The Hidden Depths of Chevé Cave

The Chevé cave system outside of Oaxaca, Mexico, consists of a cave network of 16 explored miles and depths reaching 4,869 feet. It’s the second-deepest cave in the Western Hemisphere and one of the longest on Earth. Ceremonial Cuicatec artifacts dating back 700 years have been found hidden inside the cave, though very little of it has actually been explored due to dangerous terrain. Chevé is also the deepest proven freshwater hydrological system in the world

Inside lies an underground web of waterfalls, rivers and unique formations that make it especially difficult for speleologists to explore but incredible to see. The exploration limit — or length anyone can yet reach — is approximately 6 miles from the nearest exit, so it’s one of the most remote locations on Earth. The deepest point requires more than one mile of rope to be rigged and a minimum of three underground camps at which to rest.

Discovering the hidden depths of Chevé Cave is not for the inexperienced cave diver, though there are shorter tours that only enter less than a couple of miles into the system. If you plan on going the distance, you’ll need to prepare far in advance and prove you’ve got the experience required to survive.

There are roughly a dozen tour guides in Oaxaca willing to take intrepid explorers into the depths. Make sure you do your proper research when choosing your guide!