Cuevas del Drach and dels Hams: two underground gems in Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo, in the municipality of Manacor, is home to the two most-visited caves in Mallorca. They are karst formations of marine origin, with stalactites and stalagmites that have taken thousands of years to grow, and underground lakes explored by boat. They sit just over a kilometre apart, so it's common to combine both in the same day if time allows.
Cuevas del Drach: hours and prices 2026
Cuevas del Drach is the island's best-known cave, largely thanks to Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes in Europe, where every visit ends with a short classical music concert performed on a boat on the water, followed by an included boat ride across to the exit.
The route inside covers around 1,200 metres, with some stretches of stairs, and a steady temperature of 17 to 20 °C all year round, so it's worth bringing a light layer even in summer. There is free parking next to the entrance and a roughly 200-metre walk to the cave access; it's recommended to arrive 15 minutes before your booked time.
Cuevas dels Hams: hours and prices
Just a few minutes from Cuevas del Drach, Cuevas dels Hams takes its name from curious hook-shaped formations ("hams" in Mallorcan). The route combines three areas: the Cueva Clásica, with twelve galleries and the underground lake Mar de Venecia, which also features a musical performance; the Cueva Redonda, with a botanical garden; and the Cueva Azul, with an audiovisual presentation on Mallorca's earliest settlers.
Caves dels Hams & DinosaurlandCheck availability →Cuevas del Drach or dels Hams? How to choose
If you only have time for one, Drach wins for Lake Martel and the boat concert, the most photographed experience of the two and also the busiest in high season. Dels Hams, slightly less crowded, has the added appeal of the botanical garden and tends to suit children better, thanks to its more relaxed pace and half-hourly departures.
- Short on time or travelling in a large group: Cuevas del Drach, for the concert and Lake Martel
- With young children or looking for fewer crowds: Cuevas dels Hams
- With a full day available: you can visit both, since they're just over a kilometre apart
Full day trip to Porto Cristo including visits to the Caves of Drach and Hams CavesCheck availability →How to get to Porto Cristo from Palma and the rest of the island
For those who'd rather not drive, there's the option of organised bus excursions with pickup from various tourist areas around the island, which include the round trip and, in many cases, a ticket already booked, avoiding queues and timing mix-ups in high season.
Bus to the Caves of Drach with admission tickets includedCheck availability →Practical tips for your visit
- Book your ticket online in advance, especially in summer: the most in-demand slots sell out
- Wear comfortable shoes and a light jacket, given the humidity and cool temperature inside
- Avoid the middle of the day in July and August if you want fewer crowds at each entry slot
- Photography is allowed but without flash in most sections, to avoid damaging the formations
- If travelling with a baby stroller or reduced mobility, check each cave's accessibility conditions beforehand
What else to do in Porto Cristo
After the caves, it's well worth heading down to the Porto Cristo seafront, a quiet cove with its fishing and leisure harbour, seafront terraces and good fresh fish in the old town's restaurants. It's a compact village, easy to explore on foot, and a great spot to end the day with a swim before heading back.
Caves of Drach & Porto Cristo: A coastal discoveryCheck availability →