Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in the world
Majorca is synonymous with ** paradisiacal beaches and coves **, that is a fact. But, believe it or not, the wonders of the island are also found in its depths.
Close to the crystal clear waters of the eastern coast of the island and surrounded by charming little towns , several caves immerse us in the underground world of the Gimnesias islands proclaiming itself as the quintessential natural wonders.
Among all the caves in Mallorca, the caves of Drach and the caves of Artà stand out, which were described by Jules Verne as the most beautiful in the world. They are incomparable settings that evoke a Journey to the Center of the Earth and immerse us in the depths of the island to stroll through stone forests, underground lakes and music and light shows.
Light show in the Cueva d'Artá
CAVES OF DRACH: JOURNEY INSIDE THE EARTH
situated in Porto Cristo, in the municipality of Manacor, we found the Caves of Drach . It is believed that they date from the upper Miocene period, and there are documents from the year 1338 that already spoke of their existence, although they would not begin to be visited until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The lighting, designed by the engineer Carles Buïgas, "the wizard of light", would help to enable it to be used for tourist visits from 1935.
They are formed by four caves 25 meters deep, linked together: Cova Negra, Cova Blanca, Cova de Lluis Salvador and Cueva dels Francesos. Just a few months ago, the team at the Balearic Speleology Society discovered that they were connected with the sea, specifically with Cala Murta , an almost virgin cove with turquoise waters.
Inside the caves, the filtrations in the rocks have outlined rooms, lakes, stalactites and stalagmites, while the walls seem colored with different shades thanks to the minerals dragged by the water.
The jewel of the place is the Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in the world, which has 170 meters in length and a depth of between four and 12 meters. Its name comes from the French speleologist who explored the caves in 1896, the year in which Jules Verne also cited them in his novel Los Viajes de Clobis Dardentor, published in the Illustration and Recreation Magazine between July and December.
Crossing the lake by boat is one of the surprises of the place. But before doing so, the visit will be enlivened with a small Classical music concert performed by two violinists, a cellist and a harmonica player who take advantage of the natural acoustics of the cave.
To live this complete Jules Verne experience, the best option will be to **get your tickets online**. This way we will avoid queues, we will contribute to the environment and we will even get a cheaper price (15 euros from 13 years old and eight euros for children between three and 12 years old).
The visit to the Cuevas del Drach has a duration of one hour , and in low season (from November 1 to March 10), access is at 10:45 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. From March 11 to October 31, entries take place every hour on the hour from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except 1:00 p.m. The time of least influx at this time is before closing or first thing in the morning.
Aerial view of the Cueva d'Artá
ARTÁ CAVES, JOURNEY INSIDE THE MOUNTAINS
The caves of Artà They are less known than the previous ones, and therefore less visited, but their spectacular nature is not overshadowed.
They are located inside the abrupt Cap Vermell cliff, in the municipality of Capdepera, and the visit lasts about 40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the box office for a price of 15 euros for people over 12 years old, or seven euros for children from seven to 12 years old.
After entering the mountain, they wait for different spaces called with names that make them wonder whether to run in or out. : The Hell, The Glory, The Theater, Hall of the Flags, Hall of the Bells.
Access is through a natural entrance that leads to the Vestibule or Entrance Hall, where gigantic stalactites and stalagmites amaze in all possible shapes. But the most impressive stalagmite on the route is the one located in the Sala de la Reina, 22 meters.
In the Hell room, the rocks resemble evil animals, which, together with the light and sound show, intensify the shapes in the cavities, bringing a little more magic to the visit.
Going up some stairs, the space called The glory it seems to exhibit in its vault figures in the form of clouds and angels.
At the exit of the cave, the wonderful views over the canyamel bay They will be the perfect epilogue to emerge from the most beautiful depths of Mallorca.
Caves of Arta
EMERGING FROM THE DEPTHS
In addition to these natural treasures hidden in the depths of the east coast of Mallorca, the area has other points of great interest.
On the Artá peninsula, we can enjoy the castle, the Parish Church, the San Francisco Monastery and the well-preserved Ses Païsses archaeological site .
Very close, and located between both caves, Cala Millor It is presented as a good bet to rest after the visits. Although it is somewhat touristy, its almost two kilometers of golden sand and its blue flag make it one of the quietest on the island to enjoy long afternoons swimming.
If we look for a beach next to the caves of Drach, the one in Port Christ , a natural port, will be ideal for taking a dip in transparent and shallow waters. The town is divided by a canal full of boats that give it a special charm.
Eight minutes south of these caves, we'll stop at Cala Mendia , another nice place to relax. Although it is urbanized, it has a path that borders the cove to offer us more peaceful baths in Mallorca.
When it's time for dinner, vegetables from the land take center stage on the tables of the Michelin star Andrew Genestra . It is a gastronomic space located in an elegant rural estate on the Cala Mesquida road, which will make its guests delight in authentic delicacies while they watch the Capdepera Castle.
At Andreu Genestra's table