It is time to gather your adventure tools and gear up for a thrilling journey to some of the best caves located in South America. You might not find a treasure of gold here but what you’ll certainly find is a treasure of discovery and exploration that will leave you mesmerized.
20 Caves In South America You Must Visit Now
- Toca da Boa Vista, Brazil
The Toca de Boa Vista cave is located in Bahia, Brazil. It is considered to be the Southern Hemisphere’s longest cave and the world’s 13th longest cave. The cave is known to be an enormous storehouse of prehistoric bones that were discovered almost 20,000 years ago. It is said that these bones belong to dead animals that were transported by the river and stored in the cave. With an estimated 50,000 bones excavated to date, few of them are said to belong to extinct mammals too.
- Cueva del Fantasma, Venezuela
One of the caves that were just discovered recently in 2002 is Venezuela’s Cueva del Fantasma. It is known for its accommodation of enormous plateaus, and quartzites that belong to the Precambrian age. It is also known as the “Cave of Ghosts” and was used as the landscape in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book, “The Lost World”.
- Talgua Cave, Honduras
Talgua is more renowned as the “Cave of the Glowing Skulls” as it has a wide plethora of skulls and bones belonging to the Pre-Columbian age. These skulls and bones are also said to be rich in calcium crystals. Although these remains have now been shifted to a museum, the cave is still a sight you can visit to witness the beautiful geological formations.
- Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize
Lovers of art and poetry will find much delight and refreshment in visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM in Belize which boasts the Cave of Crystal Maiden. It is a cave suitable for spelunking as you can find some human remains and Mayan poetry in this cave. The fun part is that you need to swim starting from the entrance to reach this cave so be prepared to get drenched and thrilled.
- Sima Pumacocha, Peru
This limestone cave has three entrances that are accompanied by the Andes’ three longest shafts connecting with horizontal passageways. Since the cave has only been open for international expeditions recently, you can expect some adventurous time in this cave.
- Caverna de las Brujas, Argentina
Caverna de las Brujas is one of the must-visit sites when you visit Argentina as every other tourist who has visited the country will let you know. It is also known as witches cave and it offers a real cave adventure with its lack of light and sound making it a one-of-a-kind experience but taking a guide while caving here is essential.
- Cuevas de Los Guacharos, Huila
Huila has several caves in its National Park, one of which is the Cuevas de Los Guacharos. The cave is a biological reserve and you can find guided tours for exploring this cave.
- Parjugsha Grande cave, Peru
With a mapped passageway of 4km, Parjugsha Grande cave is considered to be Peru’s longest cave system. The entrance is elevated at 2,900m and it has a depth of 247m making it a perfect place for those who want to explore the depths of caves.
- Cebada, Belize
Referred to as one of Central America’s longest cave systems, Cebada is located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. The cave is great for visitors who want to immerse themselves in an abundance of geographical and archaeological wonders.
- Cueva Palestina, Perú
Peru has many caves that have attracted visitors from across the globe one of which is the Cueva Palestina. Frequently visited by tourists, this cave has stone and limestone formations and is also said to have the presence of nocturnal birds. You can also find a spring with crystal clear water at 800m of its interior.
- La Cueva del Esplendor, Colombia
Characterized by splendor, the La Cueva del Esplendor is a must-visit. The place houses a grand and magnificent waterfall whose sight you can enjoy from the caves in a unique effect.
- Huagapo Cave, Peru
One of the most famous caves of Peru, the Huagapo Cave is one of the largest caves in America. The cave offers a guided tour to allow visitors to explore its depths. It contains paintings from thousands of years ago and the name of the cave translates to, “Tears of the Mighty”.
- Cueva del Milodón, Chile
As the name suggests, the Cueva del Milodón is famous for its presence of mylodon bones which is a ground sloth belonging to prehistoric times. It got famous through the book “In Patagonia” and because the bones were found in this cave, it has become highly popular ever since.
- Blue Creek Cave, Belize
Caves and waterfalls are perhaps the most magnificent combinations for travelers and explorers. The Blue Creek Cave is heaven for all those who love exploring waves in the presence of water. Blue Creek, the small waterfall, is visible through the cave and what’s best is you can either take the dry or the wet route.
- Gruta Rei do Mato, Brazil
Gruta Rei do Mato is a cave that has three chambers filled with rimstone, stalagmites, and stalactites dams. The main attraction of this cave is the “Room of Rarities” featuring several identical crystallized columns that are 65 ft tall.
- Che Chem Ha Cave, Belize
If you love exploring ancient artifacts, then you need to visit this cave. It is a storehouse of an extensive array of Mayan storage jars and you can explore a wide variety of materials belonging to the ancient age in this cave.
- Cueva de Tigre, Argentina
Cueva de Tigre is a place that can be termed as paradise on earth because apart from the adventurous and thrilling essence of the cave, the area is surrounded by pleasant plantations and charming beaches. Stories that are interwoven with the cave will leave you fascinated.
- Cueva del Edén, Tolima
Cueva del Eden is an underground vault where you can witness magnificent stalagmite figures which are formed from the chemical precipitation process. The frozen water structures lighting the cave are a beauty to behold.
- El Chupadero, Perú
El Chupadero is a newly discovered cave that was explored in 2012 and is said to house a huge number of lateral galleries which is the main attraction of the site. The newness of the site also makes it a cave that imbibes curiosity.
- Cueva El Samán, Venezuela
Cueva El Samán has several galleries and passageways to its name that enchant many people but the best thing about the cave is that it is surrounded by the El Socuy river which provides a route for the cave through diving.
Final Thoughts
From intricate features to ancient bearings, South American caves have a lot to offer to their explorers and if you love engaging in some underground explorations, your visit to these caves will take you on a memorable trip that you will remember for a lifetime.