Entrances, ticket offices and park information

Cabárceno is not visited like a zoo with one gate and one enclosure: it is a former open-cast iron site of almost 800 hectares, in the Pisueña valley and 17 kilometres from Santander, toured by car along more than 20 kilometres of internal roads. That is why it has several entrances, each with its own ticket office, and choosing well where to enter saves you going round in circles.

The four entrances

• North entrance, via Obregón. This is the one the park recommends and the one that matches its postal address (39690 Obregón).
• East entrance, in the village of Cabárceno. Beside it is gondola station 1, the elephant one. If you are staying at the Posada Cabárceno, it is the one right next to you.
• Lake Acebo entrance. Open in high season only.
• South entrance, via Sobarzo. Beside gondola station 4, the hippo one. It is the most convenient if you arrive from the south.

Hours and ticket offices

The park is open all year, except 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. The information office is open from 9:30 to 17:00 and the ticket offices sell until 17:00 or 18:00, depending on the time of year. The hours of each facility, of the gondola and of the displays, such as the birds of prey, are published on the website and may change, so check them on the day. Tickets are bought on the park website or at the ticket offices; buying beforehand avoids the queue on busy days.

Inside the park

Once inside, you tour by car, from enclosure to enclosure, with numerous parking areas beside each and paths to walk down. The park leaflet sets a maximum speed of 20 km/h and asks you to park only in marked areas, not to feed the animals and not to touch them. Pets must be on a lead and under control at all times, and are admitted on the gondola with restrictions. Drones are not allowed.

Allow the whole day: see the entry for the park drive. For food, the park has several cafés, a burger place and a self-service restaurant, including the Los Osos café, beside the bear enclosure.

Other ways to see it

If you prefer not to drive inside, there is a guided route by electric bicycle, and to enter the bear and elephant enclosures, the Wild Visit. To sleep nearby and in peace, the Casona El Arral is in Liérganes, ten minutes away.

For queries, the information phone number shown on this page is 942 318 950; the park leaflet also gives 942 563 736.