Cuevas del Drach (Drach’s Caves) is one of the main attractions in Mallorca, located south of Porto Cristo. It is a collection of four interconnected caves with a total length of approximately 1,200 meters. The caves also house one of the largest underground lakes in the world, Lake Martel.
Drach’s Caves was one of the fun excursions that I took on my cruise aboard Costa Smeralda. The first port on our cruise through the Mediterranean was Spain’s Palma de Mallorca, where instead of touring the city, I opted to explore the caves instead. And I can say it was a good choice!
Let’s take a look at the history of the caves, the things that you can expect inside, and of course, how to get there.
Mallorca’s Cuevas del Drach: Dragon Caves in Spain
What are the Caves of Drach?
Cuevas del Drach (or Caves of Drach) are four interconnected caves located just a mile south of Porto Cristo in Mallorca, Spain. It is one of the main tourist attractions on the island and is one that should be on your bucket list!
The four caves that comprise Cuevas del Drach are the Black Cave, White Cave, Cave of Luis Salvador, and Cave of the French. It is also home to one of the largest underground lakes in the world, Lake Martel.
The caves were already known back in 1338, mentioned in a letter given to the mayor of Manacor. During the 1880s, M.F. Will (a German cave explorer) had mapped out the Black Cave and White Cave. The remaining two caves, the Cave of Luis Salvador and the Cave of the French, were discovered by Édouard-Alfred Martel in 1896. In 1922, pathways and lights were added inside the caves so that people could visit them.
There is also a legend surrounding the caves wherein a dragon guards a treasure within the depths of the caves from pirates, hence where it got its name (Cuevas del Drach is Spanish for Dragon Caves).
What to Expect When You Visit
You will see different sights once you go inside the caves, like The Flag and the Baths of Diana (to name a few), with paved pathways that let you comfortably walk throughout the tour. Along with the rock formations, spiky ceilings (which grow 1 cm per 100 years!), and bluish waters, the caves’ beauty will surely enchant you! The whole tour of the caves usually takes an hour to complete.
It is not just the sights that you will see as well. Once you reach Lake Martel, a quartet of musicians (cello, harpsichord, and two violins) on a boat will bathe you with the sounds of classical music pieces. And did I mention that the whole performance is played in the dark, with the boat just softly illuminated by candles?
Typically after their performance (which lasts about 10 minutes), you’ll have the chance to go on a boat ride in Lake Martel. But, there’s also an option to walk along the way instead if you want to explore the rest of the remaining area until you make your way up to the exit.
How to See the Caves of Drach
Being that the Caves of Drach are one of the main reasons tourists visit Mallorca, you’ll find plenty of excursions which include a visit to Drach’s Caves on their list of must-go spots on the island. For me, I was easily able to get one as part of my Costa Smeralda cruise.
If you are staying in a hotel in Mallorca, you can check with them as well, and they’ll be happy to give you information on how to book a visit.
You can also get to the caves by driving in your car or riding a bus or taxi. Just be careful as there is also another cave near Porto Cristo called Ham’s Caves (also a tourist attraction), which is sometimes confused with Drach’s Caves.
You can check the official website of Cuevas del Drach for their exact coordinates here.
Within the Cuevas del Drach’s breathtaking cave walls, turquoise-like waters, and classic musical performance lies a beauty that is waiting for you to see and hear.
It’s also not every day that we get to go inside a cave, let alone something as magnificent as Drach Caves, so don’t pass up the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go when the opportunity presents itself. It is things like these that make going out there and exploring the world worth experiencing!
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