Sotano De Las Golondrinas - Nov 2003
Sotano de las Golondrinas means 'pit of the swallows'.The 'Sotano', in the Mexican state of San Luis Potasi has a vertical drop of more than 1000 ft. It is the home of tens of thousands of swallows that circle the sotano every morning to get the altitude to fly out.
A truely amazing place and a great place to camp. Just need to be careful where you wander if you leave the tent in the middle of the night!
A short video of the Golondrinas leaving the Sotano.
Jorge is a professional photographer, specialising in wildlife. Here he is with one of his smaller lenses!
Liliana perched at the edge of a 1000 ft vertical drop.
Marianna cautiously looks over the edge more than 1000 ft straight down.
The sotano attracts a daily audience of early rising visitors who watch from the lip. The circling birds eventually exit after there long climb from the bottom of the pit. Watching the birds fly out across the jungle canopy by the light of dawn is awe inspiring.
Myself and Liliana with circling Golondrinas in the background. At times you could feel the wind from their wing beats.
Trekking down from the campsite.
Jorge helping a local free his car. Funny though that it was Lilianas offroad experience of Africa that eventually solved this problem.
A speciality of San Luis Potasi. This gigantic Tamal was absolutely delicious.
The feeling looking down here is amazing. The sense of space and exposure truely intimidating...
Photos and words can do no justice to the incredible vastness of this pit.
Curious kids watching Marianna and Theo.
