The island of Barbados in the Caribbean is famous for its year round sunshine and great natural beauty, which makes this one of the world’s top travel destinations. If you want to discover the hidden beauty of this Caribbean paradise then you should make sure to visit Harrison’s Caves to take advantage of a rather unusual and not very well known site in Barbados.
The Harrison’s Caves are one of the island’s most popular attractions and surprisingly this stunning cave network was lost for nearly two hundred years until it was rediscovered by Ole Sorensen and Tony Mason back in 1976. The caves were established as a tourist attraction in 1981 and since this then, the caves have been receiving a steady stream of trekkers and daily visitors.
The caves were formed naturally by water erosion which passes through the limestone rock. This water here is rich is calcium and as a result, the buildup of calcium has formed a number of pretty stalactites and stalagmites, many of which have been built up to form unusual shapes over the years. When the light hits these natural rock formations they appear to glisten as if made from tiny diamonds and the effect is simply enchanting.
There are a number of different ways to visit these impressive caves. An electrically operated tram runs through the caves and this is an excellent way to see them in comfort and style. The tram ride takes an hour from start to finish and makes its way past a number of stalactites and stalagmites as well as emerald pools, crystal clear streams, and an impressive waterfall. Trams run daily during the cave opening hours of 08:30 to 16:00 and this is an unforgettable experience.
Alternatively, visitors to Barbados can book a guided eco-tour of the caves. One of the great things about taking this tour is that a knowledgeable local guide is on hand to point out flora and fauna that are encountered along the way and provide information about the caves as well as the surrounding environment that makes this part of the world so special.
See more spots I am curious about in the Caribbean in my AFAR Wanderlist.
How about you? Have you been to this cave or any other really cool cave around the world?
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Chrystal D
Friday 22nd of February 2013
Those pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them. I've never been in a cave like that!
Stacey Roberson
Wednesday 20th of February 2013
How interesting! We love to travel and see new and exciting places. This would probably top them all. Great place for exploration!
shantelle
Tuesday 19th of February 2013
looks very cool!
Wanda Tracey
Monday 18th of February 2013
I find this fascinating and creepy at the same time.I love that other people explore these caves and give us feedback and intriguing insights on what they discover but going in there myself just wouldn't be me. However I was brave enough to go through the Bonnechere Caves in Eganville Ontario with a tour group and that was pretty awesome.
Kate F.
Monday 18th of February 2013
That's so cool! I'd love to visit a cave.