Updated: December 4, 2023
I tell you in detail how to make the best visits to caves and canyons in Kutaisi: Martvili, Prometeo, Sataplia and Okatse.
The most popular visit near Kutaisi and probably all of Georgia is to the caves and canyons in the Imereti region, because they are beautiful.
In the entire region there are at least some 14 cave areas that are declared National Monuments.
However, in this article I will only talk about the 2 most interesting ones: Prometheus, which is one of the largest, and then those that are in the Sataplia reserve.
The caves inside are maintained with a constant temperature of about 14 °C.
In conjunction with humidity, they say they have healing properties for those suffering from respiratory problems.
When it comes to canyons, there are 2 quite impressive ones in the Imereti region.
Martvili which is the most visited because it is one of the most spectacular places in the country and Okatse with its imposing high-altitude walkway. Now let's get down to business with these 4 caves and canyons in Kutaisi.
If you don't have time to read the whole article, this is the best tour to Martvili and Prometheus that includes a visit to Okatse or Sataplia, check availability and book here.
1.- Sataplia Nature Reserve and cave
Sataplia is a nature reserve with several areas, some aimed at a more children's audience That's why it is a popular place in Georgia for a school visit.
I thought that the fact that it was for children wouldn't be so worth it, but I have to say that it surprised me quite a bit.
In the park there is 1 main itinerary that passes through all the most interesting points of the park.
What to see in Sataplia?
1. The route begins passing through a small area with dinosaur footprints discovered in 1933.
The footprints are on 2 levels, Below are those from the Cretaceous (from 145 to 66 million years ago).
Then, at the top level, which is where there is more footprints, they are from the Jurassic (from 201 to 145 million years ago).
The latter belong to Camptosaurus, herbivorous dinosaurs 6 m high and 800 kg.
2. Then there is an area with dinosaur sculptures throughout the forest that is the educational part for the little ones.
3. Continuing with the visit, you arrive at the Sataplia underground cave, which is the main attraction of the visit.
It is a cave with 900 m stalactites and stalagmites, but only 309 m can be visited where an underground river runs and has several galleries.
In the main gallery there is a giant stalagmite known as the "Heart of Stone"If you look for the right angle, see the shape that resembles a human heart.
4. The tour continues along the cliff area of the park famous for wild bees What happened there.
The bees had their hives in the cliff area and primitive people used to feast on their honey.
This fact is what gives its name to the park, Sataplia It means “honey place” in Georgian.
5. Finally, there is a section of the Colchian forest with subalpine and subtropical flora until reaching a viewpoint where you can see a good part of the region with the city of Kutaisi and in the background the Lesser Caucasus.
Practical Info
- Opening Hours: open every day, in spring and summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in autumn and winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entry Fee:: adults 17.25 lari (6.03 euros); minors from 6 to 18 years old 5.50 lari (1.92 euros)
2.- Prometheus Cave
This interconnecting cave system It was discovered in the early 80s when searching for underground shelters for the population in the face of the possibility of a nuclear attack.
The name given to Kumistavi Cave because of the proximity to that town.
From 1986 until the collapse of the Soviet Union, paths were created inside the cave, but even then it was not enough to open it.
It was not until 2007 that work continued to be able to opening the cave to the public, which was achieved in 2011, but this time with its current name, Prometheus Cave.
Prometheus in Greek mythology was the one who gave fire to man and was punished by Zeus by chaining him to the Caucasus mountains.
In Georgia there is a story equivalent to that of Prometheus, that of Amirani who gives the metal to humans and God punishes him in the same way.
The name of the cave, Although many people relate it to Prometheus, it has nothing to do with it, it simply It was a commercial issue.
Is it worth the visit?
Yes, the visit is very worth it because it is the most impressive cave in Georgia with gigantic galleries.
Of course, if you have already been to other caves and it is not your thing, this one may not surprise you despite its large size.
What to see in the Prometheus cave?
Currently, there are 22 interconnected caves, although in the normal visit only 6 caves can be visited with a total route of almost 1.5 km at a depth of up to 40 m.
The immense stalactites and stalagmites of the Prometheus cave They began to form between 60 and 70 million years.
The formations are quite curious, some as if an entire waterfall had petrified.
One of the caves that attracts the most attention is the Love Hall, which is very Popular among Georgians for weddings.
The price of the civil ceremony in the cave costs only 115 lari (40.22 euros).
Some of the caves are enlivened with songs from the movie soundtrack Amelia that's going great.
Then in the last cave it is really immense, there is a small light show there to the rhythm of yellow leaves by the famous Georgian composer Gia Khancheli (you can listen to it below).
Boat Trip: Is it worth it?
At the end of the walk through the caves you can go directly out to where the bus is that will take you to the entrance.
If not, there is an alternative which is continue by boat for a short stretch.
The boat ride is beautiful, but you're not missing much if you don't.
If you want to choose to do the boat ride here or in Marvili, it is much better to choose the one in the Martvili canyon that I tell you about below.
Other activities in the Prometheus cave
At Prometeo they also organize other extreme activities such as:
- Caving routes in other caves that are not on the normal visiting route.
- Diving in the river waters that flows through the galleries.
Fun fact
Just when you leave the caves there is a nice sculpture of a man, Giorgi Tkabladze with a dog.
It turns out that after the fall of the USSR the cave was abandoned because there were no economic resources.
this good man Without even a salary, he dedicated part of his life to protecting it from vandalism.
Practical Info
- Opening Hours: open every day, in spring and summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in autumn and winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entry Fee:: adults 23 lari (8.04 euros); minors from 6 to 18 years old 5.50 lari (1.92 euros)
- Boat price: 17.25 lari (6.03 euros)
3.- Okatse Canyon
The impressive Okatse canyon is the product of erosion in the river with such narrow areas with a distance of only 3 to 6 m, others are wider and can reach 20 m in distance.
This canyon was the first in which a elevated walkway with a 780 m long section.
In some areas the maximum height of the canyon is 100 meters, making it the deepest canyon in all of Georgia.
Certainly a place that is not suitable for people with vertigo.
The entire visiting area, which covers a large part of the forest with abundant flora, the elevated walkway and the viewpoint, has a total route of 14 km.
So get ready for a walk of between 2 and 3 hours with a good part of the route in the sun's rays.
The visit is pleasant almost all year round, but in summer it can be a bit tough due to the heat.
Visit to the Waterfalls
Another attraction of the canyon is the waterfalls.
The most famous is the Kinchkha waterfall with several lakes and is declared a National Natural Monument.
This waterfall is less than 5 km from the canyon visiting area.
Practical Info
- Opening Hours: open every day, in spring and summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in autumn and winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entry Fee:: adults 17.25 lari (6.03 euros); minors from 6 to 18 years old 5.50 lari (1.92 euros)
4.- Martvili Canyon
The visit to the Martvili canyon is one of the most popular in the country, whether from Tbilisi, the capital, Batumi on the Black Sea or Kutaisi.
Although this canyon is tiny in size compared to Okatse, it is the deep turquoise waters of the Abashi River that make it so picturesque.
The canyon was formed by an earthquake, it has a length of 2,400 m and a maximum depth of 40 m.
⭐ You may also be interested in this article with the 9 best Excursions from Kutaisi.
Marvili Canyon Hike
The entrance includes a visit to the canyon, there is a 700 m long circular route.
The route passes through a historic area where the Georgian noble Dadiani family bathed with walkways and a 12 m high waterfall.
Although the route is short, it is worth taking it easy and enjoying the beauty of the place.
Boat tour
You can also take a river boat tour that takes you to the opposite side of the hike arriving at an area of a small waterfall. At least when I was there I was little.
The boat trip is only 300 m, but if you can, Don't miss out on doing it.
Even if you travel in winter you can do this walk because You won't get wet on the boat.
Even It is prohibited to bathe in the canyon for a matter of security and preservation of the environment.
If you are traveling with children, keep in mind that They do not allow the little ones on board, it must be at least 1 m high.
Is the place very crowded?
Fortunately, I went at the end of autumn and there were very few people.
In the walk area it was very pleasant and in the boat part I had to wait a few minutes for more people to arrive.
On the other hand, in summer, as I have been told, the queue to board the boats can be up to half an hour.
Practical Info
- Opening Hours: open every day, in spring and summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in autumn and winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Entry Fee:: adults 17.25 lari (6.03 euros); minors from 6 to 18 years old 5.50 lari (1.92 euros)
- Boat price: 15 lari (5.25 euros)
Map of caves and canyons
* To check the legend for each place, click the button in the top left corner of the map. To view this map on your phone or computer, tap the star on the right side of the title. Then go to Google Maps, select "Your Places" and "Maps" from the menu.
How much time to dedicate to it?
To be able to visit the 4 places that I have told you before you will need 1 and a half days.
Maybe in summer when the days are longer and if you go quickly on each visit you could be able to visit them all, but honestly I see it as very fair.
Also, in summer in some of the places (especially in Martvili) you will find a queue because they are very popular visits and no matter how much you want to go fast you won't be able to.
The most common thing is that people dedicate 1 day to visit this area of Imereti, but you will have to choose 2 or 3 places.
In case you choose 2 places, the most popular and beautiful are Marvili and Prometeo. In case you want to add 1 more site, you can choose between Sataplia and Okatse.
When should you visit them?
Visiting most of these places can be done throughout the year.
The exceptions are:
- Okatse Canyon: in winter, depending on the weather conditions, you cannot visit, they close the walkways in case of rain or snow;
- Prometheus Cave: If there is very intense rain, the cave can flood and close it, but these are specific cases.
Then in summer, most of these places are nice places to visit, but they can be overcrowded, ruining the overall experience a bit, especially in Martvili.
Furthermore, in Okatse part of the walk is in the sun and can be a bit strenuous.
From my point of view, Spring and autumn are the best times to visit the canyons and caves of Kutaisi.
You will find some of these places practically empty during those times.
What to bring for visits?
- Comfortable and grippy footwear: The caves have very high humidity (more than 90%) and in some areas you will find the floor wet and slippery, it is better that you wear shoes with some grip. In addition, there is a lot of walking in the parks, especially in Okatse and some in Sataplia, some comfortable shoes such as sneakers will be good for you.
- Coat: in the caves it is a constant 14 °C throughout the year. If you travel in summer you will notice a big difference in temperature, you might need a thin jacket or sweater, especially on Prometeo, which is a longer route.
- Hiking poles: The walks through the parks have some unevenness, but they are easy, it is not necessary to carry hiking sticks, unless you are elderly or have problems walking.
- Water and snacks: At the entrance to most of the parks there is a machine to buy water and some snacks, but they are more expensive, I recommend that you take something with you. There are also not many options for things to buy, except in Martvili where there are also some stalls with a greater variety of things.
Where to eat in the area?
A good place to eat is next to the entrance to the Martvili canyon at the Canionel cafe and bar.
It is a restaurant with Georgian food at a good price.
one of his specialties is kharcho, a spicy spicy beef soup, which goes perfect with bread for dipping. 😋
⭐ In this other article you can read more about 9 Traditional Georgian Food Dishes, including kharcho.
🔔 Fact: this restaurant has the toilet on the floor from the bathroom, if you don't want to have to bend over go to the park bathrooms, which are normal.
How to go to the Imereti caves and canyons?
1. Car
If you want to visit on your own It is best to go by car because there is no public transportation. to visit them.
All these places are well signposted and have a parking area, you won't have too many problems.
In case you need rent a car in Georgia, I recommend this a search engine that works only with serious Georgian companies.
They have the rental price cheaper, starting at 20 euros, with insurance included and many times they do not ask for a deposit.
👉 See the prices and book a here rental car in Georgia.
2. Taxi
Another alternative is that you go by taxi, for that I recommend you go to Tskaltubo and from there go by taxi because you will have the canyons and Prometheus caves closer.
To go to Tskaltubo from Kutaisi from the bus station there are several marshrutkas such as 34 and 44 that take about 25 minutes and cost 2 lari.
Sataplia is more or less the same distance from Tskaltubo and Kutaisi.
Tskaltubo is a very unique little town that is worth the visit. The town was a very important destination for its sanatoriums and thermal baths.
Nowadays those buildings are abandoned, but they are so beautiful that they are very popular among lovers of the urbex, photography and even The brides are going to take photos.
⭐ Check out this article for further insights on Visit to Tskaltubo: Soviet Baths and Sanatoriums.
3. Hiking
If you like hiking, the caves are not too far away and you can walk.
- For Sataplia in Wikiloc there is a route from Kutaisi which is 18.64 km round trip with a maximum gradient of 295 m. Part of the route is by road, then it continues along trails, you can see it in the Wikiloc that they have posted photos.
- Then To go to Prometeo, it is best to walk from Tskaltubo, which in total is 12.6 km with a gradient of 64 m. Although this route only goes by road.
Instead, to go to the canyons you will have to combine it with taxi or marshrutka:
- In the case of Martvili cannon You can take a taxi to the town Marvili and from there walk to the canyon which is only 4.4 km away.
- The alternative of hiking to go to Okatse First you have to go by taxi to Gordi and from there the distance to the canyon is 1.5 km. You can also go with 2 marshrutkas, first from Kutaisi to Khoni and then from Khoni to Gordi.
4. Excursion
The most practical alternative if you don't want to get complicated and have little time is to go with a excursion to Martvili and Prometheus with the visit to Okatse, except in the coldest months (November 1 to April 1) which is replaced by Sataplia.
👉 Reserve here tour to Martvili and Prometheus with visit to Okatse or Sataplia.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Prometheus and boat ride in Martvili are the best things to do in Imereti region. If you like nature you will love the caves and canyons of Kutaisi.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
More about Georgia and the Caucasus
- Visit to Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi
- What to do in Kutaisi: a complete guide
- How to get from Kutaisi Airport to the city and other areas of Georgia
- Kutaisi Monasteries: Motsameta and Gelati
- What to do in Batumi: 13 best plans
Hello, my name is Andrea, I am the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I am a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler, I am passionate about good food, and I am always looking for new adventures.