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When exploring the chambers, it's simple to get distracted by their appeal and wonder, forgetting that an underbelly of rich history occupies every nook and cranny of this surreal subterranean tourist attraction. In previous times, the caverns served a myriad of functions - from concealing pirate treasure and haven for runaway slaves, to rum barrel storage, nightclub celebrations, and arms smugglers. Deep-rooted in centuries passed, they house abundant and unstable history that's undoubtedly interesting; and the best method to discover the marvels they hold is by taking a guided trip of the place, which is an improving, special experience for anyone visiting Jamaica.
When the English invaded Jamaica in the 17th century, the caves were used as a hideout for the Spaniards who were being driven out of the nation. By the mid-20th century, they were used by smugglers running arms to Cuba, and throughout the 2nd World War, the federal government of Jamaica used the entryway of the cavern as a storage room for rum.
The big claim to fame was available in 1973 when the James Bond movie Live and Let Die starring Roger Moore utilized the caverns as the bad guy's underground base.
By over 1,500 meters long and about 12 meters deep, these naturally formed caves go deep under the earth, forming an enormous limestone maze of chambers, light holes, distinct rock developments, impressive stalactites and stalagmites, ceiling pockets, and a wealth of varied animals living within the network. Green Grotto is likewise house to a mesmeric underground lake - the Grotto Lake - that connects to the ocean, with water that's as transparent as glass.
The Green Grotto caves played a big part in Jamaican history. The privacy and solace offered by the caves saw them deeply entrenched in the lives of varied groups of people. Firstly, they are thought to have actually been used as homes for Jamaica's extremely first inhabitants - the Arawak Indians called the Tainos who arrived between 600 AD and 900 AD - who used the caverns for different purposes, as apparent in the pieces of pottery and artifacts discovered in the caves.
A history buff's dream and a nature lover's dream, tales of Jamaica's Green Grotto Caves echo a sense of true experience and awe and overflow with stories of past that link with natural developments - all that is absolutely nothing except incredible in this extraordinary paradise Caribbean island.
Found halfway in between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, the Green Grotto Caves, a largely untouched complex of underground caverns surrounded by the lush plants of the jungle, are not just naturally enchanting however also deeply linked with Jamaica's rich history.
Inside the caverns can be rather hot and damp so visitors must wear comfortable but light clothes and proper footwear (some locations can be slippery). Hard hats plus generally lovely hair webs are supplied at the entryway for all visitors.
Tours last simply under an hour and each group has their own guide. Useful, witty, and extremely well-informed, the guides genuinely make the tour through the caverns an unforgettable experience for any ages.
The Green Grotto Caves are open daily from 9am to 4pm. Located straight off the coastal A1 highway, the caves are around an hour drive from Montego Bay and about thirty minutes from Ocho Rios. The entrance fee for adults is $20 USD and $10 USD for kids.
Resting on the mind-blowing North Coast of Jamaica, Green Grotto Caves are completely positioned between the resort gems of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay and are just a few kilometers from the popular Discovery Bay and Runaway Bay.
Jamaica's green cavern of secret is a breathtaking destination, dishing out a piece of Jamaican history and magical underground scenes inside a mainly unexplored below ground maze of caverns surrounded by thick tropical plants, and supplied by crystal clear water from cavernous depths.
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