I don't even have the correct words for this trip. Let's start at the beginning of the trip...We…read morechose the Rio Secreto Classic Tour. Cost was roughly $109 usd per person.
We got in touch with Lomas Hospitality and set up the tour with them. They got us our tickets and told us when to meet the driver from Rio Secreto. This all happened as per normal and we took a short 20-30 minute drive to get to the location (we stayed at El Dorado Maroma). You get a wrist band when you get to the reception area (our driver got ours for us) and then you're told to go to the area where everyone is sitting and there is a person at the podium that asks what language you speak so they know which form to have you fill out. We are English speakers so we filled out the waiver and handed it back in. A quick 5 minute wait and they let us know that our guide would be Guillermo (Memo) and we learned Charles was our photographer.
There were 10 of us in our group and Memo let us know what to expect and what was coming up. He let everyone know we'd need to change into our swimwear, get their water shoes on (they have some there if you need them), and lock our things in the locker (each couple/family received a lock and key to wear on the wrist). There were restrooms and changing rooms for whatever was needed. We then met out front and were told that we needed to rinse off to get the oils off of our skin so as to reduce the damage to the cave we were going to be traipsing through. He also let us know that when we got done with the rinse (it is all outside), at that point, if we would like to wear a wetsuit, just line up and they'd get that for us. My husband and I chose to go without the wetsuits, while the other people in our group chose to wear them. Every person MUST wear a life vest and a helmet. No way around it, and it is a darn good thing! They also offer a PVC walking cane/stick for people that wish to have it. I'm going to highly suggest that if a person is even a little bit wobbly on their feet...use it. We then took a short 10 minute walk to the cave entrance after some pictures (Thank you Charles!!!) in front of signs and other things, we started the tour.
There is a good reason this is considered in the top 10 of National Geographic. I can't even explain in words how amazing this whole trip was for us. The knowledge that both young men had regarding the cave, its exploration, how it is created, the animals inside and out...they were amazing.
We walked, we swam, we crouched, we enjoyed, we were in awe of the beauty of the system itself. You DEFINITELY need the helmet (crouching isn't always fun when you get older or are taller and you will bump your head), and the life vest (swimming is awesome, but floating in one area and looking up at everything around you takes your mind from treading water and you MUST see everything!). We saw bats, we saw blind cave fish, we saw tiny catfish, cave crickets, we saw isopods, we saw 1mm shrimp, we saw stalactites, stalagmites, fossils from corals, tailless whip scorpions, isopods, and beauty. So much beauty all around us. And it is cold water...70 - 75 degree's Fahrenheit was about normal apparently. It was cold but when you're in it, it isn't so bad.
This is a must if you are in the area. 100%
After we finished the tour, you can buy the photos they take ($120 usd) and there is a buffet style meal for you if you wish. The soda's need to be bought in the gift shop (on the side you came into the meal area) and are 1 for $3.00 or 2 for $4.00 each, they obviously can change that.
The photos are delivered electronically, and I know our guy did phenomenal for us!
A ride back to our resort and we were sad to see it go. I wish my words could be more descriptive, but you should just go and see it for yourselves. It is a whole other world down there.