Cueva de las Golondrinas

Useful Information

Location:	Playa Las Golondrinas, Hacienda la Esperanza Natural Reserve, Manatí 00617. Coastal freeway 22, exit 22 Manati, to Tierras Nuevas Poniente. (18.478369, -66.509083)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	sea cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Cueva de las Golondrinas, Hacienda la Esperanza Natural Reserve, Tel: +1-787-722-5882.
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History

Description

Cueva de las Golondrinas (Swallows Cave) is a sea cave in a low limestone ridge at the sea. The limestone forms a sort of protruding peninsula, and the Playa de las Golondrinas is actually facing west, while the northern coast in general runs east to west. The secluded cove is surrounded on both sides by limestone rocks, and in the northern side there is a huge but rather low cave which is water filled. The cave is about two to three meters high, so you can walk upright, but at least 10 m wide, with seawater pools inside. It is a through-cave, crossing the limestone from the cove to the open sea. It is quite popular to wade or swim into the cave which is filled with seawater at high tide or walk inside at low tide. As it is on the inside of the cove it is not hit by direct waves, and it is generally rather safe to visit.

Actually there are two Swallows Caves, one at Isabela and one at Manati, they are often mixed up. The cave is located west of Los Molinos, there are several secluded and not very well visited beaches. The road ends at the La Poza de las Mujeres beach, from there its only 100 m walk, climb the concrete stairs on the left. Poza de las Mujeres is quite famous, as it is a natural pool separated from the sea by a rock barrier, and there are no waves in the pool, the water is calm even if the sea has swell. The area is a nature reserve named Hacienda la Esperanza Natural Reserve and there is a sign with background info for the cave, but only in Spanish.