Grutas los Herrara

Las Grutas - Gruta de los Herrera

Useful Information

Location:	Near San Joaquin. 30 km off the Vizarrón highway.
Open:	All year Tue-Sun 10-17. [2015]
Fee:	Adults MXN 60. [2015]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=300 m, VR=100 m, A=2,415 m asl.
Guided tours:	Self guided, VR=30 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Grutas los Herrara.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1978	discovered by Paty Mottes and Ray Jameson, speleologists from Austín, Texas.
1996	artificial entrance constructed, cave opened to the public.

Description

The cave called Las Grutas or Grutas los Herrara is located in the Sierra Gorda Queretana, only 2 km from San Joaquin town center. It is famous for its speleothems, which are named with much fantasy after the things they resemble. The chambers are called Sala del León (Lions chamber), Sala del Cocodrilo (Crocodile chamber), El Paso de la Selva (Pass of the rain forrest), or El Imperio Romano (Roman Empire). The cave is well lit and equipped with comfortable paths.

The cave was officially discovered by Paty Mottes and Ray Jameson, speleologists from Austín, Texas. They explored, surveyed, and published their discovery. The U.S. cavers were rather active in Mexico during the last decades. But actually the cave had been discovered before, by the owner of the land, Luís Herrera Resendiz (*1921-✝1991). The cave is still owned by the family Herrera Martinez.