Seeking to go underground this Christmas? Well, look no further, take that journey into Jamaica’s underground charm, an unexplored labyrinth of mystical underground caverns – the Green Grotto Caves.

This is a speleologist dream, a green cavern of mystery, a great adventure worth experiencing, and a slice of Jamaica’s history one should not miss.

The Green Grotto Caves is surrounded by thick vegetation and endowed with pristine waters flowing from secret underground pathways.

The caves’ original inhabitants, the Arawak Indians (Tainos), used the caves for various purposes as evidenced from the multiple fragments of pottery and artifacts unearthed at the site time and again.

During the 17th century when the English invaded the island of Jamaica, the Green Grotto Caves were used as a hideout for the Spaniards who were being driven out of the country.

In the mid-20th century, between the two world wars, the caves were used by men smuggling arms to Cuba.

In the latter years during the Second World War, the government of Jamaica used the entrance of the cave as a storeroom for rum in barrels.

The caves have been dubbed with different names over the years. These include the Runaway Bay Caves, Cave Hall Caves, Discovery Bay Caves, Dry Harbor Caves, Hopewell Caves, Rum Caves and Dairy Caves, Green Grotto, among others.

Over time, the government of Jamaica has recognized the unlimited potential of this marquee piece of history and its global appeal. It consequently took control of the property and made it into a world-class tourist attraction.

The Green Grotto cave is the first in the world to receive the prestigious EarthCheck Master Achievement Award.

It is situated on 64 acres of land in Discovery Bay, St. Ann between the resort centers of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.

The central feature of this natural attraction is the large labyrinthine limestone cave with its unique rock formations, its stalactites, stalagmites, and abundance of overhead ceiling pockets, and bats.

Pollyanna Davy, Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

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