Caverna de Umajalanta

Gruta de Umajalanta

Useful Information

Location:	Estancia Inca Corral, Parque National Torotoro, Potosi. (-18.1143342, -65.8115243)
Open:	no restrictions. Cave trekking tours after reservation. [2024]
Fee:	Toro Toro National Park entrance ticket: Nationals BOB 20, Foreigners BOB 30. Guide BOB 100, Transport BOB 350. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=4,300 m, VR=164 m, A=2,800 m asl, T=9,5 °C.
Guided tours:	full day
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Asociación de guias de Turismo Torotoro, Calle Olvido, Torotoro, Tel: +59-174-359152.
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	Toro Toro National Park created.

Description

The Umajalanta Cavern (Gruta de Umajalanta, Caverna de Umajalanta, Caverna Umajalanta) is the largest cave in Bolivia. In the last years it has become a tourist site, although it is a two-hour walk to the cave and the cave itself is visited on cave trekking tours. Basic caving equipment is required, which includes, helmet, headlamp, reserve lamps, good walking shoes and cave overall or at least clothes to change. The two-hour tour includes tight spaces, climbing ladders, climbing down ropes, sliding down slippery dips and a lot of stooping. You will have to crawl and will get dirty. Physical fitness and no claustrophobia are essential.

The cave is located in the Parque National Torotoro (Toro Toro National Park), it is one of the most visited natural attractions in the Park. For the visit a Toro Toro National Park entrance ticket is required, which is available at the Toro Toro Tourism Office. They also offer guided cave trekking tours. From the village it is either a 10 km (2 h) walk or a drive with a 4x4. There is a road through the park which is narrow, windings and mostly a gravel or dirt road. From the turnoff its 200 m to the small car park and from there a 1 km hike to the cave entrance. A highlight on this hike are dinosaur footprints in the rock. We recommend cave trekking tours which include the drive to the cave.

The cave has a huge portal which is about 20 m high and wide, the flat ceiling is formed by an almost horizontal layer of limestone. The name Umajalanta is a Quechua word that means: water lost in the darkness of the deepest earth. The cave entrance is the sink of a small river named Río Umajalanta. The tour starts by following the river into the cave. The river contains blind fish. The speleothems are not notable, but the underground river and the waterfalls are quite special.

The Toro Toro National Park is the smallest of Bolivia but nevertheless, considered the most interesting one. It has some 2,500 footprints of dinosaurs and many caves. The park has an area of 165 km² and lies between 1,900 and 3,600 m asl. The Andean cat and Andean fox live in the valleys. There are the Inca ruins of Llamachaqui which offer a great view. Tours into the park start from the town Toro Toro.

The cave tours are offered by the Asociación de guias de Turismo Torotoro. The opening hours given for the cave on some webpages are for this office. Unfortunately, they seem to be a little unorganized, and some guides are less than honest. One tries to collect additional fees, after the tour was already paid. They do not have a website, only a facebook page which is completely devoid of actual information. As far as we understand, they only provide helmets and lamps, but they must be rented additionally, and so many visitors choose to go in with the smartphone torch. Although the lamps are handheld and not very bright, so you should definitely bring a headlamp and spare light. And finally, there are movies on the web where visitors climb down a 10 m shaft without any safety. There is a rope, but it is not used for abseiling, it is just hanging there, so you may grab it. That's not only unprofessional, that's highly dangerous! We strongly recommend bringing you personal caving gear, including some gear for abseiling and a harness.