The location of the Coves dels Hams
The Coves dels Hams are located near the village of Porto Cristo on the east coast of Mallorca. The exact address is: Ctra. Ma-4020 Manacor-Porto Cristo, Km. 11 (Google Maps). You can't miss the advertising signs everywhere and the parking lot is really huge. This already indicates that there is a lot going on here.
Is a visit to the Coves dels Hams stalactite cave worthwhile? We tell you
The history of the Coves dels Hams
The caves were discovered by Pedro Caldentey in 1905 and have been open to visitors since 1910. According to the cave operator, the Coves dels Hams were the first cave in Spain to be opened to the public. One thing right away: there is nothing left of the originality advertised on the posters.
The first steps in the Coves dels Hams
Behind the ticket office - at 21 euros (as of October 2017), the ticket is unfortunately outrageously expensive - you descend a few steps to the so-called Round Cave (the first of three caves). Garish advertising boards put the focus on the food in the restaurant and on the film screenings. At the entrance, a photo is taken of every visitor on a rock wall - whether you like it or not. The Round Cave is not a cave, however, more like an alcove. If you look around, you will see some beautiful rock walls. The botanical garden with native species is also advertised in a big way. These are the plants planted next to the stairs and next to them signs describing native birds. But you'll certainly never see a bird here with all the crowds.
In the round cave, you now wait for the tour to begin. Depending on how busy it is, this can take a while. To pass the time, you can buy cool drinks at a kiosk. Then the tour finally starts. The tour starts with a film screening - a documentary about the discovery of Mallorca. This film may be exciting for children, but less so for everyone else. Afterwards, the guide leads us further through the so-called Blue Cave. The name comes from the blue lighting. Another film is shown on a large rock wall - Genesis, the story of life. A time-lapse from the Big Bang to the present day. But if you don't see the two films, you haven't missed anything.
The guided tour of the Coves dels Hams
After the films, the tour returns to the open air in the round cave. From here we continue into the main cave, which is usually quite narrow. The welcome and information during the tour are given in several languages. However, there is no guide who leads you through the cave and explains everything. Instead, a tape is played continuously in several languages, providing further information about the cave. The stalactites in the cave are lit up in every colour imaginable - it's pure kitsch.
What you can see in the Coves dels Hams
The formations of the stalactites are fascinating. They grow stubbornly downwards and then upwards again in arch-shaped formations. A natural phenomenon that has not yet been explained. You can't see this in such a pronounced way in any other cave on Mallorca. These anomalies are the highlight of the Coves dels Hams.
What else you need to know about the stalactite cave
The Coves dels Hams have a small underground lake. A lone rower sails across the lake in an illuminated boat to different pieces of music. Here, film sequences are again projected onto the walls, including excerpts from the opera Papageno. Finally, Greek music is played and the Greek flag is displayed. Really? We just don't understand why. We thought the show was pretty bad and were glad to be back in daylight. On the way to the car park you have to be really strong again: You walk past large posters advertising the cave's restaurant. Nature experience? Completely missing.
Where to stay
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Impressions from the Coves dels Hams
The so-called round cave is not actually a cave, but is sold as such. The botanical garden? These are the plants along the way 
Before the guided tour starts, you can get yourself a drink 
First we go to the Blue Cave. There are two short films here 
Apparently the cave operators think they can attract more visitors with lots of colours. 
The stalactites are beautiful. But you really have to like kitsch 
A view into the cave 
More stalactites 
No end of colours here either. The stalactites are really interesting 
You could really do without the light show on the small lake. The music comes from the loudspeaker and a boat sails on the lake. Pure kitsch 
When you come out of the cave, you are bombarded by advertising boards. Nature experience? Not here
All important information about the Coves dels Hams
Entrance fee: 21 € (as of October 2017)
Cave: 5/10
Show and experience factor: 4/10
Price/Performance: 5 (poor)
Photos allowed: yes
Extra: Two films, light show with music and boat on the lake
Where: East coast
Address: Ctra. Ma-4020 Manacor-Porto Cristo, Km. 11 (→ Google Maps)
Opening hours: 30 October to 30 June: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 1 July to 29 October: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Is it worth visiting the Coves dels Hams?
Unfortunately, we cannot recommend a visit to the Coves dels Hams at all. For us, it's a classic tourist trap. For one thing, the price is outrageously high - even compared to the → other caves on Mallorca. What's more, the price bears no relation to what's on offer. Only those who like amusement parks, kitsch, hustle and bustle and Ballermann could enjoy the Coves dels Hams. The films, however, should be quite exciting for children. In the very narrow main cave, the continuous tape announcements are annoying. The show on the small lake can be safely forgotten. Less kitsch and advertising, half the entrance fee and a guided tour with good guides, then the Coves dels Hams would be worth a recommendation - unfortunately, not at all.
Nevertheless, many visitors recommend the Coves dels Hams on the internet. How can this be? We suspect that there is simply no comparison with the other caves on Mallorca. Or maybe they are visitors who have become so accustomed to commerce that they no longer notice it (we would never go to Ballermann, for example). If you're even a little bit in touch with nature, you can save yourself the exorbitant entrance fee and visit one of the other caves on Mallorca.
