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Base Jump in the Cave of Swallows, Mexico
Published by Spencer Spellman, Writer
Country: Mexico 
The Experience
There's adventure travel and then there's the Cave of Swallows, which takes adventure travel to a whole other level. As the deepest cave shaft in the world, there's only one way to see the Cave of Swallows, and that's down. This is the Mount Everest of caves, and adventure travellers and groups of outdoor enthusiasts make the trek each year to the pit cave that is deep in the Mexican forest.
Located in the small town of Aquismón in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the Cave of Swallows is certainly off the beaten path, away from the town in a heavily wooded area. The pit cave doesn't have the same history as many of Mexico's landmarks, as it was only found a little over 30 years ago by a team of scientists who were actually studying the bird life of the area. Though the Cave does somewhat swallow adventure seekers, it's actually named after the thousands of swallows that ascend and descend it each day. For years the Cave of Swallows has been an observation point for scientists studying bird life around the area, and it's only recently become such a popular tourist spot.
The Cave is essentially a large elliptical abyss in the middle of the Mexican forest. It’s a 1,200+ foot freefall drop to the bottom, making it the largest cave shaft in the world. To give you a perspective of height, it would be like diving from the very top of the Empire State Building. With its steep drop of over 1,000 feet, the bottom of the Cave can get pretty cool, so adventurists typically don't spend much time at the bottom before they are ready to go back up. The top of the Cave of Swallows has a diameter of about 200 feet. Although popular among climbing and “spelunking” (caving) enthusiasts, its real draw card is as a site for base jumping. With the Cave’s wide diameter and deep straight freefall, the Cave of Swallows is a Mecca for cave diving. From the top, it takes base jumpers approximately 12 seconds to reach the bottom of the cave pit, and this is 12 adrenaline-soaked seconds.
Most people go with large adventure tour groups and spend an entire day taking turns diving into the Cave. Cave diving in the Cave of Swallows certainly isn't for the faint of heart, nor the inexperienced, as base jumpers must have appropriate permits and equipment to dive.
Located in the small town of Aquismón in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the Cave of Swallows is certainly off the beaten path, away from the town in a heavily wooded area. The pit cave doesn't have the same history as many of Mexico's landmarks, as it was only found a little over 30 years ago by a team of scientists who were actually studying the bird life of the area. Though the Cave does somewhat swallow adventure seekers, it's actually named after the thousands of swallows that ascend and descend it each day. For years the Cave of Swallows has been an observation point for scientists studying bird life around the area, and it's only recently become such a popular tourist spot.
The Cave is essentially a large elliptical abyss in the middle of the Mexican forest. It’s a 1,200+ foot freefall drop to the bottom, making it the largest cave shaft in the world. To give you a perspective of height, it would be like diving from the very top of the Empire State Building. With its steep drop of over 1,000 feet, the bottom of the Cave can get pretty cool, so adventurists typically don't spend much time at the bottom before they are ready to go back up. The top of the Cave of Swallows has a diameter of about 200 feet. Although popular among climbing and “spelunking” (caving) enthusiasts, its real draw card is as a site for base jumping. With the Cave’s wide diameter and deep straight freefall, the Cave of Swallows is a Mecca for cave diving. From the top, it takes base jumpers approximately 12 seconds to reach the bottom of the cave pit, and this is 12 adrenaline-soaked seconds.
Most people go with large adventure tour groups and spend an entire day taking turns diving into the Cave. Cave diving in the Cave of Swallows certainly isn't for the faint of heart, nor the inexperienced, as base jumpers must have appropriate permits and equipment to dive.
When to Go to Sotano De Las Golondrinas
It's not recommended to go cave diving at the Cave of Swallows on bad weather days when it's raining. The top of the Cave can become something of a waterfall when there's heavy rain, so the dry season is the best time to plan a visit. The season typically runs from November to April, which is also when it's a little cooler and more comfortable weather.
Odds n' Ends
Cave diving at the Cave of Swallows is not for first timers. Most base jumpers have done it numerous times, but the Cave of Swallows is a little more difficult than some jumps because it is enclosed. Most importantly, cave divers should be well-trained and experienced before attempting to cave dive at this site. It's also recommended to come with a large group, preferably guided by adventure professionals. Groups of cave divers are also required to have special permits before they can do the jumps.
Want a Guide?
- Aventurs Tour - Rappelling
- The length of the rappel would make us take approximately 25 minutes to descent.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Country Inn & Suites- Ciudad Valles features 70 comfortable rooms and 7 suites offering Wireless High Speed Internet. Hotel offers Complimentary Breakfast, indoor pool, fitness ... 26 miles away
$892 MXN+
The Mision Ciudad Valles Hotel is located in San Luis Potosi making it one of the best hotels to stay at while in town.All 93 ... 27 miles away
$602 MXN+
+ 2 others. Show all.
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