Cuevas dels Hams

Coves dels Hams - Cave of the Fish-Hook

Useful Information

Location:	2 km West of Porto Cristo, East coast of Mallorca. From Porto Cristo rd PM-402 to Manacor 1 km, turn left.
Open:	APR to OCT daily 10:30-13:30, 14-18. NOV to MAR daily 10:30-13:30, 14-17. [2012]
Fee:	Adults EUR 19, Coupon EUR 16. [2012]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=17 °C
Guided tours:	L=350 m, D=40 min, in five languages.
Photography:	allowed without flash with additional ticket
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Cuevas dels Hams, Carretera Mancor - Porto Cristo S/N, E-07680 Porto-Cristo, Mallorca, Tel: +34-971-820988, Fax: +34-971-820271.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

02-MAR-1905	discovered by Pedro Caldentey.
1912	electric light installed.
1953	new light system installed.

Description

The name of the cave, Coves dels Hams is derived from the typical form of several formations, looking like fish-hooks, which are called hams in Mallorquí, the local dialect of Catalan. Those "hams" formations are actually Helictites, which are abundant in the chamber called An Angels Dream.

The cave was discovered by Pedro Caldentey on 02-MAR-1905. He was quarrying for so-called onyx, which is actually flowstone. But instead of some small caves filled with flwostone he discovered a huge cave with many beautiful speleothems. Instead of mining them he decidied to develop the cave as a show cave. In 1912 he installed a unique light system in the cave which was powered by a mill with generator. There was enough water to light the cave for 16 hours.

The tour starts at the original entrance. The first chamber is called 2 Marzo (March 2nd) after the day of its discovery. The next chamber is called Owls Chamber because the discoverers found owls living here. Then the chamber called An Angels Dream follows, definitely the ost beautifuly decorated chamber of the cave. The following passages have more formation, small lakes like the Enchanted Lake and the Column Lake.

The biggest underground lake is called Sea of Venice. Its water contains an amount of 2% salt, which proofs that the lake has a subterranean connection to the sea. The lake contains very small and completely blind crustaceans, which are true cave animals. There are boats on the lake and there is a daily performance called Magical Mozart with music from the opera The Magical Flute.

Some formations in the next chamber called The Fairies Cemetery are coloured bluish or greenish, depending on copper oxides. In one part of the cave all formations are broken in the middle, which is a result of tectonic forces. The cave is left through a second entrance.

The cave also contains an exhibition called Digital Cave or Digithams, which shows animations and digital artworks inside the cave. The current special exhibition [2011] is dedicated to the advenure stories of Jules Verne. The cave is surrounded by a botanical garden with many birds. The cave entrance may be hired for events like marriages or presentations. It was even used by Playboy magazine for shoots.

The current recommendations for this cave on the internet are poor [2011]. It seems the entrance fee was raised from EUR 9.50 to EUR 16 without explanation. Their website does not give a fee, probably to not repulse potential visitors. Most visitors actually feel ripped off, considering the statements we found online. Even the much bigger Cueva del Drac costs only EUR 11.50, and this trip includes a boat ride.