Located in the hills above the coastal town of Nerja in Malaga province, the Cueva de Nerja is one of the most visited natural attractions in southern Spain. Its chambers stretch nearly five kilometers underground, though only about a third of the system is accessible to the public. What visitors encounter inside is a world of towering columns, dripping formations, and spaces so vast they have served as natural concert halls.
The Discovery
The caves were discovered in January 1959 by five young men from the nearby town of Maro who were exploring the hillside looking for bats. What they found behind a narrow opening was a cave system that had been sealed for thousands of years. The find was reported to local authorities, and within a year, the caves were opened to the public after preliminary studies confirmed their significance.
Archaeological excavations in the following decades revealed that the caves had been inhabited by humans as far back as 30,000 years ago. Stone tools, animal bones, pottery fragments, and traces of hearths were found throughout the galleries, painting a picture of sustained human presence across multiple periods of prehistory.
What You Will See Inside
The public tour route takes visitors through a series of increasingly impressive chambers connected by well-maintained pathways and staircases. The galleries are arranged on multiple levels, and the path rises and descends through narrow corridors before opening into vast halls.
- Gallery of the Nativity - The first major chamber, named for formations that resemble a nativity scene. Stalactites hang from the ceiling in dense clusters, and the lighting reveals layers of color in the mineral deposits.
- Hall of the Phantoms - A mid-level chamber with unusual formations that cast dramatic shadows. The acoustics in this space are particularly notable.
- Hall of the Cataclysm - The largest accessible chamber, with ceilings rising over 30 meters. This hall contains the world's largest known column (a joined stalactite and stalagmite) measuring 32 meters in height. Classical concerts are regularly held here during summer months.
- Hall of the Elephant's Tusk - Named for a formation that closely resembles a curved ivory tusk, this chamber features some of the most delicate and finely detailed mineral deposits in the cave system.
Practical Information
- Opening hours: Daily from 9:30 to 16:30 (last entry). Hours may vary seasonally.
- Temperature inside stays around 19 degrees Celsius year-round. Comfortable shoes are essential.
- Audio guides available in multiple languages.
- The cave is partially accessible for visitors with reduced mobility, though some sections involve steep stairs.
- Photography is permitted without flash. Tripods are not allowed.
The Paleolithic Paintings
Among the cave's most scientifically important features are Paleolithic paintings found in the deeper, restricted galleries. These include depictions of seals, fish, and possibly dolphins, which are unusual subjects for cave art of this period. Some researchers have dated certain markings to over 42,000 years ago, which would make them among the oldest known cave paintings in the world, though this dating remains debated in the academic community.
The paintings are not visible on the standard tourist route, as they are located in sections closed to the public for conservation reasons. However, high-resolution reproductions and detailed information about the artwork are available at the Nerja Cave Museum near the entrance.
Geology and Formation
The caves formed primarily through the dissolution of marble and dolomite rock by mildly acidic rainwater over millions of years. This process, known as karstification, created the network of passages and chambers that make up the system today. The stalactites and stalagmites that fill the caves grow at an estimated rate of one centimeter every 100 to 150 years, meaning that some of the larger formations represent hundreds of thousands of years of continuous mineral deposition.
Seismic activity also played a role in shaping the caves. The Hall of the Cataclysm gets its name from evidence of a major geological event, possibly an earthquake, that caused large sections of the ceiling to collapse thousands of years ago. The resulting rubble field is still visible on the chamber floor.
Getting There
Cueva de Nerja is located approximately 4 kilometers east of Nerja town center, along the coast road toward Maro. Regular local buses connect Nerja with Malaga city (about 50 kilometers west), and there is a dedicated parking area near the cave entrance. The nearest airport is Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), with direct connections to most major European cities.
Visitors traveling from the Granada area can reach Nerja in about 90 minutes via the A-7 motorway. The drive along the coast is scenic, particularly the stretch between Almunecar and Nerja.