Explore The Marble Caves of Patagonia, Chile
Cave exploration is a unique experience wherever and in whichever form you experience it. With so many geological features, our lovely planet even has several caves worth visiting. You can be in it to experience the thrill of being underground or just some place out of the world. Exploring the marble caves in Chile is going to be the cave exploration you didn’t know you needed.
These marble caves are one of a kind and a true spectacle. In addition to the marble structure of these caves, the stunning location is cherry on the top. Visiting these marble caves could just be the out of the world experience you are chasing. With an aqua blue colour and waters reflecting their beauty, the marble caves are completely breath taking.
What Formed These Marble Caves?
Formed over 6000 years ago, by the constant weathering and of the marble already present. Over 6 centuries of weathering from natural factors, primarily from the lake’s motion, gave it its current look. Finding such natural formations is pretty rare and getting to see these stunning marble caves is a true spectacle.
Reaching The Caves And Location Info
Photo by sebastian del val from Pixabay
Traveling to these otherworldly caves is not your typical road travel either. Located around 193 km from the city of Balmaceda, Chile, it is quite an interesting journey to reach here. If you are coming from outside the country, the best way to reach here is to land at Balmaceda which is around 2.5 hours away from Santiago by flight.
Additionally, on reaching Balmaceda you still have ways to go to reach the caves. Winding through approx 200 km of roads you reach General Carrera Lake where this structure stands proud. After reaching the lake, you can hop on a ferry or boat which is usually a 30 minute guided tour of the area and these caves.
The unique thing about these caves is that they’re not the usual underground structure you’d expect. The caves are present beneath a monolithic structure present right in the middle of the lake. You can look into the travel packages for you to visit the caves here.
What Is The Perfect Time To Visit?
Photo by Backpackerin on Pixabay
Because of how they’re formed and the location of the structure right in the middle of the lake, the caves also change colours. You can expect to see different colours depending on when you decide to visit. It may be a dark aqua blue or a light sky blue with the patterns visible in the marble.
The ideal time to visit these caves for the best experience is December through March. Because of their structure right on the lake, this time is perfect due to the low water levels. This makes traversing the location easier and the scenery looks absolutely breathtaking in the reflection of these caves.
Another thing to note is that during high water levels. The caves take on a deeper shade of blue because of the lake’s reflection.
What Else Is There To Do Around Marble Caves?
Photo by farsouthexp.com
Reaching the caves is quite an adventure in itself and most people only stop by to see these magnificent caves. But if you have more time in your hands, there are still loads to do around here. A day trip added to your travels down to these marble caves can give you an additional experience to witness the Chilean glaciers.
You can visit the San Rafael Glacier for more adventure. In case you want to chill back and relax after your long travels, you can relax by the lakeside. There are even accommodation options available nearby. You can even choose to go to the nearby nature reserves nearby.
Staying at the hotels nearby is a must if you are planning to make a vacation out of the marble caves trip. There are plenty of exotic hotels present nearby which can give you the right Chilean stay experience. You can choose to stay at the Hotel Loberías del Sur and get stunning views of Patagonia.
Photo from www.loberiasdelsur.cl/hotel/
Moreover, if you are on the lookout for amazing Chilean cuisines and a luxurious staying experience, this is the perfect hotel. Choosing the day trip of the glaciers is another thing you can consider if you are looking to stay and explore everything around properly. You can check their tour packages here.
Some Insider Tips
Traveling to some place as exotic as these Chilean marble caves requires some research. You have nothing to fear as we will give you some inside tips and hacks so you can be well-prepared for your trip. Well, as mentioned above, reaching these caves is not really an easy trip you can take. It has its own twists and combines several modes of transport.
If you are coming from across the border of Argentina, make sure you have a passport and can meet the conditions of crossing over.
As the travel is quite long and a combination of road and water travel, you definitely do not want to fall sick. If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure you pack some medicine. Moreover, you want to get a proper rest before arriving here, especially if you are just visiting the caves and nothing else.
The caves are quite breathtaking to see as it is, but with the right conditions, they will show you a completely different look. This is especially true in the case of sunsets and varying seasons. It would be a good idea to carry waterproof protection for your gadgets and cameras, since this is a location where you’re bound to get wet.
Ideally in the low water levels, you can even stand in the caves and see the formations. But, in case of high tide or general high waters, it is better to not get down.
The best thing to do is to stay at a nearby hotel and then visit these caves and other formations mentioned above. Have a safe trip! Let us know about your trip in the comments!
