Cuevas Hornos De La Pena
Cuevas Hornos De La Pena
5
Historic SitesHistoric Walking AreasCaverns & Caves
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A well known cave in Cantabria, now open to visitors in groups of 4. Cave paintings and etchings, stalagmites and stalagtites and more. Beautiful intimate cave in a beautiful valley.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles44 reviews
Excellent
38
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Alison P
Melbourne, Australia8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Couples
We booked this on line not knowing what to expect. At 3 euros each we thought we would give it a try. Bit of a steep walk up to the cave. There was one other person on the tour. The guide spoke reasonable English and was very knowledgable. The cave doesn't have paintings just carvings. We decided to see the cave in puente viiego after seeing this one thinking it would be better. But it was all in Spanish . Still good but preferred the first one
Written October 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dallasbirder
Dallas, Texas128 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Solo
Cuevas Hornos de la Pena contains several etchings of prehistoric animals cut into the cave walls by some of our earliest European ancestors. The cave is not outfitted with lights, so you use flashlights (torches as they are known in the UK). This gives the experience a much more authentic sense of what the original artists had. The engravings are located in some rather confined spaces that required much bending and scooting. Only 4 or 5 people at a time may enter. The path is wet, slippery and muddy, which your pants will reflect when you are out. Having visited a number of other caves on this tour, this one gave me the most visceral sense of what things were like thousands of years ago, even if on a much safer level. Our local guide was excellent and extremely helpful ensuring everyone got to see the engraved animals. I highly recommend visiting this cave but not if you have claustrophobia or physical difficulties.
Written June 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LGVG
Glenorchy, New Zealand24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Friends
We visited the cave as a small group and had an outstanding visit with Susanna, our guide. She welcomed us to the cave, spoke English with us, and most of all shared her enthusiasm for rock art. She patiently and enthusiastically shared all of the highlights of the cave and made the magic of having the rare chance to see ancient rock art quietly. Susanna is a wonderful guide!
Written September 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sixteencmg
Houston, TX67 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Couples
Well my iPhone tried to lead us astray whilst finding this cave, but we finally found it. A short hike up a hill to the entrance. This was one of our favorite caves because the groups are so small and limited. You are given a hard hat (which was needed because the ceilings are low and I bumped by head at least twice). Our guide was really passionate and shut off the lights to give us a sense of the darkness and peace. Tour was in Spanish! And it's funny that they have a "parking lot" because it appears you can just park on the side of the road near the pedestrian entrance and since tours are limited to 4 people how many cars could their possibly be?
Written August 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dave s
Bude, UK720 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Solo
A hefty climb to get to the entrance, but well worthwhile. I was fortunate enough to be the only one on the tour so the guide relished the practice he had speaking English, which he did very well. Was given a torch, and the cave is not for the claustrophobic or physically impaired, and was quite slippery in places. Very atmospheric and a great experience. Highly recommended if you're physically capable.
Written June 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott A
Eastbourne, UK6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I honestly don't know where to begin.

My visit to this cave was one of the best days of my life.

Granted, I am passionate about cave art and was looking for a more intimate experience than, say, the caves at El Castillo, but this surpassed all my expectations. To the point where I'm seriously considering writing a letter to Spain's Minister of Culture - because I don't know who else to thank for this visit of a lifetime.

A great part of the cave's appeal is its location. I actually visited on my own, without a car, while staying with my wife in Santander. I took a bus to Los Corrales and hiked the rest of the way, which took about an hour or so. The countryside was breathtaking. It was early in the morning, and the sun was only just creeping up and into the valley. The air tinkled with the sound of cowbells which eventually transitioned into the gentle plashing of a river, the Barranco de las Tejas, which you can visit not far from the cave mouth.

As for the cave itself - it's not too deep, but you do need to have a bit of a pioneering spirit! Also, it's worth mentioning, the art here is almost exclusively engravings. Don't be expecting the Great Halls of Polychromes at Altamira. Hornos de la Peña captivates us with a different kind of beauty - one that can require a little work to see, and some careful positioning of the light. This might not be for you though, if you're afraid of bats. They're quite active in this cave at certain times of year - still, it's worth pointing out, they're completely harmless.

For me, the real highlight was seeing an engraving of a serpent with several horses. I will never forget the moment when my lamp traced a sinewy form, down to its head, and my guide nodded, saying one word, 'serpiente'. The interplay too, between this reptile and an adjacent horse, which was clearly spooked, was incredible. Such intimate observations, recorded by a prehistoric eye blew my mind. There was so much energy and movement.

Finally, I must leave some feedback on my guide (sadly, in my excitement, I completely forgot to ask his name). It was only me and him; and he could speak French but not English, so we conversed in Spanish. Surprisingly, I understood more than I thought I would - partly because I knew a bit about the cave from books, and partly because my companion spoke very slowly and clearly, with a few supportive gestures, whenever we encountered problems in translation. I must say, there was something quite magical about the whole thing. Two people, struggling occasionally to communicate, but united by art, tens of thousands of years old.

I genuinely hope others will enjoy a similar experience with this individual - a true scholar and a gentleman.

For those who don't mind going off the beaten track for a bit of an adventure, this is a site of cultural heritage that simply cannot be missed!
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RamonSpain
Santander, Spain2,190 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016
Not to be missed. A visit for only 4 people at a time. Narrow places and impressive carvings. Thanks to a great guide, Susa! Unforgettable visit!
Written July 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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