Grutas de las Maravillas

Grotto of the Wonders - Gruta de Aracena

Useful Information

Location:	Ciudad de Aracena, north east Huelva. 89 km from Sevilla, 70 km from the border to Portugal.
Open:	All year daily 10:30-13:30, 15-18, tours hourly. Close 24-DEC, 25-DEC, 31-DEC. [2020]
Fee:	Adults EUR 8.50, Children (6-14) EUR 6, Children (0-5) free, Seniors (65+) EUR 6.50. Groups (25+): Adults EUR 6.50, School Pupils EUR 5.50. [2010]
Classification:	Karst cave. Lower Cambrian marble.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=16-19 °C, H=98-100%, L=2,130 m.
Guided tours:	D=45 min, L=1,200 m. Max 1,000 visitors per day.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Gruta de las Maravillas, Calle Pozo de la Nieve, s/n, 21200 Aracena, Huelva, Tel: +34-663937876. E-mail:
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

1914	opened to the public, first show cave in Spain.
1987	surveyed by the G.E.S of S.E.M..

Description

This Grutas de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders) is an extraordinary decorated cave. Huge halls and passages decorated with all the speleothem you expect: stalagmites, stalactites, straws and shawls. Some of the chambers have pools and the 70 m high salón del gran lago (hall of the great lake) contains a big subterranean lake.

The cave is lighted by indirect light and a sound system allows the playback of music. They play the sinfonía del agua by the local musician Luis de Pablo and the suiteGruta de las Maravillas by Don Primitivo Lázaro.

The system is located is a small outcrop of lower Cambrian marble, limestone which was metamorphized by high pressure and temperature. It forms a hill in the middle of the city Aracena, with the Castelo de Aracena on top.