# Cabárceno Nature Park 750 hectares of former mine turned into enclosures for animals from five continents, with a cable car. A quarter of an hour from Santander. From €25. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/cantabria/cabarceno-nature-park · Revisado: 2026-11-12 The Cabárceno Nature Park is neither a zoo nor a natural park. It is the landscape left by an open-cast iron mine in the Pisueña valley, 750 hectares of karst rocks, lakes and gorges, where the Government of Cantabria, through Cantur, has built enclosures of several hectares for animals from the five continents. Elephants, brown bears, giraffes, rhinos, primates and lions live in spaces where, apart from their food, they do almost as they please. You tour it in your own car, along more than 20 km of internal roads, and on foot along paths and viewpoints. ## How to get there from Santander It is about 15 minutes away. The park recommends entering by the north access, in Obregón. You can also enter through the village of Cabárceno, to the east, via the El Acebo lake only in high season, and through Sobarzo, to the south, next to cable car station 4. From Burgos or Palencia you reach it by the A-67 in a little over two hours; from Bilbao, by the A-8, in a little over an hour. Without a car it makes no sense: the park is toured in your own. ## How much does it cost in 2026? It depends on the date. In low season (2 January to 29 March and 1 November to 30 December, excluding bank-holiday weekends and public holidays), €25 for adults and €15 for children aged 4 to 12. In mid season (7 April to 30 June and October), €35 and €20. In high season (Easter, July to September and all bank-holiday weekends and public holidays), €45 and €25. Up to age 3 is free. The cable car and the demonstrations are included. If you plan to come back, the friend card costs €80 individual and €170 family. ## How long do you need? A whole day. Go in first thing, when the animals are most active, and stay until the afternoon: the schedule applies to entry, and once inside you can stay until sunset, although some animals retire from 17:45. In winter, on weekdays, the ticket office closes at 17:00. ## When to go It is open all year except 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Winter low season is the cheapest and quietest. In August and on bank-holiday weekends, traffic inside the park and on the cable car is heavy. Note: from 2 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 the cable car is under maintenance and its two lines open on alternate days. ## What to do The tour of the park is the main thing: zone by zone, parking beside each enclosure. The cable car flies over the enclosures on two lines, of 45 and 15 minutes. The bird of prey demonstration shows a vulture or a falcon swooping from more than 90 metres. With a reservation, the Wild Visit takes you into the bear and elephant enclosures with the keepers, and in autumn there is a guided electric bike route. ## Eating and sleeping Inside, as of November 2026, the cafeteria and the Los Osos burger bar are open; the restaurant is temporarily closed. There are picnic areas if you bring your own food. To sleep next to the park, the Posada Cabárceno, in the village, is open from March to December. Santander, a quarter of an hour away, has everything else. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Cantabrian Coast - Cerca: Costa Quebrada and Liencres (a 13.9 km), Santillana del Mar and Altamira (a 22.3 km), Santoña and Laredo (a 32.3 km), Comillas (a 37.0 km) ## Qué hacer - **Cabárceno Nature Park by car and on foot** (6 h · All ages · Desde 25 € adult in low season; child aged 4 to 12 €15): Cabárceno fills the hollow left by centuries of iron mining in the Pisueña valley: a landscape of karst rocks, lakes and gorges where Cantur has built enclosures of several hectares for elephants, brown bears, giraffes, rhinos and lions. You drive round in your own car, stopping at the car parks of each area, and walk down to the viewpoints and paths. What it costs in 2026 SeasonAdult (13+)Child (4–12) Low: 2 January – 29 March and 1 November – 30 December€25€15 Mid: 7 April – 30 June and October€35€20 High: Easter, July–September, long weekends and public holidays€45€25 Free up to age 3. There is an annual friend card: €80 individual and €170 family. You cannot enter without a valid ticket, printed or on your phone; the proof of purchase is not valid. Opening hours Open all year except 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. The hours are entry hours (ticket offices close): in July and August, 9:00 to 18:00; from 1 March to 1 November, 9:30 to 18:00; from 2 November to 28 February, 9:30 to 17:00 on weekdays and until 18:00 at weekends, public holidays and long weekends. Once inside you can stay until sunset, but some animals are brought in from 17:45. Getting there It is about 15 minutes from Santander, in the Pisueña valley. The recommended access is the north entrance at Obregón; you can also enter through the village of Cabárceno, by Lake Acebo (high season only) and through Sobarzo, to the south. Inside there are car parks beside each area. Not to miss The elephants, the brown bear enclosure, the savannah of giraffes and ostriches, the primates and the reptile house. The gondola lets you see it from above, and the birds of prey display is the moment of the day children like most. Eating Inside there is a café and a burger place beside the bear area, and picnic areas. The Los Osos restaurant is temporarily closed. You cannot take food and drink from one outlet to another. With a dog They may enter, on a lead, but not restaurants or cafés, the internal bus, the reptile house or the sea lion pool walkway. In the gondola, only in a closed carrier. - **The gondola over the enclosures** (1 h · All ages · Included in the park ticket): What it is Two independent lines, about 6 kilometres in all, that cross the park through the air and let you look down on the elephant, bear and rhino enclosures and the karst landscape of the former mine. Line 1, the elephants, takes about 45 minutes; line 2, the rhinos, about 15. It is a detachable gondola with closed cabins for eight people, according to the park's fact sheet. It is included in the ticket: you can ride without paying more, and repeat if you like. It is the quickest way to understand what the park is like, a hollow of rocks, lakes and meadows in the Pisueña valley where there used to be an open-cast iron mine. Stations There are four stations: Station 1: beside the east entrance, in the village of Cabárceno, with parking next to it. Station 2: at the Rubí viewpoint, in the north area. Station 3: above the bear enclosure, where you change lines. Station 4: at the south entrance by Sobarzo, also with parking. You board at 1 or 4. If you want to ride both lines, allow a little over an hour for the journey, waiting and changing at the bear station. Opening hours In July and August, 9:30 to 18:30; in June, September, long weekends and every weekend, 9:45 to 17:45; in March, April, May and October, 10:30 to 17:00. From November to February, only one line opens on weekdays, from 11:00 to 17:00. Watch out this winter: from 2 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 the lines open alternately for maintenance. Check the park website to see which one is running on the day you go before planning your visit around it. With a dog and with children Dogs may enter the park on a lead, but on the gondola they travel only in a closed carrier. With children it works very well: the ride is calm, you see the animals from above without hurry, and the short rhino line, a quarter of an hour, is enough if they are tired. Fitting it into the day The comfortable approach is to leave the gondola for the middle of the day, after seeing the first enclosures by car. Enter through the entrance nearest the station where you will board. In the bear area you have a café, a burger place and the birds of prey display, at 12:00 or 16:00 depending on the calendar. The park ticket costs €25 to €45 per adult in 2026 depending on the season; you will find fares, entrances and hours in the park drive. If you want to see the enclosures from inside and not only from above, the option is the Wild Visit. - **Birds of prey flying display** (30 min · All ages · Included in the park ticket): What it is An educational display featuring some of the 32 species of raptors that live in Cabárceno, from America, Europe and Africa: griffon and palm-nut vultures, black kites, peregrine falcons and the American eagle. Park staff fly them and explain each one's hunting technique; the highlight is the dive, with a drop of more than 90 metres. It is an educational demonstration, aimed at young and old, where you learn how each species flies and hunts and why the park breeds and looks after these birds. It lasts about half an hour and is included in the park ticket, with no supplement or booking. When The schedule changes with the season: At 12:00, 15:30 and 17:30: in summer, at Easter, over the May bank holiday and at weekends in May, June and September. At 12:00 and 16:00: at weekends from October to April, on public holidays from November to Easter and on weekdays in September. Training at 12:00: from October to 20 June, on weekdays, there is no full display but training flights. Capacity is limited: arrive a quarter of an hour early, especially in summer and on long weekends, when it fills up sooner. With children It is one of the moments of the day children enjoy most, because the birds fly close to the audience. Explain to little ones beforehand that it is best to stay seated and quiet while the birds fly. If you go in low season, on a weekday, expect to see only the midday training. Fitting it into the day Cabárceno is big, 750 hectares and more than 20 kilometres of roads inside, so it pays to plan so as not to be late for the show. If you arrive in the morning, enter through Obregón, visit the elephants and the savannah first and look for the 12:00 show; then have lunch in the bear area, where there is a café and a burger place, and spend the afternoon on the rest. The park also has a sea lion show and the reptile house, with some of the most venomous snakes in the world. If you bring a dog, remember that it may enter the park on a lead, but not the reptile house or the sea lion pool walkway. Price Included in the park ticket. In 2026 adults pay €25 in low season, €35 in mid and €45 in high; children aged 4 to 12 pay €15 to €25, and under-4s do not pay. Details are in the park drive. To see the enclosures from the air, combine the display with the gondola. - **Wild Visit with the park's keepers** (6 h · From age 3, with an adult; minimum two people · Desde 250 € adult; child aged 3 to 12 €125): What it is A day at Cabárceno accompanied throughout by a park expert, to see what you cannot see from the car. You enter the brown bear enclosure to find out where they hibernate, visit the elephant stalls, see how veterinary training sessions are done and get close to six large African mammals and some primates. The park leaflet adds a curious detail: finding out how rough a giraffe's tongue is. The visit ends with a diploma certifying the participant as knowledgeable about good practice and respectful of nature. The idea is to understand how Cabárceno works: a 750-hectare park in a former iron mine, with more than a hundred species and breeding programmes for threatened species, such as the African elephant, which the official map presents as the largest endangered land mammal. Hours and what is included According to the park leaflet, the Wild Visit runs from 10:00 to 17:00 and includes lunch and the day's entry. There is a half-day version, the Explorer Visit, from 10:00 to 14:00, also with entry included; its price is confirmed when you book. After the visit you can carry on round the park by yourself: the ticket is valid until sunset, although some animals are brought in from 17:45. Price and booking €250 per adult and €125 per child aged 3 to 12; minimum two people, one of them an adult. By advance booking only, on 942 318 950 or at promocion@cantur.com. It cannot be done with pets. The leaflet says the visit is also accessible: if someone in the group has reduced mobility, mention it when booking so they can prepare. Getting there The park is about 15 minutes from Santander, in the Pisueña valley. The recommended access is the north entrance at Obregón; you can also enter through the village of Cabárceno and through Sobarzo, to the south. The meeting point with the keeper is given when the booking is confirmed. Arrive in good time: the visit starts at 10:00 and the park opens its ticket offices at 9:30 for most of the year, and at 9:00 in July and August. Who it is for For families with children from age 3 who are curious about animals and for adults who want to know how a bear or an elephant is looked after. It is an expensive visit compared with the normal ticket, which in low season costs €25 per adult, but it is the only way into the enclosures. If you prefer to go independently, see the park drive, the gondola and the birds of prey display. - **Cabárceno by guided e-bike** (3 h · From age 9 with some cycling practice · Desde 65 € child aged 9 to 12; adult €85): What it is A tour of about three hours around Cabárceno by e-bike, with a park guide and in a small group. The website says a maximum of eight people, and the official map of March 2026 says seven. Along the way the guide explains how the park works on species conservation, curiosities about the animals and the environmental recovery of the former iron mine in the 1990s. You set your own pedalling pace, and the electric assistance takes the weight off the hills. Cabárceno covers 750 hectares in the Pisueña valley, in a karst landscape left by centuries of mining: iron was extracted here before the Romans arrived. More than 5,000 trees were planted to recover it, and today it has more than 20 kilometres of roads inside. Doing it by bike is the way to see it unhurriedly, without hunting for parking at every enclosure. When and how much From 1 October to 30 December, Saturday to Wednesday. You meet at 9:45 at the brown bear enclosure; departure is at 10:00, and the tour ends around 13:00. It costs €85 per adult and €65 per child aged 9 to 12, with entry, the gondola and the bike included. Book on 942 318 950 or at promocion@cantur.com. Who it is for For ages 9 and over with some cycling practice; under-18s always go with an adult. You do not need to be fit, but the park asks for some experience handling a bike: if a child has only just taken off the stabilisers, it is better to wait for another season. The website does not publish an equipment list: wear comfortable layers, because autumn mornings in the valley are cool, and trainers. After the ride As you finish around one o'clock, you have the afternoon to carry on by yourself: the ticket is valid all day, until sunset, although some animals are brought in from 17:45. In November and December the park is open until 17:00 on weekdays and until 18:00 at weekends and on public holidays. For lunch, the café and the burger place are in the bear area, the same area as the starting point. The gondola included in the price runs with limitations in winter: from 2 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 its two lines open alternately for maintenance, so ask which line is running. If you want more, the birds of prey display has shows at 12:00 and 16:00 at weekends from October to April. You will find park prices and entrances in the park drive. ## Dónde comer - **Los Osos café and burger bar** (Café, Cabárceno, €). Qué pedir: a sandwich or burger at midday; if you are with children, arrive before 13:00 ## By car: By Car, Enclosure by Enclosure Cabárceno is explored in your own car: more than 20 km of internal roads between enclosures, with car parks in each area. Without a car the park makes no sense. Presupuesto orientativo: 70–130 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Posada Cabárceno** (Small hotel): Sleeping beside the animals The inn is at calle La Corraliza 17, in the village of Cabárceno, next to the park's east entrance and station 1 of the gondola. It is a way to get in first thing without driving from Santander, which is 24 km away, about 26 minutes by car according to the inn itself. It is a two-storey country house, with an interior wooden gallery and a mountain-style staircase linking the two floors, exposed beams and two skylights that light the interior. The rooms There are 15 doubles, of about 15 m², with a double bed or two beds, in two types: Double with balcony: eight rooms, simple, with a wooden balcony. Attic double: seven, on the top floor, with a sloping wooden ceiling. All have a full bathroom with hairdryer, towels and bed linen, television, wifi and background music, and are non-smoking. The inn itself warns that they are not very large, although it describes them as cosy. According to the rooms page, breakfast is included in the rate. It does not publish prices: ask through its booking engine or by phone. The house and breakfast Downstairs there is a large, bright lounge with glass doors to the garden, split into two areas: one for children, with tables, chairs, a blackboard and toys, and another for adults. In summer a 90 m² terrace surrounded by greenery is used for drinks, with a view of the children's area. The grounds have 3,000 m² of garden with fruit trees to play and stroll among. Breakfast is what the house stands out for: Iberian cured meats, Spanish and regional cheeses, tomato with olive oil, several breads, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice and home-made sweets. Who it is for For families who want to spend a whole day at Cabárceno without an early start from Santander: you enter the park by the village entrance and return to the inn in mid-afternoon so the children can play in the garden. Also as a base for getting around Cantabria: the inn places the Puente Viesgo caves 20 km away, Santillana del Mar 34 km and Santoña 37 km. When It closes in winter: until late February 2027, with no exact opening date, and it opens bookings for the new season in mid-January. Phones: 942 517 606 and 689 840 216, also on WhatsApp, and recepcion@posadacabarceno.com. To prepare your visit, see the park drive, the entrances and ticket offices and where to eat inside, at the Los Osos café and burger bar. - **Hotel Casona El Arral** (Small hotel): The 1884 house and its Baroque chapel El Arral is a manor house built in 1884 by the ancestors of those who run it today, with an older Baroque chapel, from 1727, and a garden beside the River Miera. It is on calle del Convento, within the historic ensemble of Liérganes, and the house is listed as a singular building of that ensemble. Restored as a three-star hotel, it keeps its original interior layout and high ceilings. Liérganes is a river village, in the Miera valley, south of the bay of Santander. You can explore it on foot from the hotel door. The Cabárceno Park is a few kilometres away by car, and Santander a little further. Ten rooms, none the same There are nine doubles and a suite. The doubles can be booked with two beds or a double bed. All are spacious, with colourful décor, high ceilings and views of the garden or the mountain; you can hear the river from the window. The full bathroom is integrated into the room space; if that matters to you, ask what it is like in the one you are assigned. Each room has heating, flat-screen television, telephone, hairdryer, toiletries and free wifi. The suite adds toiletries for him and for her and a flask for herbal teas. The Pasiego breakfast It is what the house takes most care over. It is made with products from the Valles Pasiegos and homemade baking: coffee, milk or tea, fresh orange juice, toast with artisan jams and honey, sobaos pasiegos, almond biscuits, croissants and homemade sponge cakes in several flavours. It is served in the dining room facing the garden or, in good weather, on the terrace. It is included if you book on the hotel's website. Services of a great house There is room service with local produce, laundry, books to read, board games and a croquet lawn. The website does not publish prices, check-in and check-out times, parking or rules on pets or children: ask when you book on 942 528 475 or 942 528 254, or at info@casonaelarral.com. For the Cabárceno day It is a quiet base for the night before or after the park. If you are going to do the drive around the enclosures, set out early: first thing there are fewer cars and more animals in sight. If you prefer to sleep by one of the entrances, the Posada Cabárceno is in the village of Cabárceno itself. ## As a family: A whole day of big animals Cabárceno is Cantabria's family outing: huge enclosures toured by car, a gondola and a birds of prey display. ### What works best The elephants and brown bears, first thing The gondola, included in the ticket The birds of prey display, at 12:00 In autumn, the e-bike route from age 9 ### Sleep Posada Cabárceno, next to the east entrance, from March to December ### Eat Los Osos burger bar, or a picnic at the picnic areas ### Worth knowing Children aged 4 to 12, €15 to €25; free up to 3 Low season: half the price and fewer people ### Qué hacer as a family - Cabárceno Nature Park by car and on foot - The gondola over the enclosures - Birds of prey flying display - Wild Visit with the park's keepers - Cabárceno by guided e-bike ## With young children: By car, with naps between enclosures It works with small children because the car goes with you: you stop, see the animals and get back in. ### What works best The giraffe savannah and the elephants, from the car The gondola, short on the rhino line, 15 minutes The birds of prey, in the open air ### Sleep Posada Cabárceno, at the park's door ### Eat Bring food: there are picnic areas and a playground ### Worth knowing Free up to age 3 Some animals are brought in from 17:45 ### Qué hacer with young children - Cabárceno Nature Park by car and on foot - The gondola over the enclosures - Birds of prey flying display ## With teenagers: Behind the scenes and on an e-bike For teenagers, Cabárceno has two ways to go beyond the car: the guided e-bike and the Wild Visit. ### What works best E-bike with a guide, from October to December, from age 9 The Wild Visit, inside the bear and elephant enclosures The birds of prey diving 90 metres ### Sleep Posada Cabárceno ### Eat Los Osos burger bar ### Worth knowing From age 13 they pay the adult ticket ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Cabárceno Nature Park by car and on foot - Birds of prey flying display - Wild Visit with the park's keepers - Cabárceno by guided e-bike ## Consejos ### Enter via Obregón at opening time It is the recommended access, and first thing there are fewer cars and more animals in view. ### Buy online On bank-holiday weekends and in summer you save the ticket-office queue. ### Bring food The park's picnic areas are the most convenient option with children. ### If you bring a dog It can enter on a lead, but not the restaurants, the internal bus or the reptile house; on the cable car, in a carrier. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does Cabárceno cost in 2026? From €25 to €45 for adults and from €15 to €25 for children aged 4 to 12, depending on the season. Up to age 3, free. ### Is the cable car paid separately? No, it is included in the ticket. ### Can you take a dog in? Yes, on a lead, with limits in restaurants, the internal bus, the reptile house and the cable car. ### Is it open in winter? Yes, all year except 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. ### Can you eat inside? Yes: cafeteria, burger bar and picnic areas. The restaurant is temporarily closed.