Cuevas de Canelobre
Situated just 24km from Alicante and only a short and very scenic journey by hire car, the spectacular natural Canelobre Caves can be found in the slopes of the Sierra de Cabeza de Oro mountains with stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline.
Located near the peaceful village of Busot, this ancient cave system is thought to be the deepest and longest in the whole of Spain, and well worth visiting.
The Canelobre Caves were formed several million years ago and are particularly famous for the 70 metre high vaulted cathedral ceiling.
The caves are an ever changing wonder of the natural world, with a cavern where minerals have been deposited to resemble ‘candelabras’ – it’s where the name ‘Canelobre’ originates from.
The entrance is found some 700 metres up on the Cabezon de Oro, a mountain that’s also popular for hiking and rock climbing. The awesome 150 metre long hall is an impressive and unique nature site that no visit to Alicante and the surrounding area should be without.
Guided tours take around 45 minutes and are held throughout the day.
There are usually English speaking guides available to explain the history and general layout of the caves.
The 175 metre route twists and turns around a myriad of unusual shapes formed by thousands of stalactites and stalagmites built up into columns over millions of years of dripping water depositing sediments.
In addition to the stalactite and stalagmites, there are also helictites forming delicately along the walls of the cave. What’s more, look at the slimy looking formations that are created by running water and cling to the cave walls – these are known as ‘flowstone’ on account of their fluid stone like appearance.
The natural appearance of the caves is often enhanced with intricate lighting which, alongside the natural acoustics, reinforces the cathedral like atmosphere.
Guided tours often include coloured lighting to dramatically illuminate the caves and bring alive the jagged teeth of the stalactite and stalagmite formations, often with added music.
The Canelobre Caves often play host to musical events and concerts because of the exceptional acoustics and truly special ambience.
Opening Times are as follow:
Summer timetable (1st July – 31st August) – open daily 10.30am-7.30pm
Winter timetable (1 September – 30 June) – open Tuesday to Friday 10.30am-4.50pm, Sunday 10.30am-5.50pm, Mondays closed
There is limited free parking and a picnic area. For more information, check the Busot Tourism website here.