Unusual Green Grotto Caves Tour, Jamaica
What You Need to Know About This Tour
In 2022, I was on a Caribbean cruise headed to Panama. One of the stops on the way was in Falmouth, Jamaica. I had never been to Jamaica and quite frankly, it is not high on my list no visit. (I’m not sure why). When it came time to select a shore excursion, most people tend to head to Dunn’s River Falls.
We decided that we wanted something closer and it was a case of pick something inexpensive and not too long a bus ride. The cave tour was my daughter’s choice. This article is about what to expect on this unusual tour in Jamaica.
From the moment you arrive in the cruise port of Falmouth, Jamaica; you know you will enjoy whatever you have planned for this day. Greetings from warm and friendly smiles welcome you to this lush and laid-back island in the Caribbean. If you are on a cruise, you may have stopped in places like St. Thomas, Grenada, or Aruba, each with its collection of exciting and intriguing excursions. But how will you decide on your excursion when it comes to Jamaica? There are so many to choose. If you are looking for something less crowded than Dunn’s River Falls and more interesting than a beach, check out the underground adventure of the Green Grotto Caves Tour.
Where are the Green Grotto Caves?
Situated on Jamaica’s north coast, the Green Grotto Caves are 60 km east of Falmouth between the beach communities of Discovery Bay and Runaway Bay. If you arrive in Falmouth on a cruise ship, you can visit them on a Falmouth, Jamaica excursion.
If you are staying in Jamaica, you can rent a car to get there, or a bus and taxi service is available from Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Kingston. Be sure to check the rates at rentalcars.com to get the best deal.
A Brief History of the Green Grotto Caves (Jamaica)
Named after the green algae covering the passageways’ walls and hidden pools, the Green Grotto caves are one of Jamaica’s most famous attractions. Other names for the Green Grotto caves include Runaway Bay Caves, Discovery Bay Caves, and many more. The entrance to these caves is not far from where Christopher Columbus first landed in Jamaica in 1494 and thus has great historical implications.
During the 17th century, when the English invaded, the Spanish fled to the confines of these caves to avoid capture. An underground tunnel linked the caves to the sand at Runaway Bay. According to legend, the Spanish fled the island to Cuba through the tunnel. Smugglers in the mid-20th century used these caves as a hideout when smuggling arms to Cuba. This place was a favorite of pirates because of its seclusion and ease of access to the sea.
Fun Fact – Pirates have an eye patch to immediately see in the caves’ darkness without waiting for their eyes to adjust.
You might also be interested in what role pirates had to play in Cartagena’s walled city.
Historically, the indigenous Taino people (Arawak Indians) used these underground rock formations for shelter and other uses. Fragments of pottery and artifacts are occasionally unearthed from these formations.
The caves themselves comprise an underground labyrinth 5,000 feet (1,525 meters) long and 39 feet (12 meters) deep. Composed of limestone, the rock chambers, light holes, and tunnels wind and intertwine their way deep within the earth and culminate at an underground lake of 118 feet (36 meters).
Along the way, the rock formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and columns intrigue you and make you wonder how one would not get lost without a torch. Without light, there is no sense of direction, which is quite dangerous as the caves’ structure is quite sharp in places.
Would you dare to go in the dark?
How were the Unusual Green Grotto Caves created?
Like many islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica was underwater millions of years ago. As the earth’s shape changed and land masses rose and fell, mud and clay settled on its surface. Over time this changed to limestone, a softer rock material. During millions of years, aquatic rivers, currents, and rainwater cut and eroded this limestone.
At times, water infiltration through the surface created large chambers and corridors. As the island of Jamaica rose out of the water again, these chambers and passages became the tunnels and rooms we are discovering today. In deeper cavities, the remaining water forms the lakes or grottos inside the caves. Surprisingly, any life exists in these lakes, given that they are completely dark.
When stalagmites and stalactites grow together, they form a column. Some columns are small, while others can be quite large.
What to see on the way to the Green Grotto Caves?
If you have chosen the Green Grotto Caves Tour as part of a Falmouth cruise excursion, your tour guide will very proudly want to show you some of the highlights of Falmouth as you make your way to the caves. One of the most featured attractions is the Falmouth Parish Church. Built-in 1795, the Falmouth Parish Church (also known as St. Peter’s Anglican) is the oldest public building in the town. This church was constructed of brick and stone. After an extension in 1842, it became the largest Anglican church on the island.
Falmouth was the first town in Jamaica to have running water. Originally constructed in the early 19th century, Water Square is a focal point for the city. Here fresh water was pumped from the nearby Martha Brae River to a tank in the square and then pumped to the surrounding houses. Visiting ships could also receive fresh water as it was channeled to the docks from this tank. Today, a large fountain sits in the square as a reminder of its significance.
Are you a James Bond fan?
If you take the time to visit the Jamaica Swamp Safari Village, you may recognize some scenery from the James Bond Movie “Live & Let Die, filmed here in 1972. Of course, many plants have grown, and animals may have changed, but the staff will be thrilled to tell you about Jamaica’s natural history, not far from Falmouth, as you make your way to the Green Grotto caves.
A typical Falmouth cruise excursion is whitewater rafting or kayaking on the Rio Bueno River. On the way to the caves tour, you will pass over this river and see one of the oldest bridges in Jamaica. The river continues toward the sea, leading to one of the deepest harbors on the island. Today, this harbor provides an excellent shipping port for the bauxite mined in the local hills. The river is named after Christopher Columbus, as this was where he landed on his first trip to Jamaica.
What to expect on the Green Grotto Caves Tour?
Safety Minute
After your 45-minute tour from Falmouth through the countryside of Jamaica, you will arrive at the Green Grotto caves. Here your tour guide will be replaced by a different tour guide specifically for the caves. You will assemble in a small pavilion near the property entrance, where you will be given a short introduction to the cave property. Take note that the access is quite well hidden onto the surrounding hills. After your waivers are signed, you will be taken in groups to the cave entrance. If the group is large, your group be separated.
If you plan on doing this Falmouth Jamaica excursion, plan your proper cave attire. Proper attire, including closed-toe shoes and long pants, ensures that you are safe and comfortable and will get the most out of this experience. Floors, paths, tunnels, and walls can be slippery, so proper attire will be a good safety option. Rock outcrops and low ceilings are common as well.
Just outside the entrance to the cave, you will be handed a disposable head covering and a helmet. (And to answer a common question, yes, you still need a head covering even if you are bald.) These are to keep the multi-use helmets sanitary.
Be sure to adjust the helmet size to protect you from overhead dangers properly.
Green Grotto Caves – Cave 1
As you enter the cave through the gate, you will start to see the natural light disappear. Do not worry, as lights have been installed to help with visibility, and your guide also carries a flashlight. You will notice very quickly that any areas on steeper gradients have had anti-slip mats added for your protection to prevent falling in the cave.
A short walk from the entrance to the cave will have you enter a large open room. Rooms like this provide the greatest protection and shelter for people seeking refuge from the elements or those who may want to harm them. Tables have been provided to allow a rest stop if you so desire.
As you go further into the cave, the unique rock formations of this sprawling limestone cave are beyond comparison. Pockets in the ceiling, bats, ice cycle-shaped ceiling formations (stalactites), and rock formations from the cave floor (stalagmites) make this natural beauty worth seeing. It is no wonder that so many people have used these caves over the years.
Green Grotto Caves – Cave 2
In the cave’s depths, you will notice the uniquely green walls caused by the algae that grow there, thus giving the Green Grotto Caves its name. Deeper still, you will pass through the outer cave known as Cave 1, and you will begin to enter Cave 2. Cave two is more enclosed with steep, narrower tunnels and shallow ceilings. At one point, you will descend 67 steps to reach the destination, the grotto.
The grotto or lake is a pool of stagnant freshwater home to many organisms and small fish. It is crystal clear and thus makes it possible to see the underlying rock formations below the surface. The beauty of this unique environment is hard to behold.
Following a short visit to the grotto, you will make your way back up the steps to rejoin the outside world. Rest assured, there is another exit to these caves, so you do not have to backtrack through the entire system.
On a side note, if anyone requires medical attention during or after the ascension to the surface, Green Grotto Caves does have a trained first-aid attendant or nurse on standby.
Exiting the caves
Once you have returned to the surface, you will exit the caves through the gate, leave your head protector and helmet in their respective bins, and head back to the welcome center. Here you will be greeted with a light beverage. Other snacks are available at their snack bar, and souvenirs are in their shop. Be sure to stroll through the surrounding gardens, as they are quite beautiful for you to head back to Falmouth.
What Does a Tour Cost?
If you want to do the cave tour on an excursion from Falmouth, the trip costs around $93.50 USD. The tour is about 3 hours long, with half of it inside the caves.
If you are already in Jamaica you can book the tour directly with Green Grotto Caves. The price is $ 20 USD for adults.
Children are welcome on the tour but should be at least four years old.
RELATED: How to Find Cheap Caribbean Vacations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Green Grotto Cave tour doesn’t disappoint! A tour like this will allow you to see a world underneath the Caribbean Sea that you have never seen before. This cave’s stunning beauty and mystery will leave you breathless. From stalactites and stalagmites to crystal-clear blue pools, the Green Grotto Caves have it all.
If you’re looking for an adventure, deep history, mystical caves, and breathtaking views along the way, visit Green Grotto Caves, where adventure awaits.
Is there any reason you wouldn’t want to take an excursion from Falmouth to see it?
If you do go, like any vacation, be sure to have the correct travel insurance. Hey, you never know when you will need it. Visitors Coverage is a great option.
The caves look really interesting. Reminds me a bit of the Yucatán cave and river system. Nice photos.
Thank you so much.
It really was a challenge deciding. Staying at the touristy pier did not appeal to us at all.
And the idea of a 90 minute ride to crowded waterfalls was not appealing either.
My daughter loved the caves.