To experience an adventure in the African jungle it is not necessary to travel thousands of kilometers, in a mining operation located near Santander , you can live a wild day watching a great variety of species that roam freely in the Cabárceno Natural Park .
Cabárceno Natural Park: a natural environment with animal species from all over the world
Very close to the city of Santander, the Carbárceno Natural Park is characterized by having animals of different species that are not typical of Spain . The protection of species, environmental education and animals in a state of semi-freedom, makes this natural environment a unique recreational destination in Cantabria.
The Cabárceno Natural Park is located in the town of Cabárceno , which in ancient times served as a base for different Spanish and foreign companies to exploit the iron found in their mines. It is worth noting that this site is not a zoo, or at least it is not considered to be, it is a natural park created by man with an area of 303 hectares .
The idea originated in the 1980s and the park was inaugurated in 1989 in the open shafts of an iron mine in the area. The truth is that apart from caring for and providing veterinary attention, its authorities do not do much more, because the idea is that the interaction and the day to day is almost without intervention , in this way, there are times when the animals are fighting or reproducing , just as they would in their habitat.
As an interesting fact, it is important to mention that this Cantabrian park has several records, among them: having in its space the largest reserve of brown bears in Europe , with a total of 80 specimens; being one of the largest gorilla enclosures in Europe , with a family of primates that has increased in recent years with several specimens born in its facilities; and for having 18 African elephants , the largest community in the world outside their original continent, and with specimens born here.
The Cabárceno Natural Park is traced by a network of 20 kilometers of paths that take the visitor to the different sectors. There are several parking lots and roads that have access to corners that a car cannot reach. This park is designed to spend a day with family and friends and has cafes, restaurants, a children’s area, picnic areas, etc. Everything you need to enjoy an unforgettable day.
Visits and animal shows in the Cabárceno Natural Park
In the Cabárceno Natural Park, shows and experiences are also organized for all its visitors that show another way of knowing this natural environment.
Raptor show
In the raptor show you will have the opportunity to see beautiful creatures in action while practicing their flight techniques . You will also be able to see black kites, peregrine falcons and American eagles. The exhibition is surprising and usually takes place at these times:
- From 07/01 to 09/15: 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
- From 02/29 to 06/30 and from 09/16 to 11/01: 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- From 02/11 to 28/02 (only Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and bridges): 12:00 and 16:00.
- Holy Week (Thursday to Sunday): 12:00, 15:30 and 17:30.
Green cabárceno
Another option is to take a walk through the different botanical routes that have been created in this park, full of pines and other species, such as: olive trees, holm oaks, chestnut trees, fig trees, maples, oaks, horse chestnut pines, in which there are The stone and maritime pines, cherry trees, medlars, oleanders, piracantas, cordelynes, griñoleras, etc. are interspersed.
Of the hundreds of species that are in the park, the botanical routes have selected 24 that are also strategically located in spaces where there are lions, hyenas, wolves and tigers, so that you can see everything in a single walk:
- Route of the yews, cork oaks and walnut trees (surroundings of the tigers).
- Birch, lime and beech path (near the hyena and wolf enclosures).
- Route of chestnut and pine trees (between the lions and bison enclosures).
Wild Visit in Cabárceno
If you want to experience the Cabárceno Natural Park to the fullest, the best thing is to do the Wild Visit , an original way of visiting this environment with a journey by car and accompanied by specialized personnel , in charge of explaining what the park’s philosophy is and why what is considered one of the best in the world in conservation.
The ticket includes lunch and costs 230 euros for adults and 1,15 euros for children. Visitors are accompanied by security personnel during the journey, as they pass through the enclosures of bears, gorillas, elephants, rhinos, the exhibition of birds of prey and those of sea lions.
In addition, the Wild Visit includes the cable car ride, from where you can enjoy the best views of the park .
Visit Explorer
Other experiences offered by the Cabárceno Natural Park is the Explorer Visit, shorter and cheaper. It costs 110 euros for adults and 88 for children , that is, from 10:00 to 14:00 hours . The visit includes access to the elephant, rhinoceros, gorilla enclosure and the raptor show. At the end of the visit, a ticket is given to the visitor to access the cable car .
But in addition to these animals, this park is home to species from all over the world such as: llamas, Bengal tigers, gaures, cheetahs, giraffes, ostriches, antelopes, lynxes, yaks, addaxes, camels, hippos, dromedaries, zebras, farm animals , wild children, donkeys and Somali jaguars, among others.
How to buy a ticket to visit the Cabárceno Natural Park
Tickets can be purchased online on the official page of the Cabárceno Natural Park, from where you can see the promotions they offer. You should know that they do not accept changes or returns , so you must choose a day, so you must make sure that you will comply with the visit, how much time you have available, if you go alone, with family or friends and at what time.
You can also buy tickets at the box office on the day of your visit , without having to make a reservation. Reservations or sales by phone are not allowed.
