We have a couple of questions on Altamira Cave Museum and purchasing tickets for the Replica. The website, though it starts out in English, soon reverts to Spanish with each new page. We don’t know Spanish, but are able to proceed through it by using google translations at each step. So, we believe we’re ready to purchase the tickets on-line, and receive a booking reference number.

Question is: From what we’ve written, do we seem to be following and interpreting the on-line instructions correctly? From the on-line purchase, with our booking reference number in hand, it appears that we pick up the actual tickets at the information/reception desk the day and time of our visit. They don’t have to be picked up beforehand at a bank, right? Has anyone done this either way—bank or reception desk? We have only one available day (September 13) to view the museum and replica, so we’re trying to book ahead to assure our spots.

We’re trying for a ticket time that is on a Friday at 9:30 (which seems to still be available for our date) in hopes that we could possibly (hopefully) be selected to visit the cave itself, not just the replica. Odds on this are?? If not, then we still plan on viewing the replica. We are aware that the actual Altamira Cave tour is in Spanish only, but really, to view the actual images will be the impact! The Art will speak for itself. And still, if the replica it is anything like the replica at Lascaux, we will be totally blown away! We’ve been hoping to get to this cave for ages it seems, so we don’t want to miss this chance because of not being able to acquire the tickets or mess up the on-line purchasing of them. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
K

It's been a while (2015), but I reserved in advance and am pretty sure that I claimed my ticket once at the on-site information desk. It was easy.

If I understand correctly, only 5 people are randomly selected for a visit each Friday. Here's some information; I can't attest to its accuracy.
https://archaeology-travel.com/news/...-for-visitors/

I thought the replica astounding and was very glad to be able to see it at length and in better light and greater comfort than Lascaux. It's different, but IMO, both were done exceedingly well.

I feel privileged to have seen the replica, and hope you are satisfied if that's what you experience.

Been there a few times, and the replica is in a big room, that if crowded it loses its magic and may be kind of deceptive. The rest is a museum of prehistory, interesting and very informative about our ancestors, but it´s a museum, that´s all. Visits to Altamira (the real one) are highly restricted and I believe that now they´ve stopped them temporarily (starting Jan 4 this year, there´s no fixed date for starting again). My suggestion is to visit real caves with real cave paintings instead: very close to Altamira you have El Castillo and Las Monedas caves, where you can admire amazing paintings. You can do a private tour in English at 36eur per person (you have to purchase all 12 tickets for the visit) or in Spanish at 3eur per person.https://cuevas.culturadecantabria.co...ble-and-rates/, this link includes the other caves with paintings that can be visited.

I certainly agree that El Castillo and Las Monades are well worth seeing! Maybe you can visit them, whether you make it to Altamira or not?

I agree that El Castillo is well worth considering - I was a kid of 11 when we visited and I still remember it, so it has certainly made an impact.

We also got to see the original Altamira then. In those times there were no restrictions yet; the problems that too many visitors cause had not yet been noticed. But in the late 1970s there were hardly any foreign tourists in the area anyway, so crowds weren's an issue.

We're now rethinking the whole day based on the intriguing comments, not only about the replica but also the other two nearby caves where one can view the actual original paintings. It would be nice to see all three caves. I'll hold off on the Altamira tickets for a few days. If nothing else can be arranged, then we'd definitely get the tickets for Altamira museum and Replica. Thank you all for your help.
K

There are other caves in the area worth visiting if you have the time:

• CHUFÍN
• EL CASTILLO
• LAS MONEDAS
• HORNOS DE LA PEÑA
• EL PENDO
• CULLALVERA
• COVALANAS

Cullalvera and Covalanas are also very much worth it. Covalanas is uphill, kind of hidden, and Cullalvera was used during our Civil War in 1937 to hide trucks belonging to the Republic...Very interesting caves, but probably El Castillo and Las Monedas are easier to access.

I had the most wonderful guide at Hornos de la Pena! (I didn't hire him specially -- he was the man working the day of my reservation). Definitely reserve in advance for Hornos de la Pena, El Castillo, and Las Monadas.

Depending on your route, you might also consider Tito Bustillo, although it's a bit further afield..

Given your interest in prehistoric art, I strongly recommend Santander's excellent Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueologia de Calabria.

You might find some helpful information in my trip report:
Four Awesome Weeks in the North of Spain and Catalunya

Thank you all for your information. We’ve booked our on-line tickets for a Friday in September at 9:30. Maybe we’ll be lucky to be part of the five randomly selected folks who see the original works (if they’re still doing that), maybe not. Either way we’ll see the replica works and museum. Since we arrive in Santillana del Mar the previous day and leave the day after Altamira, we don’t have a lot of extra time. So with that in mind we thought we’d thoroughly explore the town after our return from Altamira. Of course we can always change our minds and decide to see some of those other caves. But since we won’t have a car, it gets complicated. Thanks again. K

That's one of the main reasons I rented a car for my time in the area.
Good luck and enjoy your time at Altamira, even if it is the reproduction!