Place to see: La Estrella Caves, Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico

About this place:

A very well kept secret, La Estrella Caves are an 1 1/2 hour drive from Mexico City, just outside Tonatico, near Ixtapan de la Sal. Altoguh there are ligthed and ther is a paved path and handrails, this caves are not as developed and civilized as its neighbours, the huge Cacahuamilpa Caves, but they are not les impressive.

You climb down 400 steps to the mouth of the cave where you meet one of the guides. They are highly cultivated and prepared people, and willing to take you a little bit out of the beaten track, altough until now, there are few people who visit the place, so you can count with plenty of time and patience from them to show you the places that are under study right now, where, when you turn off the lantern and keep quiet, can experience absolute darkness and silence. It is an astounding feeling.

When I went there last february, we saw hematopahges bats (vampires), hanging from the ceiling of the big vaults.

You walk trough thousands of stalactites and stalagmites in all stages of formation

In times of the mexican revolution, about 100 years ago, the caves where used as hiding places for people who fled the battle and there is a theory that they where ritual places for ancient tribes. The guide told us that recently, two squeletons where discovered and are being studied to know their age, but as far as he told us, they seem to be very old.

Now you can take a tour trough and underwater river that passes 80 feet bellow. With climbing gear, you rappell to the water and you follow it for two hours until you come out on the other side of the mountain. It takes an hour walk trough the forest to return to the starting point.

The fee to the caves is 15 mexican pesos, or about 1.25 US Dlls., plus the tip to the guide.

The trip to the river costs 150 pesos per person and they provide all the equipement; helmet, headlamp, safety vest, ropes, etc.

There is no need for reservation, you can go along as soon as you arrive.

So far, there are no reports af any accident.

It is a higly recomendable experience