How to Delve Deep into Harrison’s Cave in Barbados

One of the most unique things you can do when visiting Barbados is taking a trip to Harrison’s Cave. This popular tourist attraction sees thousands of guests each year and is something you won’t find anywhere else in the Caribbean. A site of unmatched wonder, this underground cave system offers guests to see Barbados beneath its tropical surface, traversing through limestone caves that continue to grow to this day. While traversing caves sound claustrophobic to some, in Harrison’s Cave, you don’t have anything to fear, as you’ll be touring the caverns aboard an electrical tram. Its a really fun experience, and after visiting Harrison’s Cave, I believe its a must on any Barbados itinerary. In this post I’ll prepare you by letting you know what to expect.

• If you’re planning a trip to Barbados, you’ll want to check out my guide to the island. You can read it HERE.

Harrison’s Cave – The Basics

• Where? Allen View, Saint Thomas
• When? Harrison’s Cave is open daily from 9.00am – 3.00pm.
• How much? General admission to Harrison’s Cave (including the tram tour) costs $57.00 USD or $115.00 BBD for adults. Children aged 3 to 12 years get in for $39.90 USD ($80.00 BBD), while kids 2 years and under are free.
• How to get there: Harrison’s Cave is located in Barbados’ central hillside. The easiest way to get there is by car. Its about a 30 – 45 minute drive from Bridgetown, and you can expect to pay roughly $35.00 – $55.00 BBD. Consider using the PickUpBarbados app, which is similar to Uber. Alternatively, buses leave from Bridgetown every 30 minutes and will cost around $2.00 BBD.
• Website: https://chukka.com/destinations/barbados/harrisons-cave/

How Did Harrison’s Cave Form?

Unlike many of the islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados was not created by volcanic activity. The island is comprised of rich sediments and coral limestone. Limestone is a porous and fractured rock with many holes and fissures. Over time, erosion formed the cave network as water passed through the limestone. As the water reached layers of impenetrable sediments, it would flow out to sea, dissolving limestone above it, forming caves along the way.

In turn, this whole process brought about groundwater supplies rich in calcium and other minerals. The accumulation of calcium subsequently brought about the formation of stalactite and stalagmite which you’ll see plenty of throughout the caverns. Remember: stalactites hold on tight to the roof, while stalagmites reach up in hope they might reach those heights some day.

Harrison’s Cave’s system of tunnels and caverns currently extends around 2.3 kilometres, with its largest cavern reaching a ceiling height of 15 metres high. It actually continues to grow to this day, as the remarkable geological processes of erosion and karstification continue to do their thing.

When Was Harrison’s Cave Discovered?

Harrison’s Cave is said to have been discovered in 1796, as it was named after the Bajan landowner Thomas Harrison. It is unclear whether Harrison ever entered the Cave, particularly as it would have been a difficult process during his time. While many attempts would have been made in Harrison’s aftermath, the first official recorded entry to the Cave came with the expedition of Ole Sorenson and Anthony Mason in 1970. This Danish and Bajan duo succeeded where many had failed, finding a navigable access point into the limestone caverns.

Extensive excavation work was subsequently carried out by the Barbados government starting in 1974. Numerous tunnels were dug out through the caves, most notably the Boyce Tunnel, which provides access from the entrance deep into the cavernous network. The tunnel was named after Noel Boyce, an equipment operator who played a key part its excavation.

Harrison’s Cave was opened to the public in 1981, and it has drawn tourists from all over the world ever since. Care has been taken to preserve the natural ecosystem, promoting sustainable access to the Cave’s beauty.

Arriving at Harrison’s Cave

I got to Harrison’s Cave after organising a driver through the PickUpBarbados app. Overall, it took around 45 minutes to get to the cave from my hotel. There are cheaper ways to get to the Cave (such as the bus service), but ride-share is definitely the most convenient. I ended up getting my driver to wait for me after dropping me off at the Cave and paid him in cash to drive me around for the rest of the day. It worked out extremely well and is something I recommend if you want to reach some of the Barbados’ more spread out sights.

I highly recommend you book your tram tour time slot before arriving at Harrison’s Cave. Spots are limited, and when I arrived relatively early in the day, there were already people arriving without reservations being told they would have to wait until much later in the day before they could see the Cave. You can pre-book your ticket on the official website, and if you’re interested in the other experiences at the park, you might also consider looking into their various ticket packages. If you’ve pre-booked, you’re asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour’s scheduled departure time (though you can get there earlier and hang out in the park).

After checking in at the front desk, you’ll go through the main visitor’s centre area and get into an elevator, which takes you down deep into lush gully outside the cave entrance. With a bit of time before my tour departed, I looked around and grabbed a quick feed at the on-site cafe until my tour group was called.

Taking the Tram Tour

After a brief introduction to your guide, the Tram Tour starts inside a small exhibition space. There’s a few informative displays here that provide details on Barbados’ geology and the formation of the Cave. I was most fascinated by the scale model of the island in the centre of the exhibition – you can see just how flat Barbados is compared to its volcanic neighbours. From the exhibition space, we were ushered into a theatre and watched a brief film about the Cave.

Exiting the cinema from the other door, the real part of the tour begins. We were handed helmets and hair nets and directed on board an open air tram. After passing a dioramic recreation of Sorenson and Mason’s entry to the cave, the tram took us deep beneath the surface, down Boyce Tunnel. Descending deeper into the cave, we caught our first glimpse of the Great Hall, the largest chamber of the cave, filled with limestone formations, before moving onwards to the Village, a community of phallic shaped stone columns.

Other key chambers that you’ll visit on your tour of the cave are the Chapel, Rotunda and Altar. All the way through the journey, the tram utilises indirect lightning techniques to preserve the limestone caverns. At two points in the two you’ll be able to get out and explore the picturesque chambers on foot, though access to these regions is strictly timed – you’ll be ushered out before the lights black out. This balance allows you to experience the cave’s immense beauty, while also ensuring it is protected for future generations. The underground lake and waterfall at the cave’s lowest chamber are particularly gorgeous.

What Else Can You Do at Harrison’s Cave?

There’s so much to see and do at Harrison’s Cave these days. The main reason to come remains the tram tour, however the site is constantly expanding, to the point that you can now spend a few hours here. Harrison’s Cave was acquired by CHUKKA Caribbean Adventures in 2020, and since this time, its basically been converted into an eco-park filled with adventure experiences. While you have to pay extra for most of these, you can now enjoy various activities including a monkey zipline and challenge course. There’s even more planned, including a hill slide and free fall tower. I’m definitely interested in seeing what the site looks like in the future, as there was tons of construction going on during my visit.

In addition to the adventure attractions, Harrison’s Cave Visitor’s Centre contains a mini-museum dedicated to Mount Gay Rum. If you don’t have time to visit the actual distillery in Bridgetown, you should stop by here and take part in a rum tasting (which I quickly learned is an essential part of most Bajan experiences!).

With all there is to do, you’ll probably get hungry while visiting Harrison’s Cave. The outdoor Green Monkey Bar and Grill serves burgers and other quick meals surrounded by the natural beauty of the location. Speaking of Green Monkeys, you’ll find them hanging out among the tree branches. These mammals are now found all over Barbados, though they were actually brought aboard slave ships from West Africa in the late 1600s. Don’t get too close – they’re quick to snatch your belongings!

I’m really glad I visited Harrison’s Cave during my trip to Barbados. The unique geology of this island can’t be overstated, and to me, that makes it an essential stop when exploring the country. The Cave’s reputation as a tourist magnet is well deserved, but honestly, so much care is put in by the park conservation staff to ensure access to the site is sustainable, and that theme is repeated throughout many of the stories our guide told us on the tram tour. What do you think of Harrison’s Cave? Is it on your list of things to do in Barbados?