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Caves (day 5)
back to the tour
Reluctantly
we leave the lakes behind, but don't despair, there are more treasures ahead.
Not least the caves at Nerja which are the town's main tourist attraction and
attract hundreds of thousands of annual visitors. The caves were only discovered
in 1959 when a group of boys from the neighbouring village of Maro climbed
through a small hole where they were playing. What a shock it must have been to
suddenly find themselves staring at one of Europe's finest cave structures.
Although not on public view, cave paintings have been discovered which are
believed to be 20,000 years old. In July one of the chambers acts as an
auditorium for classical music concerts.
In total
the Nerja Caves stretch some 4823 metres in length with a volume of more than
800,000 cubic metres. Only 25% of the total area of the caves is open to the
public yet this is more than enough to appreciate the stunning beauty of this
geological wonder. As you enter the caves next to the ticket office just walk
down the steps to th
e Sala de Vestibulo then follow the clearly marked and well
illuminated route to the Sala de Belen, Sala de la Cascada (where the music
festival is held), the Sala de los Fantasmas (look out for weird and wonderful
shapes) and finally to the incredible Sala del Cataclismo. This final chamber is
is over 100 metres long and 50 metres wide with stalagtites coming down from
heights of around 30 metres above you. Indeed the longest stalactite ever
discovered at 32 metres in length is in this chamber.
The
ride along the coast is superb; I can smell the salt now, mind you Thoughtful
Mark is sitting beside me eating fishcake and chips (he likes fishcakes).
Later we turn inland and follow the alpujarras through foothills of the Sierra Nevada; I can smell the pine now.
We end the day at Roquetas del Mar and just like it says, it's by the seaside.
Our hotel has private parking.
The entrance fee to Nerja Caves is included in the tour price.
on to day 6 I'm getting excited now