The caves of Nerja, known as Cueva de Nerja in Spanish, refers to a group of caverns situated near the Nerja town of Malaga province in Spain. The caverns are one of the major tourist attractions of Spain. These historical caves, which possibly holds some Neanderthal cave paintings stretch for almost 5 kilometers. 10 things that you should know about these caves are listed below.
Information
- Name: The Nerja Caves.
- Address: Carretera de Maro, s/n, 29787 Nerja, Málaga, Spain
- Price: Adults 10 Euro, Children (6-12 years) 6 Euro, Free entry for children under 6
- Access: By car, bus, on foot or Cueva Tren
- Opening hour: 9am-3pm, with entry every 30 minutes
- Phone: +34 952 52 95 20
- Website: http://www.thenerjacaves.com
1. Location
The Nerja caves are located on the outskirts of a village named Maro. It is situated on the edge of the Sierra Almijara, Tejeda and Alhama Natural Park. There’s a restaurant, a small museum, tourist office, a souvenir shop and a photo shop in the complex of the caves. It also has entry points and marked trails to the Natural Park, El Cielo and picnic area El Piarillo.
2. Discovery of the Caves
The caves were discovered by five locals from the nearby village Maro on January 12th, 1959. These men went to hunt bats and discovered the entrance to the caves through a pothole known locally as ‘La Mina’. They dislodged a couple of stalactites to enter the caves and found some skeletons and ceramic pottery inside. Later the caves were visited by experts and the true worth of the discovery was revealed.
3. Getting There
The Nerja caves are easily accessible. You can drive to the caves as the route is simple and there is plenty of space to park your car. There are buses available at regular intervals that will take you to the caves. You can consult a map and walk there if you are living in a reasonable distance. Another fun way to get to the caves is to take the Cueva Tren which includes four stops – Nerja Caves, Nerja Museum, Parque Verano Azul and Maro Square.
4. Nerja I and Nerja II
The main cave is divided into two parts – Nerja I and Nerja II. Nerja I refers to the Show Gallery. This is open to the public. It can be accessed by climbing a flight of stairs. There are concreted pathways to make the travel experience smooth for the tourists. Nerja II, however, is not open to the public. This refers to the Upper Gallery and the New Gallery which were discovered in 1960 and 1969 respectively.
5. Appropriate Attire
Though the walkways of the caverns are visitor friendly, and it’s unlikely that someone would stub their toes there, flip-flops are still not allowed inside the caves. Consider that the walkway might be a little slippery at places while choosing your footwear. It is cooler inside the caves than the outside temperature, but you will not require any warm clothes. If you are sensitive to cold, you may carry a light jacket.
6. Nerja Museum
Nerja Cave Foundations took the initiative to develop The Nerja Museum, also known as the Museo de Nerja. The museum was opened to the public in December 2011 and is managed by the same foundation. The museum holds an exhibition of information panels, screens and actual objects found in the Nerja Caves. It focuses on the history of the Nerja Town and the cave dwellers.
7. Concert in a Cave
One of the chambers inside the caverns forms a natural amphitheater. A good many concerts are held there. It has been the venue for the annual Festival de Muscia y Danza since 1960. This tradition has been going on for as long as the caves have been open to the public. Many international stars have performed in this theater. The tickets for these concerts are available online or at the Nerja Museum.
8. The ever-helpful App
For the benefit of the tourists, the Nerja Caves Foundation has launched a free app titled Cave o Nerja. The app is available for Android and iOS. This app is created to provide the tourists with all necessary information about visiting the Nerja Caves and the Nerja Museum. The app includes information on ticket prices, facilities, cultural heritage, important links, locator etc. This app is available in four different languages.
9. Guided Tours
If you want to take a guided tour to the Nerja Caves, you have a number of special tours to select from. Some famous tours are the Secrets of the Caves, the Discovery Tour, the Night Tour etc. You can also combine visiting the caves with a lunch or dinner at the Nerja Caves Restaurants. You can book most of these guided tours online.
10. World’s Largest Stalagmite
The caves of Nerja are house to some magnificent stalagmites and stalactites. You’ll get to see a splendid collection of these tapering columns in here. There is a column which is 32 meters high and this is known as the world’s largest stalagmite. This measures 13 meters by 7 meters at its base. The Nerja caves are one of Spain’s most spectacular and popular historical sites. Your visit to Andalucia would remain incomplete if you return without visiting these magnificent caverns.
Information
- Name: The Nerja Caves.
- Address: Carretera de Maro, s/n, 29787 Nerja, Málaga, Spain
- Price: Adults 10 Euro, Children (6-12 years) 6 Euro, Free entry for children under 6
- Access: By car, bus, on foot or Cueva Tren
- Opening hour: 9am-3pm, with entry every 30 minutes
- Phone: +34 952 52 95 20
- Website: http://www.thenerjacaves.com
Have a good trip and travel!
