Ecuador Travel

Jumandi caves

Overview

The Jumandi Caves (sometimes spelled Jumandy) are located approximately five kilometers north of the Ecuadorian jungle town of Archidona, and 12 kilometers north of Tena. The caves were named after a man named Jumandi who fought against the Spanish conquistadores as a resistance fighter.

On arrival at the caves, visitors are kitted out in rubber boots, and will be advised to wear just their bathing suit, the boots and perhaps a t-shirt. There is a good reason for this – at some points during the tour, there is the opportunity to swim. At some points it is necessary to wade or swim to the next point along the trail in the cave system. It is recommended that visitors bring a torch. This is because the guided tour of the caves lasts for approximately 45 minutes, but the caves are not well lit apart from at the entrance and at a few other spots along the tour.

The tour itself follows a route through the caves that is interesting in a number of ways. For one thing, many of the passageways are less than two meters tall, so visitors need to watch their heads at all times. Aside from this, the swimming from one point to the next makes the tour seem very exciting, and at one point there is the chance to try to touch the cave floor in a deep pool of water. Few achieve this. The water is pleasantly warm, since the caves are in the jungle region of Ecuador. Visitors will climb over waterfalls, see sleeping bats and touch stalactites and stalagmites.

Aside from the walking and swimming, there are a lot of stalactites and stalagmites that have created interesting rock formations. There are opportunities to photograph these along the way. For those more interested in spa treatments, it is possible to smear therapeutic mud on your face, which is reputed to be good for the skin.

After the trip through the caves, visitors can wash down in the complex with the hoses that are provided – the way back from the caves can be quite muddy! There is also a swimming pool and a restaurant. Opening hours for the caves are 8 am until 6 pm in the evening, and they are open daily. The cost of entrance is $5, which includes the tour of the caves.

Highlights

Cave swimming – a visit to the Jumandi Caves requires some swimming while in the caves themselves. Swimming from the trail end to the next point along the trail, in the dark and with just a flashlight can feel very adventurous. There are also points along the route where it is possible to plunge down into a water hole, into the depths below, to see if it is possible to touch the bottom—while many try, it is difficult to reach.

Stalactites and stalagmites – as one might expect, the Jumandi Caves are full of many different and interesting stalactites and stalagmites for the visitor to observe and photograph. To entertain visitors, guides to the caves are able to play tunes on one section of these rock formations during the tour. The caves boast some interesting column formations and some areas are packed with formations.

Therapeutic mud – while on a tour of the Jumandi Caves, the guides will get to a stage where they are able to show visitors therapeutic mud. The mud in the caves is thought to have useful properties for the health of the skin. Visitors are encouraged to smear the mud over their faces. Even if this does not work, it provides much entertainment for visitors to the caves.

Diving – the Jumandi Caves offer experienced divers the chance to explore their murky depths to see what is hidden in their deep waters. Diving in the chilly waters of the caves is a freshwater diving experience that should only be attempted by those who know what they are doing, and even then, only with a knowledgeable and experienced guide.

The Jumandi Caves complex – tourism at the caves is not limited to the caves themselves. The tourist complex here also includes a swimming pool, flume and a snack bar. After a well-spent morning exploring the caves and getting all muddy, a swim in the clean pool is appreciated.

Jungle walks – the Jumandi Caves are located close to both Archidona and Tena, from which it is possible to take walks on trails through the surrounding jungle. Such walks offer opportunities to view interesting bird and wildlife and to observe the rain forest at first hand.

Getting there

The best way to get to the Jumandi Caves is to take a bus from Quito to Archidona in the Ecuadorian Oriente region. Buses leave frequently from the southern bus terminal of Quitumbe in Quito.

To get to Quitumbe, visitors have the choice of a taxi or a bus. Taking a taxi will cost approximately $10, directly to the terminal, and will take approximately half an hour, depending on the starting point in the city. It can take longer when traffic is heavier. Those who wish to save on money and want to take the bus, need to pick up Trolebus, and take it to its final stop. Here the traveler should alight for the Quitumbe bus terminal. The cost of this route is $0.25 and this journey on the Trole will take approximately one hour.

From the Quitumbe bus terminal, travelers should take buses that are going to Archidona. Those heading in the direction of Tena are good. The bus route is very beautiful, first heading up into the Andes and over the mountain pass that is close to Papallacta. From here, the bus drops down steep valleys into the jungle. In a matter of half an hour or so, the scenery changes from paramo to thickly forested landscape. It is recommended to take this journey in daylight to appreciate the trip. The journey to Archidona or Tena costs approximately $6 and takes about five hours.

Travelers will most likely be basing themselves in either Archidona or Tena and can take a taxi from either of these places to the Jumandi Caves. However, it is possible to alight from the bus at the Jumandi Caves as the entrance to the complex is on the road to the jungle.