Harrison's Cave
St. Thomas | $$ | Website
Harrison’s Cave is an active cave tucked away in the centre of the island in the parish of St Thomas, a short distance from Welchman Hall Gully. The cave is named after Thomas Harrison who owned the land on which it is situated in the early 1700s. Harrison’s Cave was mapped in 1974 and was subsequently opened to the public in 1981 and has been a popular attraction since then. The tour commences with a short video on the geology of Barbados and explains how the island was formed. Afterwards, visitors are guided to the electric trams which carry you into the depths of the cave. The cave is said to be active because there are streams that flow through it and because the various formations are still growing.
The journey through the cave lasts for around 30 minutes. The tram travels a distance of about a mile throughout a series of caverns which contain a variety of rock formations. The largest cavern is the Great Hall which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites and other interesting formations that your tour guide will point out to you. After the tour, visitors can walk around the lush grounds which are home to a variety of tropical vegetation.
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Member Reviews
(Barbados - Sights & Activities)
A Unique Treat
If you have never been, then Harrison’s Cave is definitely an experience to put on the ‘must do’ list. These subterranean caves are fascinating – first you watch a short video about the caves (history etc.) and then you are given your hard hats and seated in the trams to head down below. A tour guide narrates you through the journey and you are given the opportunity to disembark at some point along the way.
The tour through the cave itself is a little bit short, however, they are going through some renovations and I believe an extension is part of the plan. All in all, a worthwhile tour and something to do at least once.
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(Barbados - Sights & Activities)
I have never tired of the cave’s natural beauty
I’ve been to Harrison’s Cave about 4 times, as a child with my parents, with school and with friends who have come to Barbados on holiday. I have never tired of the cave’s natural beauty and it still amazes me that there are these wondrous caverns beneath the surface of the island!
The educational film that visitors watch before going on the tour of the cave is interesting and gives you a bit of background on how the island was formed – I enjoyed it. The tour commences as you travel down what is known as the Boyce tunnel which is named after the individual on the construction team who first broke through the bedrock into the cave. The Boyce tunnel brings you to the top of the Great Hall where you get your first glimpse of the various formations that make the cave so beautiful. From the Great Hall, you make your way through the cave all the while taking in stalactites; stalagmites; flowstone, which resembles a frozen waterfall and other incredible formations.
I was disappointed that the tram never seemed to stop fully to allow visitors to get really crisp, clear photographs of the cave. I would have preferred if the tram had stopped for longer. I also think it would be nice if you received a brochure with a few facts about the cave included in the entrance fee as a little memento of your visit. That said, if you haven’t been to a cave before then it’s definitely worth going to!
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