What to do · Sierra de Gredos
Cuevas del Águila
Information
- From
- €12 per person
- Duration
- 40 min
- Season
- All year
- Who it's for
- Everyone; there are steps
The Cuevas del Águila (Eagle Caves) lie beneath the Cerro del Águila, also called Romperropas, in Ramacastañas, next to Arenas de San Pedro, in the Tiétar valley. From outside it is a hill of holm oaks; inside, a limestone cavity 50 metres deep and a kilometre long, with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and curtains coloured by minerals in the water. It can be visited every day of the year.
A Christmas Eve in 1963
The cave was found by chance by five young men on the afternoon of 24 December 1963: they saw steam coming out of a hole in the hill, because it was warmer inside than out. They went in with ropes and torches through an opening about 60 centimetres wide, crawled some 50 metres to the great vault and were lost for almost five hours before finding the way out. After being prepared, it opened to the public on 18 July 1964, and it is open every day of the year.
The tour
The visit lasts about 40 minutes and is on foot, in small groups, with a guard who explains the discovery and how the cave was formed. You go down a paved path, with steps to get past the changes in level, among lit galleries. The limestones are Cambrian, more than 500 million years old, and the formations grow about a centimetre every 150 years; in some chambers you can see columns broken by an ancient collapse of the floor. Inside it is 17 °C all year round and almost 100% humidity: a jacket in summer and shoes with good grip.
Opening hours and tickets
- From 22 September to 20 March: 10:30 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00.
- From 21 March to 21 September: 10:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00.
Tours leave every half hour. Admission costs €12 for adults and €8 for children aged 6 to 10; under-5s do not pay. School groups, €8; agencies and associations of more than 20, €9. You do not need to book: buy on the website or at the ticket office, and a ticket bought online must be validated at the ticket office before going in. If you cannot go on the day of your ticket, the money is not refunded, but it is valid for another day. Telephone: 920 377 107.
By the A-5 and Ramacastañas
From Madrid it is about 170 km, an hour and a half: A-5 to exit 123, near Talavera de la Reina, and the N-502 to Ramacastañas.
More in the valley
In Arenas de San Pedro, a few kilometres away, is the castle of the Triste Condesa. If you stay overnight in southern Gredos, the Los Galayos campsite is on the same slope.
Tips
- Arrive with time to spare before closing The website does not give the time of the last tour: arrive at least half an hour before closing.
- A jacket in August Inside it is 17 °C: with heat outside, the difference is noticeable.
- With small children Under-5s do not pay, but there are steps: no pushchairs.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to book for the Cuevas del Águila?
No, you can buy at the ticket office; if you buy online, the ticket must be validated on arrival.
How long does the visit to the Cuevas del Águila take?
About 40 minutes.
How much do the Cuevas del Águila cost?
€12 for adults, €8 for ages 6 to 10; free for under-5s.
Is it open every day?
Yes, every day of the year.
Is it cold inside?
A constant 17 °C or so and a lot of humidity.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagers
