Ulises Icardi · CC BY-SA 4.0Calizas del Grupo Itapucumí y cavernas de Vallemí
The country’s largest karst system: 66 km² of Ediacaran limestone with more than 50 known caves, in northern Concepción.
What it is
Around Vallemí, in the San Lázaro district, limestone of the Itapucumí Group crops out, about 400 m thick, laid down on a large carbonate platform in the Ediacaran sea. Water dissolved that rock over millions of years and left a karst of about 66 km² with 54 known caves, with stalactites, stalagmites and dissolution features. Among the best known are Santa Caverna, Caverna 14 de Julio, Caverna 54 and Peñón de Kambá Hópo.
It is one of the few limestone areas in the country, which is why the Industria Nacional del Cemento (INC), a state-run autarchic body inaugurated in 1970, has its plant and quarry there. In 2021 SENATUR studied nominating the caves for UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list.
How to visit
Ask the San Lázaro municipality or SENATUR how to arrange a visit, and it is best to go with local guides, since some are technical and others (such as Peñón de Kambá Hópo) require a boat. Bring a helmet, a torch and closed shoes.
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.