How to visit and what to see in Parque Cabárceno (Cantabria): schedules, prices

Do you know that the Cabárceno nature park receives about 600.000 visitors a year?

If you don't know him yet, this compelling fact gives you a clear idea of ​​the appeal of this nature park for whom it is We travel to Cantabria to make or vacation.

In this time we are living in, it has become an ideal visit for those of us who are looking for nature places, outside urban agglomerations.

You may have heard of Cabárceno park as if it were a zoo, but I assure you its appeal is much greater.

I can tell you that the first thing that will surprise you during your visit is its spectacular landscapes.

Cabárceno nature park, old iron mine

Actually these scenery They are the result of the hand of man, since for 5.000 years the area where it has settled Cabárceno have been the result of the exploitation of an ancient Iron mine.

Hence the predominance of the reddish color that you can see in the whimsical corners of this landscape karstic from Cantabria.

To convert it to the current one nature park, which was inaugurated in 1990, an enormous amount of replanting work was previously carried out.

What's more, it is impressive to think that until then in the entire enclave that it now occupies Cabárceno the vegetation had completely disappeared,

And specifically, the trees, shrubs and grasslands that we can now see were planted during the design of the park.

What the Cabárceno park is like, data and characteristics

El Cabárceno park has a extension of 750 hectares, and its size will take advantage of the time that during your visit you will be able to visit more than 20 kilometers of internal roads.

Regarding his work animal conservation, nowadays houses almost a thousand copies the rest one hundred different species of animals coming from the five continents.

One of the characteristics of Cabárceno is that large species occupy enormous spaces, creating an environment much closer to their original environments than, of course, that of an urban zoo or a safari park.

What to see and do when visiting Cabárceno park

Thus, it will not be easy for you to see the more than ten lions that there are currently, and, on the other hand, I will tell you that only the elephant enclosure, where there are currently almost twenty specimens with some babies, is larger than …the Madrid Zoo!!

Precisely the aforementioned venue is the most popular among visitors, but it is also very popular (and should be a must in your Cabárceno visit) the birds of prey flight display.

Exhibition of birds of prey in Cabárceno

The aforementioned exhibition is a spectacular demonstration of the art of falconry, in which raptors They are trained by man to hunt small animals.

I tell you that you Cabárceno visit It will be incomplete if you do not attend this essential flight display which is carried out in a specially conditioned area next to the area where the images are shown. raptors.

Very enjoyable and spectacular, you will be surprised to see a great variety of birds flying right above you. raptors, both from the Iberian Peninsula and from other parts of the world, from South America to Siberia.

And at the same time you will listen to a didactic explanation that will allow you to deepen your knowledge of these birds, and appreciate their surprising abilities.

La birds of prey exhibit It begins with the flight of enormous vultures over our heads, while we are sitting on the steps of the small open-air amphitheater where it takes place.

A thousand years, Egyptian vultures, hawks, vultures and, of course, Eagles, they will demonstrate their hunting skills before our eyes.

Without a doubt, you will see the most spectacular maneuvers when the birds of prey begin their flight from the top of a mountain next to the exhibition stage, and after gliding in search of their game, they will descend at incredible speed to hunt it.

The attacks of a common buzzard and a Golden Eagle They will surely leave you dumbfounded.

The schedules of the flight of birds of prey exhibition in Cabárceno They are every day, in July and August, Easter, and weekends in May, June and September, every day at 12, 15,30:17,30 p.m. and XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

And from Monday to Friday in September, weekends from October to April and holidays and long weekends in season, the exhibitions take place at 12 and 16 p.m., and from October to June, from Monday to Friday, at 13 p.m.

Your attendance at this demonstration is already included in the price of admission.

Go up the Cabárceno Park Cable Car

Another activity that you can also do on this visit is go up the Cabárceno Cable Car.

With a total length of 6 kilometers, it has two independent facilities that give you access to strategic points in the park.

Thus, you can take the route on Line 1, for the elephants, and Line 2, for the rhinos.

Here you can consult the Cabárceno Cable Car schedules and learn details about both routes.

What is the Wild Visit in Cabárceno like?

And on the other hand, you have the possibility of participating in the very special and exclusive visit to the Cabárceno park.

This is the Cabárceno Wild Visit which takes you a full day, from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m., including a special meal at the Bears restaurant.

It is carried out in an all-terrain vehicle accompanied by specialized personnel, and you will have the opportunity, for example, to see up close, by accessing its enclosure, the 80 brown bears that currently live there.

Or visit the elephant, giraffe, gorilla and rhinoceros boxes, and also includes the bird of prey exhibition and the gondola ride.

El price of the Cabárceno Wild Visit It is 230 euros per person (115 euros for children).

Here you have all the information about the Wild visits to the Cabárceno park.

Visiting times for Cabárceno Park in Cantabria

The Cabárceno park visiting hours They are in high season (March 1 to November 1), every day, from 9,30:18 a.m. to XNUMX p.m., when the ticket offices close, although you can stay in the park until sunset.

En low season (November to March), the hours are from 9,30:17 a.m. to 18 p.m., and on Saturdays, Sundays and long weekends, until XNUMX p.m.

The Cabárceno Park is open all year round, except on December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.

Cabárceno Park ticket prices

The ticket prices They are in high season, from July 15 to August 31, and from Thursday to Monday at Easter, 39 euros for adults, and 21,50 euros for children from 4 to 12 years old.

In other seasons of the year, prices for adults vary between 19 and 32 euros, and for children, between 9,5 and 18 euros.

Excursion to Cabárceno from Santander

If you do not have your own vehicle, you can sign up for this excursion to Cabárceno park from Santander with a total duration of 4 and a half hours.

You will be picked up from your hotel and taken by minibus to the park, where both the entrance fee and the ticket to get on the cable car are already included.

Map: where it is and how to get to Cabárceno

El Cabárceno park You find it about 15 kilometers from Santander, and at the same time you can arrive from different roads, both from the towns of Obregón and Cabárceno.