Drach Cave in Mallorca. Cuevas del Drach - Dragon Caves with an underground lake and a concert

The Drach Cavein Mallorca, or rather the system of caves, known in Poland as the Dragon Caves (Cuevas del Drach) is one of the most important tourist attractions of this Spanish island. The facility is located on the east coast of Mallorca, near the town of Porto Cristo. How wonderful it is here, the entire underground complex has a common entrance, available after purchasing a ticket. The caves are beautiful, hiding amazing infiltrations of various shapes and sizes. In addition, underground rooms and corridors are decorated with lakes sparkling with blue. This view is breathtaking. And at Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes, you will hear a concert on a boat. This is an incredibly atmospheric event, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world every year!

Geology of Cuevas del Drach Caves in Majorca

The Cuevas del Drach caves have a long history. They are found in limestone rocks that formed from the remains of coral reefs and shells of marine organisms during the Upper Miocene, from 11 to 5.3 million years ago. At that time, the climate of the region was much warmer. The limestone was easily dissolved with water. This is how cracks, crevices, and over time corridors and rooms were created, filled with lakes with turquoise waters and miraculous infiltrations. Rainwater seeps through the cracks in the rocks, leading to these natural wonders. The interior of the caves impresses with the variety of formations. Infiltrations are a real fairy tale, you will see all kinds here: stalactites hanging from above, stalagmites growing upwards, stalagnates and powerful columns, i.e. those that have merged. Icing, and in such fantastic shapes that the jaw drops. And it is worth noting that stalactites and stalagmites grow very slowly, from 0.2 to 1.6 millimeters per year (much slower in Poland).

History of Drach Caves in Mallorca

The dragon caves in Mallorca were already known to people in the Middle Ages. The first written references to the Drach caves come from 1338. They were visited in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their popularity increased at the end of the 19th century, when they began to be made available to tourists. In 1880, the German speleologist Friedrich Will created the first plan of caves, and in 1896 the French speleologist Édouard Alfred Martel discovered the interiors of the currently accessible cave with Lake Martel. He then published an updated map of the system. The first sightseeing route was prepared in 1922-35. At that time, the electrical system was put into operation, which was commanded by the Buigas engineer.

Sightseeing Dragon Caves in Mallorca

The current Cuevas del Drach sightseeing route is about 1,200 meters long and leads through various cave galleries. It is traversed in about 1 hour and this is done in fairly large groups, without a guide. The height difference is 25 meters. Every few hundred meters there is a person who keeps order. The tour begins in a section called the Luis Salvador Cave, discovered in 1896. From the very beginning, you are surrounded by beautiful infiltrations and rock formations, on both sides of the path. You follow it all the way to the last lake, where a surprise awaits.

Concert on Lake Martel

At the end of the tour, you reach an underground amphitheater at the lake, 170 meters long and 30 meters wide, where we sat down to listen to a classical music concert performed by a quartet. Oh wow, that was good. Imagine that you are deep underground, the lights suddenly go out, it is completely dark and suddenly a lighted boat emerges on a lake far away, in which four musicians are sitting and playing. Something fantastic. They swim past us, swim around the lake, come back, stop and give us about a 10-minute classical music concert. Fantastic experience, shivers on the back. You can't take photos or videos then. I understand, because it's about these emotions, about no one disturbing anyone and just experiencing it in your heart. I recommend you. These concerts have been held here since 1935. The repertoire includes works by Fryderyk Chopin and other well-known composers.

After the concert, anyone willing could swim a few hundred meters on the lake as part of the ticket. And the lake is no accident. This is Lake Martel, a huge underground body of water, one of the most important elements of the Cuevas del Drach and one of the largest underground lakes in the world. It is 170 meters long, 30 meters wide and 4 to 12 meters deep. The lake is known for its crystal clear water and is a focal point when exploring the caves.

Why visit Cuevas del Drach?

Cuevas del Drach is a unique place not only because of its natural beauty, but also because of the atmosphere inside the caves. The combination of majestic rock formations with classical music creates an unforgettable experience. It is an ideal attraction for both nature and culture lovers.

This is where lovers get engaged!

And did you know that this is one of those places where lovers get engaged? And in fact, as in Rysy, again before our eyes, one lady, when asked if you would marry me, answered yes, but it happened in English, and in the boat. On one of the largest underground lakes in the world! It is nice to witness such an outburst of joy. Although the conditions were difficult, I took photos of them together, they will remain their souvenir forever.

The Dragon Caves in Mallorca are a real treasure of nature. Their unique geology and rich history make them one of the most important places to visit on the island. Whether you are passionate about nature or a tourist looking for an unforgettable experience, Cuevas del Drach will provide you with unforgettable memories and stunning views. It's definitely one of Europe's top caves!

Practical information about Drach caves:

Temperature inside the caves: 17 - 21°C
Water temperature: 18 - 19°C
Relative humidity: 90 - 95%
Opening Hours: The caves are open all year round except December 25th and January 1st. Entry times vary depending on the time of year
Tickets: 17 euros, it is recommended to buy tickets online in advance to avoid queues
the ticket shows the time of sightseeing, please show up at the entrance to the cave 5 minutes before this time. It is 200 meters from the cash register
Parking: there is a large, free car park on site
There is also a restaurant and toilets at the cash desks

Cala Murta - beautiful cave bay

Just behind the entrance to the Drach cave, you will find a path that will take you over the picturesque rocky bay of Cala Murta after a few hundred meters. There is no sandy beach here, but the place is very scenic and you can go down to the water on the rocks. It's an interesting place to snorkel. Besides, it is very close to Cala Manacor and Port de Manacor with a diving center. And even further south you will discover the wonderful Majorcan bays that are definitely worth seeing: Cala Mondrago and Cala del Moro. Check out our article about the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca.

Other beautiful caves in Europe

I was in the most beautiful caves in Poland, i.e. in the Paradise Cave and the Bear Cave, I was in beautiful Czech caves, including the Koneprus Caves, in the Slovenian Postojna Cave and in Istria in the Baredine Cave. I do not belittle them, they delighted me, but it is the Drach Cave in Mallorca that is the best for me right now! Do you know any other beauties?

Accommodation in Mallorca

While visiting Mallorca, we slept in El Arenal, adjacent to Palma, the capital of the island. It is an interesting place with a bay, souvenir shops and many restaurants. It's not super quiet here, and our Hostel Atlanta accommodation wasn't very high, but compared to other accommodation on the island, it was really cheap here. We paid PLN 900 for 4 nights for 2 people. On the plus side, there is a communal and equipped kitchen with equipment, and a slightly poor bathroom.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• The most beautiful beaches in Mallorca, distance: 30.5  km
• Cala del Moro in Mallorca, distance: 30.5  km
• Alcudia in Mallorca, distance: 39.6  km
• Formentor in Mallorca, distance: 48.4  km
• Soller in Mallorca, distance: 58.6  km
• Mallorca, distance: 58.6  km
• Palma de Mallorca in Mallorca, distance: 58.6  km
• Valldemossa in Majorca, distance: 63.6  km