Go below the surface at the Hato Caves

Just a few miles from Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, there are a series of caves that tell many stories about the history of the Caribbean. The Hato Caves, known as Grotten Van Hato in native Dutch, formed under the waters of the Caribbean several thousand years ago. After the waters receded, the native peoples used the caves for funeral rituals and other ceremonial purposes. Later, during the colonial era, the caves served as a place of refuge for runaway slaves. Despite these caves’ significant contributions to history, the site was not open to the public until the 1990s. Today, these limestone caves embedded in an ancient coral reef are one of the most popular attractions in Curaçao. Visit the Hato Caves and see why this unique formation is such an important part of this island’s cultural and geological history.

The Hato caves formed several thousand years ago as karst caves, a geological process in which water containing an above-average amount of carbon dioxide dissolves limestone. Although limestone is usually waterproof, cracks in the rock created by tectonic forces allowed seawater to seep in between the cracks and widen the gaps. Slowly, over a period of many thousands of years, great caves such as the prized Hato de Curaçao were formed as a result.

However, since these caves were formed underwater, they were not always accessible to humans. It is believed that it was not until the Ice Age that the water level dropped enough to expose these caves. Like other famous sea caves around the world, the Hato Caves still bear the marks of their time under water. Inside the limestone interior, visitors can easily see ancient shells and coral formations embedded in the rock. However, the cave is still active today, as evidenced by the increasing number of stalactites (sharp columns of rock that hang from the ceiling of a cave) and stalagmites (inverted stalactites that extend from the cave floor).

Before tourists began to explore this area, the Hato caves were used as a refuge by many groups. Before the colonization of the Caribbean, the native Arawak Amerindians used the caves for ceremonies and burials. In addition to leaving flint tools and other artifacts in the caves, these native peoples also scrawled petroglyphs on the walls. These drawings, believed to be about 1,500 years old, are still visible today when you tour the caves. In the park outside the cave, the iguanas popular with tourists are believed to have arrived on Curaçao with these natives who originally migrated from the Orinoco River region of South America several thousand years ago.

During colonial times, runaway slaves are also believed to have hid in these caves, with some even living in the caves for months. Today, with caves playing an important role in Curaçao’s tourism industry, it is easy to see how the Hato Caves have played an important role in all stages of the island’s history.

One of the most popular activities on Curacao is a tour that visits both the Hato Caves and the Curacao Ostrich Farm. This four-hour tour departs from Willemstad and picks up at top resorts. Rates generally start at $45 per person, a price that includes round-trip transportation, entrance fees to each site, and the expertise of a local tour guide. As this tour generally operates only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, it’s a good idea to make reservations while planning your vacation or through your concierge when you arrive. If you choose to visit the caves on your own, tours are offered every hour from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

If you visit Curacao, be sure to visit one of the most historically significant and geologically unique sites in the Caribbean. Regardless of age or interests, each visitor is in for an adventure below the surface.