Gruta India

Useful Information

Location:	Misiones Province, Argentina. (-26.7586574, -54.9234052)
Open:	All year daily 8-18. [2025]
Fee:	Adults ARS 2,500, Locals ARS 1,500. Cars ARS 1,200, Bus ARS 3,000, Bike ARS 1,200. [2025]
Classification:	River Cave
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=30 m, W=40 m, H=7.5 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Antonia Rizzo, Aníbal Figini, Antonia Rizzo, Eduardo Tonni (2006): Ocupación humana holocénica en el noreste de la Mesopotamia: la gruta tres de mayo (Garuhapé, Misiones, Argentina), Folia Histórica del Nordeste, Nº 16 (Resistencia, 2006) IIGHI, CONICET - IH, UNNE), pp 131-137. academia.edu pdf DOI
Address:	Parque Natural Municipal Gruta India, Misiones Province, Argentina, Tel: +54-93743-45-0922. E-mail:
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

10-JUN-2005	declare cultural heritage of the Province of Misiones.
2021	becomes part of the Protected Natural Areas System.

Description

Gruta India (Indian Cave) is also known as Gruta 3 de Mayo (3rd of May Cave), named after the Arroyo Tres de Mayo (3rd of May River). It is a shelter of impressive dimensions, the portal is 40 m wide and 7.5 m high. The cave is 30 m deep. And it is located right beneath a river which offers water supply. Obviously this site was quite comfortable and thus visited by prehistoric people, hence the name Indian Cavern which actually means the indigenous communities. According to excavations the Paraná as well as the Kaingang visited the cave during the last 4,000 years. The findings included stone tools, ceramics, skelettal remains of humans and animals, shells, and much more. They are currently in the Museum of Natural Sciences in the city of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

According to local lore the first settlers found relics, coins, and various gold and silver items hidden in the jungle. They were embedded among stones, in underwater caves, and even in trees that formed circles in the jungle with markings.

The cave is located at the Parque Natural Municipal Gruta India. From Highway 12 between Puerto Paranáy and Puerto Rico, there is a narrow road named C Colonia 3 de Mayo which ends at the campground which offers a restaurant, barbeque area and bathing spots. It also has two waterfalls with a height of 5 m. The park is very good organized, and the only one in the state which has only female park rangers. However, the fact that there is a park with an entrance gate means that the cave is only accessible during the park open hours and there is an entrance fee for the park. This is a good thing for the preservation of the cave.

The cave is a river cave, eroded by the nearby river, and there are numerous such caves in the area. The Cueva Del Yaguareté is located only 3 km south and also worth a visit. It is best reached from Ruta Provincal 220, follow the road to the Parque turístico Cueva Del Yaguareté.