Ever wan ted to visit a cave but didn’t want to crawl, climb or repel. How about a show cave? Show caves are underground caves that have been adapted for viewing. Most of them will have easy access, paved paths, lights, stairs and/or ladders to help you navigate through the cave. Many will also have amenities like gift shops, restrooms and some even have elevators. Guided tours are usually available or you can walk through the cave on your own, taking time to explore.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
Located on New Zealand’s North Island, these two million year old limestone caves are famous not only for their stalactite and stalagmite formations but for the glowworms that hang on the ceilings of the cave. Take a guided tour on an underground river that runs through the cave system. The pleasant boat ride takes you through a subterranean world filled with a ceiling of glowing worms (Arachnocampa luminosa) that resemble stars in a night sky.
St. Michaels Cave, Gibraltar
Actually located 300 meters (325 feet) about sea level, this cave is just one of nearly 150 caves that riddle the rock of Gibraltar. This limestone cave, once thought to be bottomless, attracts over 1 million visitors every year. The main feature of the cave is an auditorium, called Cathedral Cave, which has excellent natural acoustics. Seating over 100 people, the underground theater is used for concerts, ballets, drama presentations and even for weddings.
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Located in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns are a series of large limestone caves that have been developed into a premier show cave facility. Visitors can hike into this fabulous cave via the natural entrance or they can take the elevator the 750 feet (230 m) into the bowels of the cave. Several different cave tours are available or visitors can do a self guided tour of the cave. The main part of the cave is a large as three football fields, has paved walkways, a restaurant, gift shop, restrooms and scenic rooms full of decorative cave structures. The cave is also home to 17 species of bats that make a spectacular exit from their underground home around dusk.
Aillwee Cave. Ireland
Billed as Ireland's premier show cave with over 3,500 feet of passages, Aillwee is one of the oldest caves in Ireland. A limestone cave believed to have been formed during the last ice age, it was “discovered” in 1940 when a farmer’s dog got lost chasing a rabbit. Located in County Clare, Aillwee Cave features 8,000 year old stalagmites, an underground river, a waterfall and the remains of ancient bears can also be found in the cave.
Caves of Nerja, Spain
The Caves of Nerja, located in Andalusia Spain, stretch for nearly 3 miles (5 km) and contain an amphitheatre used for concerts. Not only do the caves have interesting rock formations they are an important archaeological site where remains that date back 40,000 years have been found. Take a tour through the three main chambers of the cave or the more adventurous can try a 5 hour “potholing” tour that takes you into the deepest darkest depths of the cave.
If you think you would like to live in a cave or just see what cave dwelling is all about, check out the cave homes in Southern Spain where people actually live in caves hollowed out from the sides of hills and mountains. Occupied for more than 500 years, these caves once homes to the poor, are now popular vacations homes.
Visiting a show cave can be an interesting and exciting experience that does not require any special skills or equipment. Many show caves have been developed to accommodate people of all ages and physical abilities. The Waitomo Caves on New Zealand’s north island have glow worms to light your way while Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico have an elevator and flush toilets. St. Michaels cave has a fantastic theatre while Ireland’s Aillwee Cave is well lit and has paved paths as do the Caves of Nerja in Spain. So on your next vacation why not go underground and visit a show cave.
