BENIFALLET' CAVES
Where water makes magic with the earth
Tickets
Plan your visit and make sure entrance to the caves by making a reservation in advance of your visit.
History
Discover the history, the geological features and the activities available in the Benifallet Caves.
How to get there
Consult the detailed instructions to get to the Benifallet Caves by car.
Why you cannot miss them?
→ Unique Formations: Admire the stalactites, stalagmites and other incredible natural formations that have been shaped over thousands of years.
→ History and Culture: Immerse yourself in local history with expert guides who will reveal the secrets of these ancient caves.
→ Educational Activities: Perfect for schools and groups, we offer educational activities that combine fun and learning.
→ Safe Adventure: Enjoy a safe visit with modernized facilities and accessible routes for everyone.
HISTORY
The Cave Research Group of the Excursionist Center of Gràcia (GIE-GEC), in a campaign they carried out in the Serra de Cardó, discovered, in the spring of 1967 and 1968, a series of cavities while studying and investigating the caves that have been known in Benifallet since ancient times as Coves de l’Aumidiella.
That March 19, 56 years ago, few thought that the town of Benifallet was receiving the greatest gift that such a small town can receive from the hands of nature, but also from a group of men ready to overcome any fear in order to discover what was behind that little cave.
Behind the speleologists who made the discovery was a group of Benifallet residents who did not want to miss the opportunity to fulfill a dream: to see what was inside the mountain.
On November 1, 1993, a section of the Cova Meravelles suitable for public visits was opened, properly lit and signposted, with guided tours. Since that day, the Benifallet Caves have managed to become one of the essential tourist destinations of the Terres de l’Ebre. Today there are two caves open to the public, Cova Meravelles and Cova del Dos, on guided tours of 45 minutes.
An Unforgettable Underground Adventure
In recent years, the Benifallet Caves have experienced a constant increase in the number of visitors. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour to explore the galleries and admire the great diversity of geological formations found there. Management has implemented measures to preserve the fragility of the caves and ensure a safe and sustainable experience for tourists. With its natural beauty and growing demand, the Benifallet Caves continue to be a fascinating place for all who visit them.
COVA MERAVELLES
It has a total length of 510 meters, with a gradient of about 9.82 meters. It stands out for the large volume of formations it has, especially the eccentric ones. The slow trickle of the infiltration waters, loaded with dissolved carbonates, gives rise to fascinating formations, to strange vaults, where the visitor’s imagination discovers fantastic beings. The Cave of Wonders was discovered in 1968; 200 meters can be visited for tourism purposes, the tourist part of this cave consists of no rooms:
- In the Pencil Room you can see a large number of fine stalactites on the ceiling and on the floor it has a curtain of stalagmites that surround a completely cylindrical stalagmite in the shape of a candle or pencil.
- The room of the amphitheater, inside the room we find the gours or lakes that, thanks to the water and the mineral they carry, make circular shapes that look like the stands of an amphitheater. Another formation we find is the broccoli, which is due to splashes of water and the crystallization of the mineral, or the fistulose, commonly called macaroni, due to the fact that it is empty inside. Inside the room we also find one of the strangest formations inside a cave, a formation that seems to defy the law of gravity. This formation is called eccentric. The flags, on the other hand, are formations hanging from the ceiling, just like the stalactites, but instead of being round, they are flat, since the drops of water are leaving the mineral on the slope of the mountain, and the future column, which needs about five centimeters to join.
- The music room is the smallest room, but it is the only one where we find a summary of all the formations that are found throughout the route: stalactites, stalagmites, anemolite, columns, flags, macaroons and eccentrics. This room is called this way because there are some stalactites that look like the pipes of an organ and, when touched with the tips of the fingers, emit different sounds. This is because behind it there is a wall that helps to act as a sounding board and that the noise goes out. The different sounds are the result of different lengths and different thicknesses.
COVA DEL DOS
This cavity is 235m long, of which 25m can be visited, with a 12m drop. It gets this name because it has two entrances.
It is very important at a historical level because there has been a human presence since the Neolithic. In the Cave we can see the reproduction of a bell-shaped vessel and an amphora that make up, together with different spear points and flint and three burials, the Neolithic archaeological remains found in the Benifallet Caves that can be visited in the museum archaeological site of Barcelona and the Museum of the Terres de l’Ebre.
In fact, three of the Benifallet cavities have had prehistoric occupations documented with archaeological remains dating back to the period c. 2800-1500 BC: Late Neolithic (Cova Castellà), Chalcolithic (Cova del Dos) and Early-Middle Bronze (Cova Castellà, Cova del Dos and Cova Xafarroques). Since 2021, the Benifallet Caves have been declared a Cultural Property of Local Interest by the Baix Ebre County Council.
According to oral history, it is known that during the Civil War of the s. XX some people took refuge there to save their lives.
The Jury of the III Prize for Excellence in Spanish Tourist Caves and Mines decided in 2022, by an absolute majority, to award this edition’s award, ex aequo, to the Coves Meravelles, managed by the City Council of Benifallet in Tarragona. This recognition highlights the extraordinary effort made by this municipality to highlight and value its historical, cultural and natural resources. In particular, the connection established between the Coves Meravelles and the Ebro River has been valued, which has made it possible to complement its tourist offer, generate new products and boost the socio-economic development of the Terres de l’Ebre region.
In 2021, the Coves Meravelles de Benifallet were included in the Census of responsible cultural spaces of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, a recognition that highlights the commitment of this space to sustainable cultural management and heritage protection natural and historical.
This inclusion is a great success for the municipality of Benifallet and for the management of the Coves Meravelles, as it certifies its dedication to the conservation of the environment and the promotion of an accessible culture that respects environmental values. The Coves Meravelles are not only a geological treasure, but also an example of how tourism can be combined with social and environmental responsibility.
This recognition reinforces the role of the Coves Meravelles as a reference cultural space in the Terres de l’Ebre, and confirms the constant effort of the municipality of Benifallet to offer a tourist experience that respects and enhances its rich natural and cultural heritage.
Clients opinion
Very nice caves to visit...accessible to everyone and very pleasant treatment...beautiful landscapes...to enjoy for a few hours!
"The Benifallet Caves are a true natural wonder. I was very surprised by their beauty and the history they hide. The visit was very well organized and the guide did an excellent job explaining all the details. In addition, the COVID-19 safety measures were very well implemented which made us feel safe throughout the visit. Definitely a place to visit more than once."
"I visited the Benifallet Caves with some friends and we had a great time. The route is fascinating, with stone formations that seem to be taken from a fairy tale. The guide was very enthusiastic and told us very interesting curiosities about the formation of the caves. It was a unique experience that I would recommend to everyone. It is a perfect place to connect with nature and disconnect from the daily routine."
"The Benifallet Caves are a must for any geology and nature lover. I loved the variety of formations and the history of how the caves were discovered. Our guide was very professional and explained everything with a lot of passion and detail. Also, the tour is not too long, which makes it perfect for a half-day trip. I will definitely return with the family next time."
Benifallet Tourism Office
Av. Lluís Companys, 6 – Benifallet
SCHEDULE
- LOW SEASON | From Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm.
- MIDDLE SEASON (Easter until Saint John) | From Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm. and weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- HIGH SEASON (June – September) | From Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.