Caves of Hato
Hato Cave is over 300,000 years old and is the largest and most prominent cave on the island. Since 1991, the Hato Cave has been officially open to the public after an intensive upgrade by the government of Curaçao to make it accessible on foot. Today, the Curaçao Hato Cave can be considered the most beautiful and most crowd-friendly cave on the island.
Curaçao is formed in layers of increasing height, which are called 'terraces'. While most caves can be found on the second terrace, Hato Cave is uniquely found on the third terrace of the island. So to reach the entrance to this unique upper floor limestone cave you have to climb 49 steps. This may sound like a lot, but it really is very doable! And once at the top you will be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the area and a nice cool breeze.
Once inside the cave it is easy to walk on a smooth paved path, fully lit, with limited steps. The stairs and paths are lined with handrails for extra support and safety. The cave consists of sea coral limestone, which has accumulated over millions of years and after the sea level dropped, it was exposed to atmospheric corrosion and karst processes.
The park
Enjoy the park after visiting the Hato Caves! Visit our cactus garden, or walk the Indian Trail where you can get acquainted with the flora and fauna of Curaçao and see the Indian petroglyphs in the rocks, estimated to be at least 1500 years old. The park and the trail are both easily accessible for adults, children and even wheelchairs, as the trail is nicely paved.
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