Dragon Caves

Majorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, is not only famous for its pristine beaches and breathtaking landscapes, but also for its beautiful caves that were formed millions of years ago and are now a must-see. In particular, the Dragon Caves (Cuevas del Drach in Spanish) are one of Majorca’s most fascinating attractions as they offer an extraordinary journey into the underground world and the island’s interesting geological history.

These particular caves extend for about 1.5 km approximately 25 metres below sea level and are located in the tourist resort of Porto Cristo, which falls within the municipal territory of the town of Manacor.

Things to do at the Dragon Caves

The Dragon Caves are underground caves composed of different caverns full of rock formations that have formed over millions of years thanks to the continuous infiltration of water. Along the guided tour, which lasts about an hour, there is also a placid lake, known as Lake Martel after the name of its discoverer.

The Dragon Caves, in fact, were formed millions of years ago during the Upper Miocene by the action of rainwater seeping through the porosity of the ground between the rocks of calcareous composition. This seepage led (and still leads) to the formation of caves with stalactites, formations that fall from the ceiling, and stalagmites, formations that rise from the floor due to the dripping of stalactites.

Although the presence of the caves had been known since the 15th century, it is known that it was in 1896 that Edouard Alfred Martel, considered the father of modern speleology, fully explored these underground cavities and reproduced a map of the caves with the newly discovered areas. Martel, accompanied by his colleague Louis Armand, not only discovered new cavities but also the large underground lake that today bears his name. Added to this was the project carried out at the beginning of the 20th century by the engineer Carles Buïgas, known as ‘the magician of light’, who brought electric lighting into the caves. The lighting and light effects were then implemented and now create a truly magical atmosphere that highlights the beauty of the natural formations.

The environment of the Dragon Caves is actually made up of four main areas, known as Cova Negra, Cova Blanca, Cova de Lluis Salvador and Cova dels Francesos, which are home to spectacular rock formations and several small lakes. The largest of which is undoubtedly the aforementioned Lake Martel, which, being 117 metres long, 30 metres wide and between 4 and 12 metres deep, is one of the largest underground lakes in the world.

Live classical music concerts with works by Chopin, Offenbach and Caballero are organised daily on the lake. At the end of the concert, each visitor can choose to cross the lake by boat or on foot via a special bridge.

Tickets and opening times of the Dragon Caves

The Dragon Caves are open in the summer and spring months from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be explored via guided tours that start at 10 a.m. and run every hour. In the winter months, the caves are open from 10:30 to 15:30 and can always be visited with local guides.

The excursion to the Dragon Caves is an absolute must during a break from a beach holiday in Majorca. Many take the opportunity to visit the Cuevas dels Hams, Majorca’s other large underground cavity, during the same tour.

How to get to the Dragon Caves

The Dragon Caves are located near the town of Manacor, which can be easily reached by car or public transport. By car from the centre of Palma de Mallorca you can reach the Dragon Caves in just over an hour by travelling along the Ma-15 road.

Those wishing to travel by bus, on the other hand, can take the TIB 401 line (Palma-Cala Millor) by getting off at the Mestral stop and then walking for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, there is also a train from the centre of Palma to Manacor via Inca.