CaribbeanTrinidad & Tobago

I had to see the underground pool in the Gaspar Grande cave

By February 12, 2019 No Comments
Gaspar Grande Cave pool

When I arrived in Chaguaramas, Trinidad I heard about the Gaspar Grande cave with a pool of water in it and I knew I had to go see it. It was in the middle of Gaspar Grande Island, which sits half a mile offshore of Chaguaramas and is part of an island chain called Bocas del Dragón, or Dragon’s Mouth, that sits between Trinidad and Venezuela.

While the Gaspar Grande has a small community on it and you are free to walk around the island, the only way to gain access to the Gaspar Grande cave is by booking a tour with the Chaguaramas Development Authority, which is the government organization that is charged with overseeing the development of the area around the old US Naval base (check out their website to see other activities in the area). The tour cost $30 if you book here, but we got it for $10-12 USD since we used our dinghy to get to the island and met the guide there.

Gaspar Grande Cave 2

What amazed me was how there were several sink holes on the island that led to the cave, but they were fairly well hidden until you were on top of them. It is a good thing fences were erected around these holes, because it was a good 100 foot drop into the cave.

Gaspar Grande Cave enteranceOnce the gate to the stairs was unlocked we descended into the cave and saw many beautiful features common in most caves, including stalactites and stalagmites but it was the large pool covering the lower part of the cave that made the Gaspar Grande cave so amazing. Plus shafts of light shone through the sinkholes I mentioned before to make this cave truly spectacular!!!! The beauty and tranquility of the cave was enough for me, but I wanted more.

Gaspar Grande Cave 1While swimming in the cave is not allowed, I read that guides have allowed it in the past. With this information I begged our guide to let us jump in and she finally said ok. Let me tell you, swimming in that underground pool with the shafts of light coming in was a magical moment for me and one that I will never forget. It may never be surpassed as my greatest moment in a cave!!!!! I could not thank her enough for letting us experience that moment. What a great day!!!!!!

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