The Val Porquero Cave is one of the largest tourist attractions in our country. It is located at a distance of 45 km from León (location) en the town that gives it its name, in the heart of the Leonese mountain and next to the Hoces de Vagacervera, but what not many people know is the underground river that runs below the tourist area, the called "course of waters".
speleocanyoning is performed here, a fascinating activity for adventure lovers.
It is one of the few areas in the country where it can be practiced and, furthermore, ravine caving is suitable for everyone. You can do it from Easter to December (with modifications depending on the flow of the river) where you will find jumps, siphons, different types of slides, swimming areas...etc
CAVING AND CANYONING
Speleocanyoning is the activity that you will do in the Val Porquero Cave as long as the river flow is sufficient. It is one of the most impressive underground rivers in Spain with a route of 3 km and 250 meters of elevation and an average time of approximately 4-5 hours.
There are two levels of difficulty:
- Normal difficulty (through the tourist entrance to Covona) - Speleocanyoning
- Higher difficulty (by Sil de Perlas) - Caving
One of the things to dedicate time to before starting these activities is to equip ourselves with the necessary material for this sport. Helmet, flashlight, always carrying spare batteries, waterproof clothing, appropriate boots, ropes, descenders, lifts, harness... generally, unless you are an expert, it is an activity that is carried out guided by an instructor, the who will give you all the material you need, will lead you throughout the tour and will be able to help you at all times. We recommend that you contact one of the companies in the sector canyoning and companies in the caving sector.
We show you different offers of activities that you can do in the cave in case they are of interest to you:
- Caving canyoning in the caves of Val Porquero from €49 (more info here)
- Caving tour through the Val Porquero cave from €55 (more info here)
- Caving canyoning for bachelor parties from €55.
THE CAVE AND ITS CAVITIES
You have to dress warmly even if it is summer since the average temperature inside is about 7 degrees. The mouth of the cave is located behind a short access tunnel and excavated into the rock of the mountain.
The first impression we will have will be the spectacular dimensions of the cavity that gives way to an underground world.
The Val Porquero stream is the one that bathes some parts of the cave with cold, crystalline waters and these will accompany us during the visit. Some of the small wonders that we will be able to see in the cave are shapes that have given their names to their speleothems. The first figures that we are going to find on our tour are The Tower of Pisa, The Twins or the Virgin and Child, formations that make let your imagination fly.
The largest room is what they call Great Rotunda, where the white ceilings and walls rise and move away, forming a natural vault more than 20 m high. Adjacent to that area is the famous Fairy Room, where, in the rainy or thaw seasons, a waterfall of about 15 meters high is created.
If we go a little further we will see a spectacular gallery where corridors have been formed that are more than 200 meters long and have a height that can exceed 30 meters, being at the same time a very narrow corridor.
At the end of this Gran Vía there is access to what is known as "Course of the Waters", an area that allows all those who want to truly make a speleological journey, cross galleries and waterfalls that have not been prepared by man.
Carrying out caving in the Val Porquero Cave is a mix of science, sport and knowledge of a peculiar place, with a total of seven rooms that create this magical environment.
HOW TO GET THERE BY CAR
- From León: Take the LE-311 and LE-315 highway until you reach the town of Felmín. Take the "Carr. de Val Porquero de Torío a Felmín" to Val Porquero and then to the cave. (course info: here) - Duration of the journey 1 hour.
- From Oviedo: Take the A-66 and N-630 to Ventosilla-Villamanín. Take LE-312 and LE-315 to Felmín. There, take the "Carr. de Val Porquero de Torío a Felmín" to Val Porquero and then to the cave. (route info: here) - Duration of the journey 1 h 27 min. (Includes some toll)
- From Bilbao: Via A-8 and A-64 to AS-I. Arrive at Mieres (Asturias) and take the A-66 to the N-630. Arrive at Villamanín and take LE-312 and LE 315 until Felmín. Take the "Carr. de Val Porquero de Torío a Felmín" there to Val Porquero and then to the cave (journey info: here) - Duration of the journey 4 hours. (Includes some toll)
Immerse yourself in the cave and learn a little more about the origin and how those rooms that are found beneath the ground that we normally walk on have been formed. If you like exploring underground cavities and a world a little closer to the center of the earth, caving is the sport you should practice.
