Drach Caves in Porto Cristo, Mallorca

The Drach Caves in Porto Cristo are one of those places in Mallorca we’d happily revisit with the children. The route winds between stalactites and stalagmites before reaching Lake Martel, where musicians give a live classical concert.

What to expect inside the Drach Caves

The visit lasts about an hour. Visitors enter in groups at set times, and there’s no guided tour. The route covers roughly 1,200 metres through several chambers. Look out for the bright white formation known as the Snowy Mountain and the Flag, which has bands of different colours.

Stalactites and columns inside the Drach Caves

At the lakeside amphitheatre, musicians play from a lit boat. The concert lasts around ten minutes, followed by a lighting effect called Sunrise on the Lake. Afterwards you can take a boat across part of the lake or walk over the bridge. Both options are included in the ticket. We’d take the boat if you can: the formations look different from the water.

Many of us remember coming here as children and then putting off a return visit because it seemed like something only tourists did. When we came back with our own children, we remembered the first time we went down into the caves as we watched them discover the lake.

Lake Martel on film

Spanish director Luis García Berlanga filmed a scene from The Executioner (El verdugo, 1963) in the caves. Decades later, Mallorcan director Toni Bestard made El anónimo Caronte, a short documentary about Joan Ferrer, who took part in the filming.

Visiting the Drach Caves with children

There are steps and damp patches, so shoes with good grip are handy and pushchairs need to stay outside. It’s around 17–21°C inside. A light layer can be useful even in summer. If it’s your children’s first concert like this, it may help to tell them the lights go down and everyone stays quiet while the musicians play.

Tickets, opening times and how to get there

Location	Carretera de les Coves, Porto Cristo, Manacor.
Opening times and tickets	Tickets are for a specific date and time. Check the official times and prices. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Children	Under-threes go free and don’t need a ticket. Child tickets are available for ages 3 to 12.
Duration	About an hour, including the concert.
Parking	Free parking by the entrance complex.
Accessibility	There are steps on the underground route. Check the official visitor information.
Facilities	Café, toilets, shop and picnic area.

What to do afterwards in Porto Cristo

To round off the day, walk down from the caves towards Porto Cristo beach and the harbour. Allow about 15 minutes, depending on where you stop. In summer you can go for a swim, and the waterfront is worth a stroll the rest of the year. There are bars and restaurants for different budgets.

From the beach, follow Passeig de la Sirena to the Coves Blanques, a group of caves at sea level that were still inhabited in the mid-19th century.

If you’d rather take in the view, the Torre dels Falcons is on the same side of the harbour as the Drach Caves. From the area around this old watchtower you can look out across the mouth of the bay. It’s a good stop before heading down to the waterfront.

More caves to visit in Mallorca

Try the Caves of Artà above Canyamel Bay or the Campanet Caves at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana. The Hams Caves, also near Porto Cristo, have fishhook-shaped formations and a projection beside an underground lake.