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Hato Caves – Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

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Imagine being in a cave and there are no lights. The pitch blackness that is around you. How would you get around?  Would you take a step or wait for the lights to come on.  This is something you can experience in Hato Caves in Curacao.  The tour of the caves cost $9 per person, which isn’t too bad for a one hour tour.  Even though the tour is relatively short it was very interesting.  They have tours every hour and we arrived about 30 minutes before the hour.  This gave us a chance to walk around the grounds before the tour.  

There are numbered signs around the grounds.  The descriptions were on a map that we did not take with us, so needless to say we wandered around just looking a the grounds. Make sure you grab a map or at least take a photo of it with your phone so you can see what things are (don’t be like us).

We saw this sign every where on the property and all over Curacao.  Don’t eat the fruit off of this tree  I don’t recall seeing any fruit but maybe they were out of season when we were there. 

There were also lots of Cacti and iguanas here. The Iguanas are pretty quick and it was hard to catch a photograph of them.  The cacti were easy though (he he).

After our walk around we waited for the tour to start.  There were only four of us on the tour which was great.  It was like our own private tour.  You can’t take pictures in most of the caves but there is one spot where they let you take photos.  I was not aware of this so I left my camera in the car and I left my cell phone there too (it was charging).  Don’t make this mistake either.  Thankfully my husband had his cell phone so all the photos in the caves were taken with his phone.  

The caves used to be inhabited by runaway slaves they used to hide here.  The caves are made of coral limestone and we had to climb up 100 steps to get to them.  We walked in the caves and the guide told us about the slaves that had been there.  The ceiling is black because of the torches that the slaves used when they were in the caves.  The caves now have electricity and there is a walkway so it is very safe.  There are stalagmites and stalactites in the caves, these things take forever to form.  At one point in the cave the guide turned off the lights and it was pitch black.  So black that you could not see your hand in front of your face.  Your eyes don’t seem to adjust to the dark in here.  Can you imagine spending the night here?  Also, it’s very quiet in there.  It’s eerie.  

There is one room where a piece of the ceiling fell and has let light in.  In this room since there is already light so you are allowed to whip out your camera or cell phone and take pictures.  

All in all it was a good tour and we learned a lot.  I would definitely recommend it if you don’t mind climbing the steps to get to the caves and if you aren’t claustrophobic.  

Two Traveling Texans

 

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    10 COMMENTS

  • Wendy Maes November 11, 2017 Reply

    Thanks for this wonderfull throwback to Curaçao. I was there a few years ago and i loved it too. #TheWeeklyPostcard

  • Anisa November 11, 2017 Reply

    I didn’t get a chance to go to the Hatu Caves when I was there. They do look really nice, although the walk there sounds a little intimidating. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard

    • Joyce July 8, 2018 Reply

      Hi Anisa,
      Do not worry about the walk. It’s just a minor stroll from the parking lot to the rest area. If you choose you can walk around the place, visit the Indian carvings and enjoy the numerous birds and iguanas. The steps up to the entrance of the cave are certainly not a hundred! Inside the caves itself there are no steps and absolutely no climbing or crawling. A smooth walkway has been layed through the part the tour visits.
      Do come here on your next visit to Curaçao.

  • California Globetrotter November 12, 2017 Reply

    I couldn’t handle caves without lights. We just did a bit of hiking through some dark caves that were steep so I had to use my flashlight on my phone. These caves look cool though! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!

  • Anda November 15, 2017 Reply

    The color of that coral limestone is fantastic! I think it was worth the $9 that you paid for that one-hour tour of Hato Caves. I would be a little reluctant to get into a cave in Curacao if you say the lights go off. How about if there is a problem and they never go back on? Brrr! I don’t even want to think about it. I am sort of claustrophobic too, so unless the ceiling is very tall, I probably won’t go inside. #TheWeeklyPostcard

    • Joyce July 8, 2018 Reply

      Hello Anda.
      I used to work as a guide in the Hato Caves. Let me try to ease your worries:
      -The caves are not huge, you will not get lost in them should the lights fail. The guides carry flashlights in case of such an emergency.
      -The caves are not extremely tight either, the tour only goes where you can walk upright. Practically everywhere there is room for at least one person to stand on your head!
      -The tour does not go deep down into earth. In fact, the tour takes place in the part of the caves that is in the upper terrace of the coast. Technically, these part can also not get flooded because the water will always escape to the lower 2nd terrace. And we NEVER get that much rainfall on the island!

      I cannot imagine how claustrophobia feels like, but maybe knowing these facts when you visit Curaçao might help you overcome the fear of being stuck in a tight place when you get to the Hato Caves.

      Bonus fact:
      -It is not cold in the caves. Because you’re never deep down earth or deep in the cliffs, and there is continuos airflow through various natural openings in the caves.
      Hope you will visit Curaçao soon!

  • The Hat Caves look interesting! Not sure if I would like the cave without lights. Wow! What a cool place to visit in Curacao. I have never been and will put this on my list to visit. #TheWeeklyPostcard

    • Joyce July 8, 2018 Reply

      Stephanie, the caves do have lights. The guide only turns off the lights at one point just for a few seconds so visitors can experience what it must have felt for those who were hiding in there a century and a half ago.
      Do visit Curaçao and our caves, there are more caves that are interesting like the Hato Caves.

  • torrent December 21, 2020 Reply

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  • filmkovasi January 31, 2021 Reply

    So interesting to hear how other travelers and bloggers started their blogs. Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventures and I can just see myself on a river cruise, stopping off at various places. Looking forward to reading more of your travels. Kayley Abbey Jarid

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