Distinctly unique to the rest of the protected national parks in Costa Rica, Barra Honda main attraction is its large scale, intricate maze of limestone caves! At an intimidating 300-450 meters above the Tempisque valley, the Barra Honda mesa is composed mostly of 60 million year old coral reef pushed up from a Tectonic fault line. Following hundreds of the thousands of years of rainfall, the Barra Honda caves were traced and formed into what can undoubtedly be described as underground art galleries of limestone.

Interestingly, Barra Honda is home to over 5000 bats, which fly out at sunset from their colony home in Fetid Cave into the approaching night. Although the vast cave system begs for exploration, the entrances can be 100 percent vertical, treacherous descents. For this reason, only one entrance is open to the public for investigation at Cuevita Cave and allows for exploration into Terciopelo Cave. Terciopelo is known for is beauty and wonder and entrance requires a guide, helmet, rappel and use of an aluminum ladder. The guides keep their equipment in top shape, and the tour is safe with their precautions. The decent into the cave is 17 meters straight down, and not recommended for those with a fear of heights.

Cave exploration is a welcomed attraction all year long, and it is important to visit the ranger station for registration, followed by a guide-accompanied hike to the cave entrance. Bring lots of water, as the hike is uphill and mostly remote. Enjoy learning about the different species of plants and trees indigenous to the area on your way!

Once inside the caves, learn even more about stalagmites, stalactites, and a host of other beautiful formations that have suggestive whimsical names such as fried eggs, organ, soda straws, popcorn, curtains, columns, pearls, flowers, and shark’s teeth. Barra Honda is a must see for those with a sense of adventure.