Pozalagua Cave, the eccentricity of the Karrantza Valley.

Discover the Pozalagua Cave, a cave full of surprises in the heart of the Armañon Natural Park.

The Pozalagua Cave is one of those places that you fall in love with at first sight. A small but authentic natural cave that was discovered by chance in 1957. Currently, the Pozalagua Cave has been adapted to accommodate tourist visits by means of walkways, spotlights and other elements that make it possible to visit it in total comfort. Its location, on one of the slopes of the incredible Karrantza Valley, next to an old quarry, makes the Pozalagua Cave a perfect complement to the many plans offered by the Encartaciones region. This geological formation has been catalogued by experts as the space with the highest concentration of eccentric stalactites in the world. And no, it is not a bilbainada, it is simply the reality. In addition to these special stalactites, in the Pozalagua Cave we also find the stalagmites, lava flows, columns and other speleothems to which we are so accustomed. In this case, the cave of Pozalagua does not contain cave paintings that tell the story of the people who inhabited it in prehistoric times, and, as mentioned above, this cave has been hermetically sealed by the mountains that protect it until an explosion exposed this impressive cavity. No living being has ever inhabited it. Although it is not rich in cave paintings, the Cueva de Pozalagua has gained worldwide fame due to its geological characteristics and its eccentric stalactites. A fact that, together with the rest of the elements found inside the cave, has contributed to the research of various fields of geology. We recommend that you take a good look at all these stalactites that branch out in different directions, intertwining and merging with each other, creating a universe of small formations that defy gravity. We are sure they will catch your attention. With a length of 125 meters, 4 chasms of 40 meters deep, a maximum height of 17 meters and a drop of 6 meters, this cave located 500 meters above sea level welcomes us within its walls with a nice tour in which we discover each and every one of its secrets.

Before going into the subject, we want to make special emphasis on all those words that are often used in visits to tourist caves, and that is that, although it may seem obvious, not everyone is familiar with these terms. In this aspect, we must highlight 2 formations, stalactites and stalagmites. Stalactites are those formations that grow downwards, from the ceiling of the cave down to the floor. Stalagmites grow in the opposite way, that is, from the floor to the ceiling, in an ascending way. Although these two types of formations are the most abundant and famous of our caves, we should not underestimate the lava flows and columns, two elements that make these spaces truly spectacular places. Although in Pozalagua Cave we find all these geological formations, its greatest attraction are the eccentric stalactites, those that grow capriciously without any order.

The cave of Pozalagua is one of the most important caves in terms of eccentric stalactites, a reference in the world. And is that under the rocks of Ranero, in the Natural Park of Armañon, we will find a unique place in its category. Pozalagua forms together with the Torca del Carlista one of the most striking geological sites in Bizkaia and Euskadi. As we have already mentioned above, the discovery of the cave was a chance, fortuitous event. And the fact is that the groove created by one of the blasting operations carried out on September 28, 1957 by the quarry workers is the same one through which we access the cave today. Curious, isn’t it?

Location: Pozalagua Cave is located in the heart of the Armañon Natural Park, the last Natural Park declared by the Basque Government (September 19, 2006). It is one of the great attractions of the Karrantza Valley. This area is located in the western part of the Biscayan region of Encartaciones, Enkarterri in Basque. The Karrantza Valley borders with Cantabria and Castillo y León, creating a multicultural environment in which nature plays an important role, a place that we recommend you to visit with your eyes closed. In addition to the different museums found throughout the valley, the surrounding mountains make it a perfect place for nature lovers. The Pozalagua Cave is located about 50 km from the capital of Bizkaia, Bilbao, a tourist attraction, which together with the Karpin and the Dolomites Museum attracts all those who want to know in depth the province of Bizkaia. Livestock and agricultural activity is still the backbone of the economy of Karrantza, a rural area, which helps us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. As an interesting and curious fact, we should mention that this is the largest municipality in all of Bizkaia (138 square kilometers), a municipality that, broken down into 49 neighborhoods, has its administrative center, its town hall, in the center of the valley, in La Concha. Without hardly moving from the Cave of Pozalagua we find the Torca del Carlista (access to its interior is limited to speleologists), the auditorium carved on the old quarry, the Interpretation Center of the Natural Park of Armañon and a viewpoint from which to contemplate the breathtaking views over the Valley of Karrantza. 4 magical places, of different profile, that will catch us with their charms. Undoubtedly one of the most amazing natural sites in Bizkaia.

Discovery of the Cave of Pozalagua: As mentioned above, the discovery of this geological cavity was fortuitous. After one of the many explosions that took place in the nearby quarry, a hole was opened to reveal the large subway cavity hidden inside the mountain. The aforementioned hole still serves today as the entrance to this subterranean world. This event took place on December 28, 1957, but the concession granted to the company Dolomitas del Norte S.A., the company in charge of exploiting the quarry, did not end until 1976. This fact had consequences in the interior of the cave, and although they changed the action front in order to minimize the impact, experts indicate that some of the formations found on the floor could have fallen because of the explosions. Thanks to the decision of the Karrantza town council to finalize the concession to safeguard the Pozalagua Cave, after a long process of conditioning, the cave was opened to the public in 1991.

Eccentric stalactites: We are sure that you have been to dozens of tourist caves in which you have had the chance to contemplate the stalagmites, stalactites, lava flows, columns and other typical elements of these spaces. But what you may have never seen in your life are the eccentric stalactites found in Pozalagua. Some of the most peculiar formations that go up and down drawing very curious shapes throughout the cave. According to experts, these formations are very difficult to find in other caves in our environment, even more so, the size of those found in Karrantza. It is curious to see how hundreds of stalactites, like roots or branches, defy gravity by extending throughout the cave. According to what we are told, this phenomenon can only be seen in Australia. Now, many people will wonder the nature of these formations, here is a brief summary.

Although the eccentric stalactites occupy a large part of the visit, do not think that this is the only thing that awaits you inside Karrantza, the visit hides many more secrets.

The cave of Pozalagua: This subway grotto shaped by nature is considered by experts as one of the most special at European level. A subway cavity of great natural value. Specialists in the geological and hydrological fields who have visited Pozalagua have highlighted its uniqueness, to such an extent that we can only find a cave like this at the other end of the globe, in Australia. Although the opening of this cave was made on dolomite, the rest of the elements are made of calcite and aragonite, and inside you can find all the known formations, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, lava flows, flags and of course, the eccentric stalactites. The fact that this cave has been closed to any species for centuries has caused all kinds of phenomena to occur inside. According to what we were told during our guided tour, Pozalagua Cave is inhabited by two species of just a few millimeters, an endemic isopod and an endemic springtail. Curious, isn’t it? In addition, in the vicinity, we find the Torca del Carlista, one of the largest rooms in Europe and the third largest in the world. A subway giant of more than 500 meters high, 230 meters wide and 125 meters deep.

Guided tour: The only way to visit the Cueva de Pozalagua is through its different guided tours. The Pozalagua Cave guides make the visit to the cave a pleasant and enjoyable visit for the whole family. All of this, making all visitors participate in the experience, asking them about their opinions and the different figures that are hidden behind the different formations of this beautiful cave. Access to this subterranean world was inaugurated in 1991, through the same building that houses the cave today. A small space that takes us directly to the opening that the explosion opened in its day, a place where the stairs and the elevator for people with reduced mobility help us to overcome the architectural barrier of 3 meters that we find before us. The rest of the tour is done by a walkway that, with two handrails located on both sides makes the visit as comfortable as possible for people of all ages. Although there are several stairs along the way, most of the walkway runs horizontally through the interior of the cave. Pozalagua is one of the caves with the highest concentration of eccentric dolomite stalactites in the world. Stalactites that, defying the laws of gravity, form curious shapes on its walls and ceilings. Formations that resemble the corals found in the seas of the Caribbean or the large roots found in the forests of Euskadi. As you can see, these stalactites are curious and 100% recommendable to admire. The center of the visit is occupied by the room known as the “Auditorium”, a large open space in which the floor, the organ and the different corners that we find scattered around it take center stage.

The cave is 125 meters long, 70 meters wide and about 17 meters high, and also shows us other formations such as common stalactites and stalagmites, lava flows, columns … Undoubtedly, the so-called Versailles Room is the most spectacular of the cave, as it houses most of the speleothems that can be seen in the cave and has areas where the concentration of eccentrics is such that it seems that there is no room for one more: A unique phenomenon of nature. Worthy of admiration.

Pozalagua Cave Schedule: The Pozalagua Cave offers a wide range of guided tours. For this purpose, a schedule has been set up that adapts to each season of the year. The cave of Pozalagua is open during practically all the seasons that represent the high tourist season. Here is a brief summary of the days on which you can visit this site and their schedules.

In any case, remember that if you want to visit the Cueva de Pozalagua in a group (more than 10 people), you can arrange a visit outside the established days and hours. This is usually ideal for schools, associations and other groups.

Prices: The rates of the Cueva de Pozalagua respond, as in most of the caves in our environment, to the different profiles of people who visit them. In this case, the generic entrance fee is 7€ while the reduced entrance fee is 3€. Here is the current table of rates that we find at the entrance of Pozalagua.

Reading history: Many people are unaware that the tourist caves they visit are not merely a tourist attraction. Thanks to the study of the situation of the geological formations found in these spaces, it is possible to establish the stability of the tectonic plates on which they are located or simply to know when and why some of the most important events in history took place. A very revealing and interesting aspect that brings to mind another of these spaces, the Geoparkea of the Basque coast, a stretch of the Basque coast that gives us a glimpse of the history of the world told by the rocks, the flysch phenomenon.

How to get there: The fact that it is located on the border between the provinces of Bizkaia and Santander, makes it possible to get from the capital of Bizkaia, Bilbao, to Karrantza in just over 1 hour. A route that can be done either by the coast or inland, you choose. Here are the pros and cons of these routes.

If your goal is to know this unknown area of Bizkaia, we recommend you to opt for the inland route, and, in addition to having the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful environment you will also have the option to make stops along the way to see some of the attractions of this land. Otherwise, if you want a straight road, without curves, and without any attraction, we recommend the first option.

Pozalagua Auditorium: This auditorium is located in what was once the quarry from which the mineral known as dolomite was extracted, an element that, composed of calcium carbonate and magnesium, is ideal for the manufacture of refractory materials. A very common element at the time when the blast furnaces of Euskadi smelted the mineral obtained from the surrounding mines. The bricks that often surrounded these furnaces came from this same place, Karrantza. Nowadays, in the same space where the old dolomite quarry was located, we find an auditorium carved on the same mountain. This is how the amphitheater, the grandstand, was built. Because of this, today we can perfectly appreciate the dolomite cuts.

Bar / restaurant Pozalagua: Very close to the entrance of the Cave of Pozalagua we find a small bar where we are offered the possibility of snacking or eating something. An establishment that, betting on the local product, invites us to taste a txakoli of Karrantza accompanied by a cheese of the same origin. In our case, in addition to enjoying the aforementioned products, we wanted to try the homemade croquettes, a dish that, originally presented, pleased us. In short, a suitable place to get our strength back during our stay in Carranza.

Accreditation: Pozalagua Cave has several accreditations that show the natural value it possesses. Among all of them, we highlight the Best Corner 2013 awarded by the Repsol Guide, a well-deserved award, which led it to be one of the most visited places in Karrantza during 2014. In our case, we wanted to contribute with our humble tourist accreditation “TurismoVasco Tiketa”. A sticker, through which we recommend places all over the Basque Country.

What to see in Karrantza: The Karrantza Valley is one of the wildest that we find in Euskadi. An environment full of surprises and tourist attractions that we recommend you to visit after your visit to the Pozalagua Cave. And in just 10 minutes by car we can find an endless number of charming places. Among them, Karpin Abentura, the Dolomite Museum, the Armañon Natural Park, the amphitheater or the guided tour to see the typical architecture of the houses of the Indianos in the Concha neighborhood.

Video: We wanted to record the beauty and interest of the Pozalagua Caves by means of a small video. One more tool, by means of which we try to show you what you will find in this small Basque space. An audiovisual with which we try to complement the words and photographs in this article. We recommend that you subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss our adventures in Euskal Herria, we are sure that more than one of them will catch your attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4q_C–54P0

As you have been able to appreciate the visit to the Cueva de Pozalagua is quite an adventure, especially when it is accessed with the family. A great geological treasure that together with the environment in which it is located gives us a great family plan to do in the middle of nature. We invite you to give your opinion about the Pozalagua Cave and the Karrantza Valley.