The natural caves of Asturias: an unforgettable experience

In the heart of the Picos de Europa, at the entrance to the village of Avín in Benia (Onís), we find the Cuevona de Avín, dedicated to the dissemination of life in the glacial period, some 40,000 years ago.

To visit the cave, you must go to the Glacial Fauna Interpretation Centre. There you will find a 500-metre route through this large cave where, as well as being a natural attraction, you will find life-size reproductions of the now extinct megafauna that inhabited the area during the Pleistocene, such as mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses and megaloceroses, a species of giant deer.

In the nearby cave of La Peruyal you can visit the complete fossil skeleton of a prairie rhinoceros calf, which is of great interest as it is perfectly preserved.

The cave of Avín is a large cave with high ceilings through which a river flows. The visit takes place on raised wooden platforms, making it wheelchair accessible.

Visiting the Cave of Avín

Deboyu Cave is a Natural Monument of the Principality of Asturias. It is a cave of karstic origin through which the river Nalón flows. The river literally disappears under the mountain, near Les Llanes, and reappears some 200 metres further down. In reality, this is a rare phenomenon.

It is even more interesting because it is where most of the bats in the Redes Natural Park live, such as the Mediterranean horseshoe bat, the river bank bat and, to a lesser extent, the big horseshoe bat, the dwarf bat and the cave bat.

Don't try to get in: it's rather dangerous. But the gentle and serene flow of the river here is very soothing, which makes Deboyu Cave a place of particular charm.

Getting there is easy: When you go up the AS-117 from just before reaching El Campu you have to go through two tunnels, because just before the second tunnel there is a turn-off to the right. This is the one signposted "Cueva Devoyu". There is a recreational area with tables, ideal for a family outing.

Visit Deboyu Cave

In the Estrechura Gorge, just a few kilometres from the Teverga Prehistoric Park, is the Huerta Cave. Declared a Natural Monument in 2002, this impressive cave is one of the largest in Asturias, with a length of 14.5 kilometres. Its remarkable geomorphological, speleological and natural value makes it a place of great interest for scientists and caving enthusiasts.

Cueva Huerta is home to colonies of bats of the species Miniopterus schreibersii, which are in danger of extinction. This species uses the cave as a shelter during the winter, so its conservation is crucial for its survival.

The cave is divided into 3 levels: the lower level is flooded, the intermediate level has water flow at certain times of the year and it is on the upper level where most of the activity in the cave and the area that can be visited takes place.

In the village of Andía, belonging to the council of El Franco, in western Asturias, are the Andina Caves, declared a Natural Monument in 2002.

The Andina Caves are located in a semi-enclosed valley of limestone rock and are of great archaeological importance, a key to understanding the morphology of the area. A large part of the site is the result of mining activities carried out by the Romans to extract gold. Over time, the rocky outcrops have been covered with abundant vegetation and woodland, so that the cave is practically unnoticed from the outside.

The cave is crossed by a stream that flows into the river Mazo and is a site of geological interest that is of great natural beauty, combining whimsical rock formations with the exuberant and colonising greenery of Asturian nature.

Visit the Andina Caves

In the Ardines massif in Ribadesella-Ribeseya is the Ardines Cave, which is part of the Tito Bustillo cave system and is located in the vicinity of the Cave Art Centre.

The Ardines cave was the first cave discovered in the area and a landslide separated it from Tito Bustillo thousands of years ago.

Access to the Ardines Cave is preceded by 300 steps that lead to the enormous and spectacular dome of the main room, whose ceiling reaches 40 metres in height and filters daylight through a natural opening. It is an idyllic place among stalactites and stalagmites that is used for certain shows, such as chamber music concerts.
Ardines preserves graphic manifestations, although they are not open to the public, so the visit to the Cuevona is of eminently geological and natural interest.

Visiting the Cave of Ardines

The Cuevona de Cueves is the most different from the rest of this list in that it is the only entrance to the village of Cueves. It is perfectly lit and can be crossed by car or on foot.

It is 300 metres long and contains extravagant limestone formations, such as stalagmites, lava flows, columns and stalactites that attract the attention of everyone who passes by. The Cuevas stream and the erosion it has caused over thousands of years is one of the main culprits in the formation of the cave. Mosses, lichens, fungi, ferns and algae are scattered throughout the cave, the anteroom to the beautiful and hidden village of Cueves.

Visit the Cuevona de Cueves Cave