Caverna La Gran Galería

Grand Gallery Cave - Boca de la Caverna Gran Galeria

Useful Information

Location:	Located on the soutwest flank of the Fila de Cal. Ciudad Neily district, Corredores county, Puntarenas province. East of San Rafael Sur, 45 m north of the road to Bajo de Indios. (8.657132, -82.917601)
Open:
Fee:
Classification:	Karst cave. Tertiary limestones of the Fila de Cal Formation, 60 to 70 Ma old.
Light:
Dimension:	L=148 m, VR=26 m, A=240 m asl.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Cavernas Guayabí, Province of Puntarenas, San Rafael 66001, Tel: +506-8891-0062.
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

1989	first explored by Gordon McCracken and Carlos Goicoechea.
1990	surveyed and first class Grade 5 map made by the NSS.
1991	used as location for a French movie.

Description

The entrance of Caverna La Gran Galería is located at the bottom of a 100 m long and 70 m wide doline. The portal is 33 m wide and 15 m high, with three access points to the cave passage. The main passage runs for 35 m to the west, then 50 m to the south.

The cave entrance was locally known, but the cave was first explored by Gordon McCracken and Carlos Goicoechea in 1989. One year later a team of cavers from the United States surveyed the cave and drew a Grade 5 map. At this time the farm were the cave is located was owned by Jorge Vidal, called Chiricano. He sold the farm to a man named Alvin, who started to prepare it as a show cave.