Cueva El Soplao
- Visit: about 1 h
- Step-free access
- Ideal for kids
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Why go
- Arrive by mining train, then explore cave geology and mining archaeology on a one-hour guided walking tour.
- The site overlooks the Sierra de Peña Sagra, Picos de Europa, the Nansa valley and the Cantabrian Sea.
Don't miss
- Ghostly stalagmitesThick white stalagmites give Los Fantasmas its ghostly appearance.Gallery of the Ghosts
- Illuminated ceilingLighting reveals the colours of stalactites and calcite helictites in Galería Gorda.Galería Gorda
- Underground lakeThe first gallery visitors enter, Galería Gorda, contains an underground lake.Galería Gorda
- Mining history in Los FantasmasLa Florida miners used this gallery for extraction and storage in the early twentieth century.Gallery of the Ghostsearly 20th century
History
- Early 20th centuryMining work at La Florida revealed the cave by chance. Miners later extracted minerals there, supporting local families alongside livestock farming.
- Early miningMiners called cavities that produced strong air currents “soplaos.”
- 1975The Cantabria University Speleology Club began investigating the cave’s geological value.
- 1 July 2005The Government of Cantabria opened the cave to visitors after adaptations and protective measures.
Tips for your visit
- Inside the cave, temperatures are about 12–14°C and relative humidity is roughly 90%.
Know before you go
- Children under 12 and wheelchair users must be accompanied by an adult.
How to get there
- 60 minCarApproach via the Cantabrian motorway. The address is Prao El Collao, S/N, Celis, 60 km from Torrelavega and 83 km from Santander.
- CarThe cave is near San Vicente de la Barquera, Comillas, Santillana del Mar, La Hermida Gorge and Cabuérniga.
Accessibility
- Step-free entry Wheelchair access extends about 300 metres from the entrance. Wheelchair users must be accompanied by an adult.
- Lift A platform lift serves the last accessible stretch of the route.
Shorts
Interesting facts4
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Research at the cave identified zaccagnaite-3R, a mineral form first found there.
Cueva de El Soplao - Wikipedia -
Amber deposits and insect fossils have been found in the cave.
Cave of El Soplao - Wikipedia -
Cave minerals include aragonite, calcite, dolomite, sphalerite, galena, marcasite and pyrite.
Cave of El Soplao - Wikipedia -
2010
In 2010, mapped natural passages measured 19,768 metres and reached a depth of 224 metres.
Cueva de El Soplao - Wikipedia
Sources: Cave of El Soplao - Wikipedia · El Soplao Cave · El Soplao | 100% Accessible Tourist Visit · How to get here · Cueva de El Soplao - Wikipedia · Grotte d'El Soplao - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Website
- elsoplao.es/
- Phone
- 952076272
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
What other formations occur at Cueva El Soplao?
Its formations include columns, cave pearls and dog-tooth spars.
Why is the Gallery of the Camp at Cueva El Soplao so named?
It takes its name from a research camp set up during early explorations.
What gives Gallery Genesis at Cueva El Soplao its colours?
Salts dissolved in water give the gallery its colours.
Does Cueva El Soplao preserve earthquake evidence?
Traces appear in the Gallery of the Cauliflower and the Gallery of the Forest.
Has Cueva El Soplao hosted concerts?
It has hosted performances by Bertín Osborne and Nando Agüeros.
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