Valporquero Cave in Vegacervera, discover its curious formations
The Valporquero Cave is an underground spectacle of karst formations: stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and mineral curtains shaped over more than a million years. Perched at 1 309 m in Valporquero de Torío (León), it’s a must-see for caving enthusiasts and nature tourists.
Geological Formation and Origin
Over a million years ago, the Valporquero stream dissolved the limestone massif, carving galleries, shafts, and caverns. Calcium-rich water deposited successive layers that today appear as draperies, clusters, and mineralized “bog-wood.”
Structure and Levels
- Upper Level (1 300 m; 1.3 km visitable): equipped walkways and lighting across the first seven halls
- Lower Level (1 290 m; 3.15 km total): unmarked sections with a crystal-clear underground river—ideal for adventure tourism (canyoning, rappelling)
Notable Halls
- Great Rotunda: vast vault with a 10 m-long “calcite curtain”
- Small Wonders: hanging stalactites and sculpted stalagmites
- Fairies’ Hall: slender columns resembling ethereal figures
- Stalactite Cemetery: petrified pillars reminiscent of gravestones
- Main Avenue: central corridor with multiple side galleries
- Solitary Column: an 8 m-high, free-standing stalagmite
- Wonders: final hall with vivid mineral hues and “cave pearls”
Tours and Routes
- Short Route: 1.6 km, 1 h—up to Great Avenue entrance
- Long Route: 2.5 km, 1 h 30 min—including Solitary Column and Wonders
- Adventure tours: guided lower-level descents with specialist operators
Practical Info
- Hours: Apr–Oct 10:00–18:00; Nov–Mar 10:00–17:00
- Fees: €8 adult; €5 child (6–12); free <6; group/fed. discounts
- Access: LE-333 from León (45 km); free parking at cave entrance
- Tips: non-slip shoes, jacket or fleece (constant 7 °C), headlamp
Surface Flora and Surroundings
Above ground grow oaks, hollies, and junipers; nearby you may spot roe deer and raptors soaring above the Torío cliffs.
Be amazed by the subterranean landscape of the Valporquero Cave: a journey into the prehistory of water and stone in the heart of León.
How to get there
La Cueva de Valporquero se encuentra en la pedanía de Valporquero de Torío, que le da nombre, perteneciente al municipio de Vegacervera, situada en la vertiente sur de la Cordillera Cantábrica al norte de la Provincia de León, a 1.386 metros de altura. Está a unos 44 km de León.
Decimal: 42.906111°, -5.558611°
DMS: 42°54'22" N, 5°33'31" O
