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The Dragon Caves (Drac or Cuevas del Drach) are among the top ten most visited places in Mallorca, along with the cape Formentor и Cathedral Palms.
What does a dragon have to do with it?
The Dragon Caves are located on the east coast of the island of Mallorca and are the most visited in Europe. They receive about 4,000 visitors in a day. The remarkable thing is that they are privately owned and do not belong to the state.
Their name was derived from medieval myths about a dragon with the body of a serpent and wings like a flying snake. At that time, stories about dragons that supposedly guarded treasures and drove away intruders with their fierce appearance were very popular. Now no one believes in dragons, but the name has taken root and has not changed, and the memory of dragons has been preserved.
History of the Dragon Caves
The Dragon Caves in Mallorca have been known since antiquity. This is evidenced by megalithic remains from the Bronze Age. According to these facts, we can say that this cave was inhabited about 3000 years ago. Remains of Roman, Arabic and modern pottery have also been found in it, which shows that the place was actively visited. Pirates and fishermen also descended into the cave in search of fresh water. The blackening in the Dragon Cave was caused by the use of torches and oil lamps and can still be seen today.
Written references to the Dragon Caves can be found in the 1632 History of the Kingdom of Majorca. There they are recorded as the “Drach” (dragon) caves. Their first map appeared much later – in 1880. It was compiled by speleologist and cartographer M.F. Will.
The Archduke Luis Salvador, famous in Mallorca, played a huge role in the popularity and widespread recognition of the Dragon Caves. In 1896 the caves were explored on his behalf by the speleologist Martel. That’s when Lake Martel, named in honor of its discoverer, was discovered.
Visiting the Dragon Caves
The Dragon Caves stand out for their size. They are 2400 meters long. In some places their depth reaches 25 meters. The tour itself lasts about 70 minutes with a route length of 1200 meters. The path passes through various halls with bizarre forms of stalagmites and stalactites and underground lakes. The average annual temperature inside the Dragon Caves is 20 degrees Celsius.
Here you can let your imagination run wild. Depending on the light and your location, you can see completely different shapes and creatures.
Underground Lake Martel
The end point of the Dragon Caves tour is Lake Martel. This is what makes them so special and different from other caves in Mallorca. The level of this lake is constantly changing, rising and falling. This lake is considered one of the largest underground lakes in the world. Its length reaches 117 meters, width – 30 meters, and water temperature – 17 degrees Celsius.
Lake Martel is located at a depth of about 27 meters (at sea level), the water in it is partly salty, because it comes from the sea into the lake (salinity is about 10.6 grams of salt per liter).
You can tell the depth by the color:
- The white color of the water indicates a depth of up to 1 meter.
- The green color is about a depth of 3 meters or more.
- The blue color of the water in the lake indicates a depth of over 8 meters.
At the end of the tour you will reach the amphitheater by Lake Martel. Classical music concerts take place here every day. An orchestra on gondolas sails quietly to the shore, performing works by Chopin, Offenbach and Caballero accompanied by a light show.
After the concert, visitors can also swim to the exit on the gondolas for free. We recommend sitting to the left during the performance to be first in line for the boat. You can also walk over the bridge to the exit and take a couple or three more photos with a view of the lake and the bizarre figures hanging from the ceiling.
There are 121 steps leading to the exit. By the way, the exit goes to the oldest known part of the cave. This was the original entrance to the Dragon Caves. From there you can see the Black Grotto, the rest of the cave, which is not included in the visit.
How to get to the Dragon Caves
- On your own if you have rented a car. Choose the route towards Porto Cristo.
- Book a transfer from anywhere on the island and get there quickly and comfortably, looking at everything around you.
- A visit to the Dragon Caves is included in the an excursion to San Salvador or to to the sanctuary of Kura. It is possible to combine visits to several places at once.
- By bus 412 from the Estacion Intermodal stop from Palma (ride about an hour and a half) or from Cala Mijor. The bus schedule is very limited. So it’s not the most convenient option.
In any case, a visit to the Dragon Caves in Mallorca is considered a must and is on the list of the best places on the island.
