Cuevas de Damas
Cuevas de Damas - General
One of the largest caves in Costa Rica is at the center of the Rio Palma property. Composed of limestone rock from the medium Eocene period, this wondrous sprawling cavern, 286 meters long and running to a depth of 21 meters, is ideal for spelunking trips. Nine kilometers northeast of the town of Damas and 16 kilometers northwest of Quepos, the magnificent Cuevas de Damas can be found north off of highway CR-34.Cuevas de Damas - History
While local folklore states that natives had visited the cave in the past, Cuevas de Damas was not officially discovered until 1925. It was surveyed in 1960 by Eng. Mario Sáenz A. using only a chain and compass. A complete grade 5 map was not drafted until 2006 when members of Grupo Espeleológico Anthros (GEA) and the National Speleological Society (NSS) explored the caves fully.
Cuevas de Damas - Description
Owing its name to the nearby Rio Damas, there are no running waters within the caves though pools, puddles, and mud are plentiful. With three possible entrances, the cave is horizontal, making for easy spelunking trips. However, some sections are narrow so claustrophobics beware.
The cave is home to thousands of bats, many of these belonging to the genus saccopteryx. Crickets, non-poisonous troglobite spiders, and a variety of other insects make their home in the cave as well.