Seeing the Altamira Cave & Museum from Santillana del Mar

[AJGuillaume]

We are staying one extra night in Santillana del Mar so that we can attempt to visit the Altamira Cave and Museum. We undertsand that it would be a visit of the replica cave.
From Google maps, it looks like it is only 30 minutes walk away. We will be there on a Wednesday in September 2018.
We have had a look at the official museum website.
Is it an easy walk to the museum? Should be buy our tickets in advance? We would be grateful for any advice/tips/opinions.
Thank you!
Cheers
Andrew

 

[mylifeonvacation]

We visited the Caves of Altamira on the first Wednesday in May of this year. We got there at a quarter til noon to buy our tickets there (3€), and got into the very next group to enter, no problems.

We drove, but as for the walk, it looks like the first little bit right after you leave Santillana del Mar may not have a sidewalk, but quite shortly thereafter there is a sidewalk, and later a nice wide dirt path next to the road on the final approach to the museum that has some incredible views of the valley. It's slightly uphill going there, but nothing too steep, as I recall.

Santillana del Mar is a charming place, and the Cave - even though it's a replica - is still pretty awe inspiring. Enjoy and Buen Camino!

 

[Tia Valeria]

We bought our entry tickets in Santander on our way through. This gives you a timed ticket for your chosen day and avoids the first queue. You can by them in the Bank of Santander on the main street facing the park and the bay. I think they may also be available at other branches of this bank. (It might be worth checking if this is still possible)
It is about half an hour or so uphill to the museum. We took a taxi up as it was raining hard, but walked back. Once in the museum second queue you get a time for the visit to the 'new cave' (ie the reproduction) so have time maybe to look around the museum first, depending on the timing.

 

[backpack45]

It's not a particularly hard walk for someone who has been on the Camino already. Most people (tourists) drive or come by bus, but walking is pleasant--unless raining, I suppose We went at opening time and had no problem getting in quickly.

 

[peregrina2000]

It also looks like tickets can be bought online. Once purchased online, you can pick up your tickets at the entrance. https://secure.santander.com/ventaentradas/Altamira/jsp/FrameInicio.jsp

And Tia, this page seems to be saying that you can buy tickets in any office of the Banco Santander. That is pretty convenient! http://museodealtamira.mcu.es/PreparaLaVisita/tarifaAnticipada.html

 

[intrepidtraveler]

If you are interested in the prehistoric caves such as the Altamira, you might also want to consider seeing the Tito Bustillo caves in Ribadesella (it sounds like you're planning to walk the Norte?)Unlike Altamira, they are the original item. It was an easy walk from where I stayed in Ribadesella to get to the caves for the tour. The tour was in rapid-fire Spanish but it was still worth it IMHO for the visual experience. Tickets are available online on advance.

 

[AJGuillaume]

If you are interested in the prehistoric caves such as the Altamira, you might also want to consider seeing the Tito Bustillo caves in Ribadesella (it sounds like you're planning to walk the Norte?)Unlike Altamira, they are the original item. It was an easy walk from where I stayed in Ribadesella to get to the caves for the tour. The tour was in rapid-fire Spanish but it was still worth it IMHO for the visual experience. Tickets are available online on advance.

Thank you Intrepidtraveler! We're walking from Nueva into Ribadesella, so hopefully we will have time to visit the caves.
The website seems to indicate that entrance is free on a Wednesday, and we're walking to Ribadesella on a Wednesday
And thank you to everybody who answered my question on Altamira!
Cheers
Andrew

 

[Rebekah Scott]

If you really like paleolithic art (like I do!) there are a couple of other caves in the district that you can visit and see the real thing: handprints, painted horses, bison, etc. at Puente Vieja: the two I refer to are Cueva de los Monedas and Cueva del Castillo. You'd have to figure a bus ride or other transport, but it's not very far at all from Santillana, we did them all on the same day. Info here: http://cuevas.culturadecantabria.com/

 

[AJGuillaume]

If you really like paleolithic art (like I do!) there are a couple of other caves in the district that you can visit and see the real thing: handprints, painted horses, bison, etc. at Puente Vieja: the two I refer to are Cueva de los Monedas and Cueva del Castillo. You'd have to figure a bus ride or other transport, but it's not very far at all from Santillana, we did them all on the same day. Info here: http://cuevas.culturadecantabria.com/

Thank you Rebekah, that's awesome info.
We have a full day at Santillana del Mar, so we'll try to do this.
Did you take a bus, or a taxi?
Cheers
Andrew

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Thank you Rebekah, that's awesome info.
We have a full day at Santillana del Mar, so we'll try to do this.
Did you take a bus, or a taxi?
Cheers
Andrew

I have a car. We stayed at the big old-fashioned spa hotel in Puente Viejas, really fun!