We will be stopping in Palma De Mallorca for a day while on a cruise. I have read about the Drach Caves there. Would this be a good way to spend our afternoon? I am travelling with my husband and 3 kids, ages 6-9. Any other suggestions are appreciated as well.
Drach Caves in Palma De Mallorca
Recent Activity
View all Cruises activity »
- 1 first time cruise (Carribean): what money do we take?
- 2 (Almost) Day and a half in Rome
- 3 A few questions about RCI Majesty of the Seas
- 4
Boston to Bermuda on NCL's Dawn
- 5 What to pack for an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise in mid-June
- 6 Boston: Black Falcon Terminal to Hilton at Logan by taxi or ship transfer?
- 7 quick lunch in Paris
- 8 Rhine River Cruise - Amsterdam to Zurick
- 9 Alaska-Oceania vs Regent
- 10
Travel Report for Azamara Journey - Asia Cruise
- 11 Venice Port and Hotel help
- 12 Regent vs Oceania Australia/New Zealand 2014
- 13 Cayos Cochinos
- 14 California Coastal Cruise
- 15 Shared excursions on Norwegian Spirit June 16, 2013 sailing
- 16 Royal Caribbean drink prices and the new alcohol policy 2013
- 17 Going on a Cruise? Do you still want to after you read this?
- 18 Grand Turk
- 19 Transportation from Rome airport to Port
- 20 cruise ship illness outbreaks (the Norovirus reports for 2012&2013)
- 21 Shore excursions on Paul Gaugin ship in Tahiti?
- 22 6 solid days at sea w/transatlantic trip
- 23 Carnival Triumph to be Fun Ship 2.0 refurbished
- 24 Which River Cruise company?? Amsterdam to Vienna 2014
- 25 Best River cruise company for Europe?
The Caves of Drach are out on the East coast of Mallorca and take about an hour to get to. If you're on an excursion from the ship, you'll probably stop at Manacor where the pretend pearls of Mallorca are made and sold at highish prices.
It's a bit strange, this Drach place. Every other cave we've been to, has a bit of a guided tour thrown in, with explanations about the various formations, when it was discovered and so on. In Drach, they shepherd you through the cave system at quite a pace, so no real chance to wander and view the formations. You then arrive at a vast underground auditoreum with a lake. The seatng rises up and everyone is seated facing the lake.
Then a boat with three people in it rows round a bend and into view, with a couple of the occupants playing classical music. They row up, then back again and out of sight. You then exit.
If this floats your boat, then go. If not, then do something else!
We took an English friend on our second visit there, just to see their reaction. She said:
"What the hell was that?"
Just turned on TV last week & saw Samantha Brown rowing around in a cave. Beautiful. She said you can get to caves on Palma bus. Its on my must do list.Cannot find any info yet. Post if you do, inc. pricing.
The caves have their own website if you're interested:
http://www.cuevasdeldrach.com/main_eng.html
I learned more looking at this than I ever did going there! However, if you've not been before, you may be entranced or not when you go.
http://www.caib.es/sacmicrofront/contenido.do?idsite=330&cont=8801
That's the website for the bus service that goes from Palma to the Caves. Bus L412 or L414. It's all in spanish/catalan, but it says palma-manacor-"coves" and portocristo.
The website is awful, be forewarned. But it'll give you PDF schedules that are easy to read even if you don't understand all the language. Looks like a bus schedule in every language.
I can't find anything about the bus fare, but it's a standard bus so I wouldn't expect more than a couple Euros.
Comments have been removed by Fodor's moderators
If you have never been to Palma spend the day exploring the city, either on your own or with a tour. It's truly a beautiful place and I wouldn't want to spend the day in a dark cave, particularly if it's a beautiful sunny day. The caves are a good choice for those that have already been to Palma and are looking for something to do on the outskirts.
Comments have been removed by Fodor's moderators
Agree with Frank there. It's cool and beautiful but if the sun is out then you may as well do something outside. The caves are somewhere you go when the weather is rubbish. Palma itself has history,a castle, shopping, good food and maybe a 2 Euro, 15 minute bus ride away from many great beaches.
For an easy afternoon away from the city maybe catch the scenic wooden railway train that goes through the mountains and ends at Soller. From there you get a little tram to the seafront. With the kids I am thinking the beach though? But with this you do a scenic journey, a nic elunch in the village of Soller and then tram it to the beach for relaxation and swimming and stuff: Something for everyone.
Maybe even look up in advance and head to a Waterpark. The closest may be in Arenal?