Pileta caves
Jul 23rd, 2006, 05:51 PM
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Pileta caves
My family traveling to Spain in two weeks, and would like to visit the Pileta caves outside of Ronda. We have two children, ages 5 and 8, and want to know if the climb to the caves is safe for them. Anyone know? Thanks
Jul 23rd, 2006, 06:37 PM
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Yes the climb is safe; some rough trail and some steps. My best recollection is an elevation gain of 150 to 200 feet. There are places on the trail wherer you will want to hold their hands, but it is not dangerous. There was not, when I visited the cave in 2004, any electric lighting -- so the children may think it a bit scary. The trip is well worth the effort.
Jul 24th, 2006, 04:22 AM
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Thank you. My daughter had seen a picture of the walk on the cave's web site, and it looked scary to her. In the photo there appeared to be a steep drop off along side the path. We are all very interested in seeing the cave, and are happy to know that the path is not too trecherous.
Have you been to the caves in Nerja? If so, how do they compare?
Have you been to the caves in Nerja? If so, how do they compare?
Jul 24th, 2006, 10:24 AM
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The caves near Nerja and Pileta near Ronda are quite different in many ways.
1) The Nerja Cave is very highly developed; including a large theater with built-in theater seats and a stage where concerts are performed at certain times of year. You also have an opportunity to purchase a picture of yourself, which was taken in the cave, as you exit through the gift shop! Pileta is almost completely undeveloped, and because the rooms are much smaller, you are very close to the walls, and the stalactites and stalagmites. There is no Gift Shop!
2) Nerja is lighted throughout; Pileta is lighted only by the lanterns carried by the guide and a few visitors in your group. Incidentally, call ahead to get the schedule at Pileta -- groups are limited to 25.
3) Cave paintings by some of the people who inhabited the caves thousands of years ago are, in Nerja, not in parts of the cave which are open to the public. In Pileta, some very interesting primitive artwork and symbols are in view.
4) Perhaps the biggest difference to me, was that the Pileta cave is a "living" cave -- there are underground ponds and trickles of water verywhere, and you can see tiny droplets carrying bits of limestone hanging from the bottom of stalactites as they grow. Nerja was totally dry when we visited in May of this year, and many of the stalactites and stalagmites were lying broken on the floor of the cave, or missing entirely, with only stumps remaining.
5) I would think the children, as well as adults, would think Pileta is a real cave experience, from the entrance, which is a small hole in the side of the mountain, to the narrow passages (one must duck in places) to the "living" stalactites and stalagmites. The Nerja caves are inpressive for their size, but a bit too Disneyfied for my taste!
1) The Nerja Cave is very highly developed; including a large theater with built-in theater seats and a stage where concerts are performed at certain times of year. You also have an opportunity to purchase a picture of yourself, which was taken in the cave, as you exit through the gift shop! Pileta is almost completely undeveloped, and because the rooms are much smaller, you are very close to the walls, and the stalactites and stalagmites. There is no Gift Shop!
2) Nerja is lighted throughout; Pileta is lighted only by the lanterns carried by the guide and a few visitors in your group. Incidentally, call ahead to get the schedule at Pileta -- groups are limited to 25.
3) Cave paintings by some of the people who inhabited the caves thousands of years ago are, in Nerja, not in parts of the cave which are open to the public. In Pileta, some very interesting primitive artwork and symbols are in view.
4) Perhaps the biggest difference to me, was that the Pileta cave is a "living" cave -- there are underground ponds and trickles of water verywhere, and you can see tiny droplets carrying bits of limestone hanging from the bottom of stalactites as they grow. Nerja was totally dry when we visited in May of this year, and many of the stalactites and stalagmites were lying broken on the floor of the cave, or missing entirely, with only stumps remaining.
5) I would think the children, as well as adults, would think Pileta is a real cave experience, from the entrance, which is a small hole in the side of the mountain, to the narrow passages (one must duck in places) to the "living" stalactites and stalagmites. The Nerja caves are inpressive for their size, but a bit too Disneyfied for my taste!
May 26th, 2011, 10:25 AM
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I realize that it has been quite a long time since the original post, but I thought I would share our experience. We wound up going to bothe caves and enjoyed them both in different ways. The Nerja caves were touristy, but impressive. I would describe them as caverns with incredible natural rock formations. The kids definitely enjoyed this.
The Pileta caves, my whole family agrees, was one of the most interesting things we have done. With a small group, no more than 15, you are led by lantern light through the mountain side cave. You see prehistoric drawings and fire pits. We all thought it was incredible! This tour did require a lot of climbing up and down slippery, dark, uneven, stone steps which have been carved into the cave. My Dad, who had a bum knee at he time was unable to do the tour. It was fine for the kids though.
The Pileta caves, my whole family agrees, was one of the most interesting things we have done. With a small group, no more than 15, you are led by lantern light through the mountain side cave. You see prehistoric drawings and fire pits. We all thought it was incredible! This tour did require a lot of climbing up and down slippery, dark, uneven, stone steps which have been carved into the cave. My Dad, who had a bum knee at he time was unable to do the tour. It was fine for the kids though.
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bowserjoe
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Jun 13th, 2006 06:25 AM
