Cuevas de Sorbas

About Cuevas de Sorbas

The Karst en Yesos de Sorbas, a Paraje Natural since 1989, lies about 2 km from Sorbas. The Río Aguas and its tributaries have dissolved a bed of gypsum laid down about 6 million years ago, during the Messinian salinity crisis, creating more than 1,000 cavities with kilometres of galleries, stalactites and stalagmites.

Natur Sport Sorbas holds the permit to guide in the protected area. The Ruta Básica covers about 800 m of the Cueva del Yeso, mostly level with some scrambling and crawling; the Combinada and Técnica routes add rope descents and tighter passages. Gypsum crystals glint in the helmet lamps.

The base, some 200 m from the main cave, has a car park, changing rooms, toilets, a restaurant and a shop. Gear is included; wear trainers, or hire overalls and boots. The basic route suits children from about 3 who walk unaided and agile older people, but not anyone with claustrophobia, heart or breathing problems, or pregnant women. The technical route is adults only.

The caves stay mild all year, a good escape from summer heat on the coast. High season is Easter and 1 July to 10 September, so book ahead. English tours of the basic route start at 11:00 and 13:00, and photography is not allowed inside.

Cuevas de Sorbas in pictures

What you’ll find

• Adventure cavingCaving with a guide (€15–€70, 10:00–20:00)Book
• Café or kioskFood and drinkBuy
• Car parkParkingFree

Nearby places to visit

The Cabo de Gata-Níjar coast is the nearest stretch of sea: in Níjar, the Memory of Water Museum (17 km) is the closest Place, while Playa El Corral (23 km) and Playa de las Salinicas (24 km) lie at Carboneras. Further east are Mojácar's Playa de la Mena (23 km) and, for golfers, Valle del Este Golf (23 km) at Vera. Inland, the Tabernas Desert (30 km) has walking routes through film-set badlands. In Sorbas, the pottery workshops and the Los Molinos del Río Aguas trail are worth a look.