Aracena Municipal Tourist Office

Where it is and when it opens

The Aracena Municipal Tourist Office is not in the town hall but in the visitor reception centre of the Gruta de las Maravillas, on calle Pozo de la Nieve, right in the centre of the village and at the foot of the castle hill. It is the same building through which you enter the cave, so you will normally pass through it before or after the visit.

It opens every day of the year from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:30 to 18:00. It only closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January. On 5 January it has special hours, from 9:15 to 15:00. It also answers on 663 93 78 77 and at [email protected].

What they sort out for you

The Town Council presents it as the point that gives detailed information to visitors: monument opening times, suggested itineraries through the heritage and the countryside, accommodation and cultural activities. It has leaflets, maps and publications on Aracena and the sierra. It is the place to ask for the map for climbing to the castle and fortified enclosure, to find the Ham Museum or to ask about the trails that leave the village, such as the one from Aracena to Linares de la Sierra.

On the same municipal page you can download the audio guides for three rest areas in the surroundings: La Molinilla, the Cerro del Castillo and the Fuente del Rey.

Tickets for the Gruta: buy beforehand

The office's most important warning has to do with the cave. If you arrive at the Gruta de las Maravillas without a ticket, there is no guarantee that a place will be left at the ticket office, so the Town Council recommends buying it beforehand on its sales website. You must present yourself at least 10 minutes before the time of your slot; if you arrive late, you cannot do the visit. There are no changes, cancellations or phone bookings.

On the same website the tickets for the castle, the Ham Museum and the Geological Museum are sold separately, along with the Tarjeta Aracena Turística, which adds to the cave free access to the Ham Museum, the castle and the Geological Museum. If you plan to see several things in the day, compare it with single tickets before paying.

How to organise the visit

The office is in the centre, and from it the climb to the castle and the Ham Museum are done on foot. A good order is to book the cave for the first available slot, then call in at the office for the map and climb to the castle with the rest of the morning. In the afternoon you can go to Jabugo for the visit to the Cinco Jotas cellar or walk among chestnut trees on the Cerro del Castaño loop.

If you are looking for somewhere to sleep, in the village itself is the Hotel Convento Aracena & Spa, and for eating, Jesús Carrión Restaurante. At the office they will give you the full list of accommodation in Aracena and its hamlets.