Coles Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Highway 3A, Saint Thomas, Barbados 22004. St Thomas Parish, Barbados (13.183310, -59.567377)
Open:	No restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	A=225 m asl, L=1,400 m, VR=63 m.
Guided tours:	self guided. D=2 h
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	M Buck (1981): The Florida Entomologist, 1981, 64 (4) plan. E. Seeliger-Mander (1997): Barbados, Insel unter dem Wind, 264 pp Bielesfeld, (Reise Know-How). Coles Cave p 204 ()
Address:	Wild Barbados, Tel/WhatsApp: +1-246-280-0066. E-mail: Rugged Adventures Barbados, Sturges St. Thomas, Tel: +1-246-259-1457. E-mail: Good Times Tours, Foursquare, Rockley, Hastings, Barbados, Tel/WhatsApp: +1-246-241-4067. E-mail:
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

	used as a shelter by slaves running away from the sugar plantations.
1969	Shedith's Cave discovered.
1979	survey by M. Buck and others.
2009	survey by Pat Kambesis, Mike Lace and others.

Description

Located only 800 m east of the famous show cave Harrisson's Cave, Coles Cave or Cole's Cave is well known for a long time. It is a wild cave, so not just a comfortable walk, and as it is a river cave, you will get wet. Nevertheless, the visit is not really difficult, and there are some iron ladders installed, helping at the few climbs. Nevertheless, good equipment, helmet with headlamp, reserve light, suitable clothes and a towel and dry clothes to change are mandatory. The dry entrance is steep and a rope for ascent and descent is quite helpful. Never go alone, and tell someone where you went and when you will be back.

The cave is easily found, just follow Highway H south through Clifton Hills, the first turnoff to the left leads to Manor Farm Ltd. Right at the beginning of this single-lane gravel road is the possibility to park your car, and it is the meeting point for Coles Cave tour operators. Follow the gravel road 150 m to reach Jack-in-the-Box-Gully, a valley with a small river and jungle, then follow the river upstream for about 200 m to reach the cave. Located in the middle of Clifton Hills, it is surrounded by houses, which means private property, and this is the only way to reach the cave. There is another cave named Pigeon Cave downstream, but we were not able to find more info on this cave.

The cave is a tourist destination as it is visited by at least three extreme sports operators. It seems they have some knowledge about caving, and we strongly recommend booking such a tour because this provides some basic safety. However, all those operators do not have a website, no address, and no price list. In other words, you have to call them or email them, and meet them at the Highway 3A, the Google Maps location is 78525CJJ+GCX. It's also possible to book the tour on tripadvisor, viator, and several other such portals. It seems the tour costs about USD 100 and takes about 2 hours.

Next to Harrisson's Cave, in a natural jungle, entered via Jack-in-the-Box-Gully. It is not gated and there are no restrictions on access. It is said that a local person will show visitors around the cave but I have not been able to contact him.

The descent into Coles Cave is via a steep gully, this is the easiest of the three entrances. Inside there is a series of roomy passages some 3 m high and up to 4 meters wide with some nice speleothems, which eventually lead down to the watertable. As this is the island drinking water, please take care not to contaminate it. Coles Cave is undoubtedly part of the Harrisson's Cave System, but to-date no connection has been found.

In 1969 a team of American and Danish cave divers, led by Ron Reil and Ole Sorrensen (see link below) passed a sump and found a dry series which they called Shedith's Cave after Ole's wife.

A bat, Brachyphylla minor, was found in Coles Cave. (Ref: Miller (1913): Coles Cave, St. Thomas Parish, Barbados, Lesser Antilles, Proc Biol Soc Washington Vol 26 32).

Text by Tony Oldham (2003). With kind permission.