Grutas de Alvados

Useful Information

Location:	Estrada das grutas - Pedra do Altar, 2480-034 Alvados. In Pedra do Altar, 3 km NNW of Serra de Santo Antonio. Between Porto de Mos and Alcanena, 23 km SSW Leiria. About 15 km southeast of Porto de Mós, and about 3 km south of the N243. A1 exit 07 Torres Navas, towards Alcanena - Moitas-Venda - Serra de Santo António. A8 exit 22 Porto de Mós, towards Cross of Légua - Porto de Mós - Alvados (39.5401713, -8.7526543)
Open:	JUL to AUG daily 10-18:30. SEP to JUN daily 10-17. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 7.60, Children (5-11) EUR 5, Children (0-4) EUR 2.80, Students EUR 6.40, Seniors (65+) EUR 6.40. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 6.40, School Pupils EUR 2.50. Combo with Grutas de Sto. António: Adults EUR 11, Children (5-11) EUR 7.80. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave Cave Coral
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=350 m, T=17 °C, A=440 m asl.
Guided tours:	D=30 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Grutas de Santo-António, Estrada das grutas - Pedra do Altar, 2480-034 Alvados, Tel: +351-249-841876, Cell: +351-911-144-358. E-mail: Sógrutas SA, Largo General Baracho 16 - 1º, 2350-757 Torres Novas, Tel: +351-262-940-947, Cell: +351-926-985-390. 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

1964	discovered by a group of workmen, in a limestone quarry at Serra dos Candeeiros (=Mountain range of the Oil lamps).
1973	opened to the public.

Description

From the entrance, a winding passage leads though a series of brightly decorated chambers, lakes and gigantic columns with such wonderful names as: Lake of Wonder, Room of Statues, Beautiful Bedroom; The Cypress Room, The Lake with the Bridge, and the Wonderful Planet. Finally one arrives at the exit tunnel which leads to the Snack Bar and Gift Shop!

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.

The Grutas de Alvados (Alvados Cave) was named after the nearby village Alvados. It was discovered in 1964 by a group of workmen, in a limestone quarry at Serra dos Candeeiros (Mountain range of the Oil lamps). According to legend they were intrigued by the resonance of the stones falling onto a ledge. They decided to descent this shaft using ropes and flashlights and discovered the cave. Protected by the difficult access not much happened until 1973, when the cave was developed and opened to the public. There are two sections of the cave which were connected by an artificial tunnel for the show cave. There is also an artificial exit tunnel.

While the cave has normal stalactites and stalagmites, there are also vast amounts of Speleothem Cave Coral which make this cave one of the most characteristic caves in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Grutas de Santo-António (Saint Anthony Caves) and the Grutas de Alvados (Alvados Caves) are located in the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros (PNSAC). This is an area which is dominated by limestone and heavily karstified. Limestone was used to built dry walls at the borders of fields, and it is quarried in multiple quarries. Of course there are numerous caves in the area. The two show caves are only 800 m apart and are both operated by Sógrutas SA, they have a shared website and the same prices. And there are combo tickets for both caves which are cheaper than separate tickets.