One of the most beautiful places on our immense planet is located on the border of Chile and Argentina in the Patagonian Andes. The fabulous creation that nature herself created is located in South America in one of the deepest lakes in the world, Buenos Aires.
Locals call it majestically Marble Cathedral, but many tourist brochures refer to it as Las Cavernas de Marmol or the Marble Caves of Chile. It is Patagonia’s most striking and memorable attraction, visited by tens of thousands of tourists from all corners of the globe each year.
The pristine beauty of the blue-blue rocks, shimmering in the crystal clear waters of the lake, according to most travelers who have seen this miracle of nature, makes you believe that paradise on earth does exist. We would like to note that in some sources you can find information that Las Cavernas de Marmol is located in the waters of Lake General Carrera. This is not a mistake or a typo, it is all about the territorial location of the marble caves: General Carrera is the Chilean name, Buenos Aires, as it is easy to guess, the Argentine one.
The Marble Caves of Chile: a beauty created by nature itself
The intricate labyrinths of the Marble Caves will not leave any traveler indifferent. The majesty and unearthly beauty of the carved marble vaults, which on a sunny day are emphasized by bright rays of sunlight peeking through here and there, is a truly unforgettable spectacle. The reflections of light in the emerald-blue water, as if playing in the lake, create amazing optical illusions every second. That is why the Marble Caves look different both on a bright sunny day and in the cloudy weather.
The variability of the water level, which is due to the seasonal melting of glaciers, also contributes to the “reincarnation” of the fantastic tunnels of the caves.
Travelers who have already been to this amazing place advise all those who just decide to go to the marble caves in Chile to make their excursion even before the beginning of spring.
During this period of time, the low water level in the caves allows curious tourists to take advantage of the pleasure boats provided by local guides and enjoy the splendor of nature inside the caves. A stroll under the vaults of the Marble Cathedral, which is not made by hand, allows you to see this natural wonder up close and peek through the so-called “dark windows” of the caves, which look more like an endless tunnel. However, who lives there, remains a mystery for tourists, because no boat can get deep into the caves…
As mentioned above, the colors of the caves change depending on the season and the day, but also the various admixtures of minerals in the walls give Las Cavernas de Marmol an unearthly splendor. As glaciers melt, the lake water becomes cloudy and so the rocks and caves are “colored” in muted tones. Some travelers on cloudy days see the Marble Cathedral as similar to a dark and mysterious ghost. All shades of blue adorn the caves of Chile in the summer, when the mountain lake glistens in the bright sunlight.
Tourists from all over the world are attracted not only by the opportunity to enjoy and touch the splendor of the picturesque caves created by nature itself, but also by the opportunity to spend their free time doing their favorite activity: fishing. Lake Lago Buenos Aires is world famous for its variety of fish, including salmon and trout, which can live only in the purest water.
Travelers will need patience and time to get to this amazing place, as the Marble Caves are a considerable distance from the Chilean capital Santiago. Those who decide to visit Las Cavernas de Marmol must first travel the 1,300 kilometers from Santiago to Coillac, and then another 300 kilometers (!) to the Marble Caves. However, all the difficulties associated with the flight and travel and the accumulated fatigue are instantly forgotten and disappear as soon as the traveler is in the immediate vicinity of the majestic and magnificent Marble Caves, created by the invisible “breath” of nature.