The hike was about 1.5km and not to strenuous - no major climbing or rocks to get around. The whole area that we walked along was paved with the exception of a few spots. Good for small children!
Like the Jameos del Agua, this cave dates back about 5000 years. As the lava ran downhill towards the sea, the top layer solidified and then the subterreanean build-up of gases created the tube. The caves were not green (verde) as I had expected and upon further research it turns out they are not named for a family of herders by the name of Verde. Once again, Cesar Manrique was involved in the design of this site. While unlike other sites, not much was done to this other than adding appropriate lighting to guide the way and a concert hall which was pretty cool - way down in the depths of a cavern!!!
Liam at the entrance
View before we head underground!
Entrance to the cave
Right at the beginning - anyone who knows which setting I should have had my camera on for these shots, please feel free to let me know. I didn't use the flash since those came out even darker...
Our first big plunge downward...
Cool ceilings
Lighting was nice...
And another view
You can see how the lava was dripping before it hardened
Lighting of a cave in the distance (that was not a part of our tour of course)
Aidan holding Sue's lava rock...this one is for you Sue!
The stage where the concerts are held below ground!
I really wish I'd gotten a better shot of this - it's an optical illusion like none that I've ever seen. This small water area was so unbelievably still that you truly thought you were on the edge of falling into a deep cavern below. It wasn't til the tour guide had a person on the tour throw a rock "down" into the cavern that we realized it was water. Very very cool!
While in this instance, it wasn't "a river, with a roof on it" as our Mammoth Caves (Kentucky) guide had told us that was what caves were, it was a very cool experience to go thru these tunnels formed by lava more than 5000 years old.
Julie
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