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Crystal Caves

janfw
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
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3
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Editor Pick

Underground Treasure

  • July 3, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Cat19 from Stocking Pelham, United Kingdom
The Crystal Caves and the nearby Fantasy Caves are a popular attraction in Bermuda and a must in my opinion. In 1904 two boys were playing cricket when their ball fell into a hole in the ground, upon retrieving it, they discovered the caves. The family who owned the land immediately began to explore and develop the underground site and it opened as an attraction a few years later.

The caves are situated on the east of the island and on the main road towards the airport or St Georges. It is thus very easy to get here as several bus routes pass by (1, 4, 10 and 11 I believe). I have also found it extremely easy to find a taxi round here, probably because of it being on the way to / from the airport. The caves are open every day from 9.30am until 4.30pm. Tickets to enter both cave systems are $20 for adults and children over 5 years about half price. It is possible to just enter one set of caves, but I personally think that it makes sense to see both whilst you are here. The caves are not enormous and you will not spend much over 30 minutes in each system.

You are not allowed to wander around the caves unescorted, so you will have to wait until the next tour starts. Literature claims this is every 30 minutes, but I do not think this is the case as we waited for longer than this. I suspect they wait until there is a reasonable sized group of people waiting to go in.

We went into the Crystal Caves first. The caves are about 120 feet underground; I did not find the ramp and steps down (or indeed back up) especially difficult as somebody in reasonable health and with sensible shoes on. Much of the cave floor is covered by a huge blue- green lake, the water is crystal clear (hence the name of the cave) and it is 55 foot deep. It is possible to see right to the bottom. Wooden bridges are built over the water so you can move around the cave and look into the water and look up to the rock and calcium formations hanging from the roof. The guide provides a reasonable commentary as we move along. I did find the bits about the history and the geology interesting but I do not know why it is always necessary to look for shapes in the rock, i.e. an elephant, a tortoise etc. It always seems to be the case in caves I have visited the world over.

When the cave tour is over, it is necessary to leave the system altogether and then walk across the grounds to the Fantasy Caves entrance. This entrance is more difficult, the steps are steeper and people of below average fitness and children may find it difficult to navigate. These caves are in some ways more impressive than the Crystal Caves though, the colours are more vibrant and the stalagmite and stalactites are more impressive and certainly more numerous.

With both cave visits over, the nearby infamous Swizzle Inn is close by and an excellent choice for lunch or if you are not ready for lunch, then I would highly recommend the ice cream parlour opposite, it has a lovely range of ice creams and sorbets and you can eat in or on tables outside.

From journal Two years in Bermuda

Crystal Caves

  • July 2, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by foodallergy from Raleigh, North Carolina
Imagine being a young boy playing ball, and your precious ball falls into a hole. As young boys do, you decide to climb into the hole and find it for yourself. Well, that's exactly what two boys did in 1905, and they found more than they could have imagined: they found a national treasure!

Underneath the beautiful Bermuda soil lies another lesser known secret: Crystal Caves. Full of stalactites and stalagmites, this breathtaking underground tunnel also features an incredible hidden pond. With professional lighting and a (very funny) tour guide, you'll be taken away.

The tour of Crystal Caves is a wonderful tour, but a bit pricey. When you're done, you're invited to pay again to see the next cavern, Fantasy Caves, but I'd recommend just one. After your tour, enjoy a small snack at the outdoor cafe, or indulge in a small trinket to take home to the family.

All in all, it's a wonderful way to spend a hot afternoon, and a great memory to take home with you. I had a wonderful time.

From journal Bermuda: Another Word for Paradise!

The Crystal Caves of Bermuda

  • May 7, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by janfw from Depew, New York
There are two caves, and each cave has some unique features. They are well lit, and the lighting shows off the wonderful formations. You see stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, and helectite formations. Crystal Cave has a 55-foot-deep, azure-blue underground lake. Floating pontoon walkways take you through this cave as the water level changes with the tide. There are some stalagmites underwater, as they formed before the cave flooded. It is beautiful.

Fantasy Cave has rare chandelier clusters of soda straw formations. There are also fossilized tree roots and shells. Deep pools of water are in various places around this cave. Calcite deposits on the walls look like frozen waterfalls.

These caves are warmer than most caves because of the warm ocean water that flows into them.

From journal Friendly Bermuda

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