Heading twenty-five metres underground holding your child’s hand, walking between lit-up stalactites and suddenly hearing classical music fill the darkness above an underground lake. That’s the scene most families take home after visiting the Cuevas dels Hams, in Porto Cristo. You don’t need to be a geology expert to enjoy it: all it takes is curiosity and the urge to discover a world completely different from the beach.
Before going with kids, the same questions always come up. What age is it worth it from? Can I bring the pushchair? How long does it last, and will they make it round? In this guide we walk you through everything, step by step, so you can plan the visit calmly and get the most out of it.
A world underground that hooks the little ones
The story of the Cuevas dels Hams begins by chance. In 1905, Pedro Caldentey Santandreu was looking for onyx in the area when he stumbled upon this maze of galleries hidden underground. More than a hundred years later, it’s still one of the best-loved visits in eastern Mallorca. Kids get a kick out of the name itself: «hams» means «hooks» in Mallorcan, and it comes from the hook-shaped formations hanging from the ceiling that are so typical of these caves.
The route runs through three linked caves: first the Cueva Redonda, then the Cueva Azul, with its projections onto the rock itself, and finally the Cueva Clásica, the most spectacular one, with twelve galleries and the famous Mar de Venecia lake. For a child it’s like walking through three different stages within the same adventure.
The best age to enjoy the visit
There’s no official minimum age to go in, so the visit is open to the whole family, babies included. That said, it helps to know what the route is like before deciding. You cover about 1,200 metres along walkways and stairs, with around 250 steps and sections that drop 25 metres deep. There are handrails along almost the entire path, though the way has its ups and downs.
From the experience of many families, kids from four or five years old, who already walk well and go up and down steps without trouble, are the ones who enjoy it most and tire least. With babies and very young children the visit is also possible, but you’ll need to carry them in your arms or in a baby carrier throughout the route.
Going with babies: pushchairs and accessibility
It’s the question parents ask most, and the answer is clear: you can’t go in with a pushchair. The cave’s layout, with stairs and narrow passages, doesn’t allow it, and for safety reasons prams have to stay in the ticket area before you start. For the same reason, the caves aren’t wheelchair accessible, although the bar, the shop and the rest of the outdoor facilities are.
If you’re travelling with a baby, the solution is simple: bring a baby carrier or a sling. That way you’ll have your hands free to hold on to the older ones on the stairs and enjoy the route without carrying awkwardly.
At the Mar de Venecia lake there’s an audiovisual show with classical music that fills the room with sound in near-darkness. It’s one of the most beautiful spots on the route.
How long the visit takes and what the route is like
The full visit lasts about an hour, though there’s one thing worth clarifying: you’re not walking non-stop. The route includes several stops, especially to watch the projections in the Cueva Azul and at the Mar de Venecia, where you can pause and rest. That relaxed pace is exactly what makes it easy for kids, because what they’re looking at changes every few minutes.
The LED lighting picks out the formations along the way and guides your eye from one chamber to the next. There are moments to walk and moments to look calmly, and that back-and-forth is what keeps the little ones’ attention.
What they’ll love most
The adventure starts outdoors, crossing the botanical garden with native birds at the entrance, before heading down into the caves. Once inside, one of the moments that hooks kids most comes in the Cueva Azul. Two videos are projected there onto the rock itself. The first tells the story of Mallorca, its first inhabitants and how these caves formed, with facts that help make sense of what you’re seeing. The second, GÉNESIS, takes a huge leap in time and traces the origin of the universe, with images projected straight onto the cave’s ancient walls. Seeing the cosmos drawn over a rock millions of years old leaves more than one visitor open-mouthed.
The route reaches its most beautiful point in the Cueva Clásica, beside the Mar de Venecia lake, where the audiovisual with classical music wraps around the whole room.
Looking after the cave together
Stalactites and stalagmites take thousands of years to form and are very fragile: just touching them with your hands leaves grease that slows their growth. That’s why we ask that, please, no one touches the formations during the visit. It’s a good moment to explain to kids that they’re in a living place that needs care, and that looking with your eyes is also part of the adventure.
What to pack
Inside the caves the temperature stays constant between 18 and 20 degrees all year round, so it’s worth bringing something warm even if it’s hot outside. With this short list you’ll be well set:
- Closed shoes with a non-slip sole: there are damp areas and the odd slippery step.
- A light jacket or hoodie for the kids, because of the temperature change.
- A baby carrier if you’re travelling with a baby (remember: the pushchair stays at the ticket desk).
- Water and a snack for after the visit.
- A camera or phone for photos, without flash to help preserve the cave.
Tips for a stress-free visit
A few small adjustments make the difference between a relaxed visit and a race with tired kids:
- Buy your tickets online before you go and check dates and times on the official website; you’ll skip the queues and secure your spot.
- Have everyone use the toilet before going in, since the visit lasts about an hour.
- Tell them beforehand what they’ll see: the Mar de Venecia, the videos, the music and the stone hooks. The anticipation is part of the fun.
- Remind them not to touch the formations and to speak quietly so they can enjoy the projections better.
Getting there and planning your day in Porto Cristo
The Cuevas dels Hams are on the Ma-4020 road from Manacor to Porto Cristo, at kilometre 11, a little under an hour by car from Palma. The site has free parking, so coming by car is the most convenient option for families.
Since the visit lasts about an hour, it’s easy to combine with other plans. The Dinos & Caves experience is on the same site: you can round off the day at Dinosaurland, the dinosaur park designed for younger kids, and eat at the Dinoburger, its themed restaurant that children love. Nearby you’ll also find the beaches and coves of Mallorca for the afternoon, and more ideas in our guide on what to see in Mallorca. You can find more tourist information about the area on the official Illes Balears portal.
Frequently asked questions about visiting the Cuevas dels Hams with kids
From what age is visiting the Cuevas dels Hams with kids recommended?
There’s no minimum age; babies can go in. Even so, kids from 4 or 5 years old, who walk and climb stairs comfortably, are the ones who enjoy the 1,200-metre route with around 250 steps the most. With babies the visit is possible by carrying them in a baby carrier.
Can you go in with a pushchair at the Cuevas dels Hams?
No, pushchairs aren’t allowed because of the stairs and narrow passages in the cave. Prams are left in the ticket area, and the recommendation is to carry the baby in a baby carrier or sling. It isn’t wheelchair accessible either, although the bar and the shop are.
How long does a visit to the Cuevas dels Hams take?
The visit lasts about an hour and includes the route through the three caves, the videos in the Cueva Azul and the classical-music show at the Mar de Venecia. With several stops along the way, it’s a comfortable pace for kids.
What’s the temperature inside and what should you wear?
Inside the Cuevas dels Hams the temperature stays between 18 and 20 degrees all year. Even if it’s hot outside, it’s worth bringing a light jacket or hoodie for the kids and closed shoes with a non-slip sole, since there are damp areas.
Visiting the Cuevas dels Hams with kids means giving them one of those memories they’ll talk about at school afterwards: the day they went twenty-five metres underground, saw the universe projected onto the rock and discovered a lake with music hidden under the mountain. With your tickets booked, your bag ready and time to spare, all that’s left is to enjoy the family trip.
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