Nivida Cave

Cave Nivida


Useful Information

Location: Isla Bastimentos
Open: All year daily 9.
[2006]
Fee:
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave
Light: helmets and headlamps provided
Dimension: L=1,400 m.
Guided tours: D=6 h.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Roots restaurant, Oscar Powell, Tel: 6662-1442.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

A visit to Nivida Cave on Isla Bastimentos is a half day excursion. After a 15 min boat ride through the National Marine Park, the participants board kayaks to explore Bahia Honda. On the way through channels, deep bays, mangrove cayes, and patch reefs, dolphins, birds, iguanas, and caimans can be seen. A short walk through the jungle leads to the entrance of the cave.

The visitors are equipped with helmet and headlamps. The guide, Oscar Powell from adventure tours gives last instructions and then the cave is entered. The entrance area is dry and full of bats, the ammonia and the slippery guano on the floor make this part a little annoying. Still the hundreds of bats on the ceiling make it a impressive sight. Visitors should walk very carefull and avoid standing below the bats.

Further in the cave changes a bit, and becomes a typical river cave. The water is rather warm, visitors generally wear swimsuits. Still it is cool enough to be rather enjoyable after the warm and humid dry part of the cave. However, sections where the water is up to the necks of the visitors and the ceiling lowers almost to the water level, are not for the faint hearted.

As far as we know this is the longest cave of Panama.