Caves of Drach

The Caves of Drach are one of the most recommended places to visit in Mallorca, one of those places that are a must see for any tourist who comes on holiday to Mallorca. The Caves of Drach are a natural wonder of astonishing beauty that invites you to explore the depths of the island. To enter this underground labyrinth is to dive into a magical world of stalactites and stalagmites, rock formations that seem to have been sculpted by fantasy itself.

Each bend in the caves reveals a new wonder, a new surprise that captivates the senses. It is a place that awakens curiosity and admiration, an opportunity to connect with the greatness of nature and the history hidden underground. As you can well imagine, it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Mallorca. If you are going to visit the Drach Caves, in this article we tell you everything you need to know so you don’t miss anything.

Ticket Prices:

Ticket prices for the Caves of Drach are very cheap compared to other similar attractions in Europe. There is only one type of visit, which includes a tour of the interior of the caves, a concert at Lake Martel and a boat trip on the lake.

Ticket prices for the Drach Caves until March 2024 are €10.50 for children aged 2-12 years, €17.50 for adults. From April 2024 the new ticket prices are €11 for children aged 2-12, €18 for adults. Children under the age of two are free of charge, although it should be noted that it is not possible to bring a pushchair inside the caves.

Please note: There are no discounts for families, residents, senior citizens, etc. on the entrance fee.

Opening Hours of the Caves of Drach:

The caves are one of the few tourist attractions in Mallorca that remain open all year round, closing only on 25th December and 1st January, although the opening hours vary depending on the months of the year. The opening times of the Drach caves are as follows:

• Del 1 de noviembre al 11 de marzo: 10:30 h, 12:00 h, 14:00 h y 15:30 h. 
• Del 12 de marzo al 31 de octubre: 10:00 h, 11:00 h, 12:00 h, 14:00 h, 15:00 h, 16:00 h y 17:00 h.

It goes without saying that, in high season, there are long queues to get an entrance ticket. In fact, in July and August there are usually extra opening hours for the 18:00hrs visit. Even so, places fill up very quickly in the morning.

Guided Tour to the Caves of Drach

The visit to the Caves of Drach begins in the Armand room, known as the foyer. It is an ideal starting point to begin exploring the caves, and to get used to the temperature and light inside. From here we prepare ourselves for a spectacle of great beauty with surprising formations, lakes, whimsical shapes…

Caves are formed by rainwater carrying small amounts of carbonic acid in solution, which dilutes the calcium carbonate in the limestone rocks, converting it into soluble calcium bicarbonate and dragging it underground. When it encounters a cavity, the water releases the carbonic acid again, so that the bicarbonate of limescale, by returning its extra carbon to the acid, becomes insoluble calcium carbonate again. So the carbonate borrows the carbon from the carbonic acid in the rainwater, uses it to make itself soluble so that it can be filtered, and when it has settled, it gives it back to the air.

As we descend we come to the Valley of Montserrat (stalagmites reminiscent of the famous mountain), and there hanging from the ceiling are ‘pastanagues’ (carrots) of a deep reddish colour due to the presence of iron oxide, and ‘llençols’ ( ‘sheets’) that look as if they are lying out to dry. Later we find Diana’s bath, a lake of beautiful colours, perhaps one of the most delicate corners of the caves.

We pass through the Angelic room, where we can give free rein to our imagination, and identify shapes with different landscapes such as an enchanted city, a snowy mountain, a Buddha, a monk… And then we arrive at the Martel Lake.

This is one of the most spectacular places in the interior of the Caves of Drach. It owes its name to the surname of the famous French speleologist of the last century. The Martel Lake is undoubtedly what makes these caves so special, and different from others. At Lake Martel you will attend a concert and enjoy a boat trip.

Concert in the Caves of Drach

When you arrive at Lake Martel, you will be sat on one of the seats in the outdoor theatre. Where you can enjoy a wonderful light show, simulating the sunrise. A whole automated play of lights which is wonderful to experience! Afterwards, you will listen to a short but sweet classical music concert: behind some large stalactites boats start to emerge, illuminated gondolas will give you the lake concert, and at the end you can go to the exit either on foot or by boat.

The caves are exquisitely illuminated by the Catalan Buigas, author of the monumental fountains of the international exhibition in Barcelona in 1929. In Spain he is known as the ‘magician of light’, and it was in 1935 when he was working on the illumination of the Caves.

To exit the Caves of Drach you will have to climb a total of 121 steps, and you will reach the outside area where you will find the bar, the toilets and the souvenir shop.

How to get to the Caves of Drach?

It is very easy to get to the Caves of Drach, and they are very well signposted. They are located in the eastern part of Mallorca, in Porto Cristo, and have their own car park.

There are different ways to get there, either by rental car, taxi, public transport or an organised tour. Since ‘how to get to the caves’ is a frequently asked question, we have made a specific article to explain in detail the different options, so that you can plan your visit in properly.

You can also visit the Caves of Drach on an organised excursion from your hotel. With an organised excursion you have all these advantages:

1. Pick up near your hotel
2. You are guaranteed a seat on the bus
3. They take you directly to the caves, with no stops en route as with public transport.
4. Your tickets are already guaranteed. No more queuing at the ticket office or finding that the caves are sold out or that you have to wait a few more hours for your visit.
5. You have a guide from the island who gives you information about the caves, who has everything organised for your peace of mind and who helps you with any questions or problems.

---