Gruta de Belém

Useful Information

Location:	Avenida Manoel Novaes 607 bl B ap 1, Av. Dr. Manoel Novaes, 916, Bom Jesus da Lapa - BA, 47600-000. (-13.2565464, -43.4171493)
Open:	All year daily 8-17. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Karst Cave Cave Church Stone Forests
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	L=50 m, W=20 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Gruta de Belém, Avenida Manoel Novaes 607 bl B ap 1, Av. Dr. Manoel Novaes, 916, Bom Jesus da Lapa - BA, 47600-000, Tel: +55-77-3481-5860.
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

1965	cave developed as a cave church with trails.

Description

The Gruta de Belém (Cave of Bethlehem) aka Gruta do Nascimento (Cave of the Nativity) is another cave church in the city of Bom Jesus da Lapa. The main cave church is the Santuário do Bom Jesus da Lapa on the opposite site of this huge limestone hill. THe cave portal is rather low and wide, which looks like its necessary to stoop, but actually that’s just a result of the form. The ceiling, while low several times, is never so low. Inside a sort of canyon or gorge follows which is open to the sky and then the passage closes again. Finally, the passage is decorated with a nativity scene, which is the origin of the name and the main sight of the cave. We have classified it as a cave church, although strictly speaking it is not a church, despite the religious hymns coming from the loudspeakers. There are no seats and no church services.