend.
Already in the cavern, it is necessary to walk carefully,
because the floor is slippery. The formations of stalactites
and stalagmites offer a wonderful show to the view, especially “La Familia” and “El òrgano” that makes a sound similar to that of this musical instrument.
They are three the sections in Terciopelo Cavern. In two of
them you can walk without helmet neither light bulb, but in
the deepest it’s indispensable to use them. By the way,
the helmets are provided by the park’s guides, but the
visitor should bring the light bulb, preferably with new batteries.
You must descend in a 5 meters stairway (in this case without
security ropes) to go to the last part of Terciopelo Cavern.
It has very strange formations, like “El òrgano”
and other that seems shark’s teeth, and it is necessary
to walk very carefully among the stalagmites, holding strongly
for not sliding and in this way enjoy the visit without danger.
You must bring clothes for changing because nobody leaves
this cavern clean....
By the way, you can coordinate with the park’s authorities,
so when you return of the cavern, a tasty lunch waits for
you.
One of the most attractive aspects that can be appreciated
when traveling Barra Honda's paths, are the ruins of coralline
reefs that can be seen in several points, this evidence show
that at some time, the whole area of the park, was under sea
level. Another place of interest of this national park, is
its cascade, which is at certain distance of Terciopelo Cavern.
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