← Palma de Mallorca Marathon·Day trip

Porto Cristo: The Coves del Drach

A one-hour guided walk through limestone caves on Mallorca's east coast, ending with a short concert on an underground lake, then lunch by a small harbour.

DurationDay trip
TransitCar about 50 min, or TIB bus from Palma's Estació Intermodal
DepartsPalma

After the Palma de Mallorca Marathon: Porto Cristo and the Coves del Drach

The Route: Palma → Porto Cristo → Palma Logistics: Hire car along the Ma-15 through Manacor, or TIB bus from Palma. A day on the east coast built round one timed cave tour. Marathon Month: October Duration: Day trip

Palma ──(about 50 mins by car, longer by bus via Manacor)──> Porto Cristo ──(same)──> Palma

The Palma Marathon keeps its runners on hot, exposed seafront for most of the morning. The Coves del Drach, the Dragon Caves on the edge of Porto Cristo, are the opposite: cool, dim and underground, at a steady temperature whatever the weather is doing outside.

October in Porto Cristo is the last month of the long season. The caves run seven tours a day until 31 October, then switch to a shorter winter programme, and the small harbour in town is still warm enough for lunch outside in most years.

By car, the drive from Palma takes about 50 minutes on the Ma-15 through Manacor, and the caves have a car park. TIB buses run from the Estació Intermodal under Plaça d'Espanya to Manacor and Porto Cristo; journey times are longer than by car and the line and timetable should be checked at tib.org before setting out.

The caves

The Coves del Drach are a chain of four caves running about 1.2 km into the limestone. The visit is guided and takes about an hour, following a lit path past stalactites and still pools to Lake Martel, one of the largest underground lakes open to visitors in Europe. Visitors sit on tiered benches beside the water for a short classical concert played from boats, then can cross the lake by boat before walking out.

In October the tours start at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00. Tickets cost €18.50 online (about £16) or €19.50 at the office; book online, because tour groups take many of the morning slots. The path has steps and slopes throughout, damp in places, and there is no shortcut once inside. It is manageable on tired legs at the group's slow pace, but hold the handrails on the way down.

The harbour

Porto Cristo town is a short walk downhill from the caves. The harbour sits at the end of a narrow inlet, with a small sandy beach at its head and a flat promenade along the water. Fish restaurants face the boats; a plate of grilled fish or a rice dish at a harbour table is the natural end to the day.

The drive or bus back to Palma leaves time for an evening in the old town.