La Collubina Cave It's one of those hidden corners of Llanes that almost no one knows about and that surprises everyone who visits. Nestled in the woods, in the surroundings of Saint Roch of AcebalIt is a natural cavity with two entriesThe main one opens in the shape of valleya typical subsidence of the terrain in the limestone landscape, leading to galleries with stalactites and stalagmites.
It's not a tourist cave: there are no guided tours, no lighting, and no opening hours. You reach it by walking along the Path of the Invisible ValleyThis easy circular route, just a few kilometers long, takes in caves, mills, a waterfall, and a wealth of local history. It's the perfect plan for a cloudy day, for going with children, or for discovering inland Llanes, away from the beaches.
🗺 How to get to the Collubina Cave
View on Google Maps: Collubina Cave
The starting point is Saint Roch of Acebal, about 5 km west of the town of Llanes. From the highway A-8 take the exit Andrín / San RoqueYou can park next to the village's service station or in other parking areas in the town.
The cave is about 40 meters high, deep in the forest and somewhat hidden. The path is marked with... green arrows and the letters "VI" and with markings painted on rocks and logs, but some sections can be confusing: it is advisable have the route track downloaded on your mobile phone.
🌄 The Path of the Invisible Valley
The Collubina Cave is one of the stops on the Invisible Valley Trail, a circular route of about 12-13 km which goes out and returns to San Roque del Acebal. Its name comes from the book The Invisible ValleyFrom the local writer Miguel Ángel Galguera: it is a valley that "is not seen" at first glance and that is gradually revealed.
The difficulty is baja and it's suitable for families with children and for going with a dog, although It's not convenient for baby strollersWe need to calculate between 3 and 4 hoursdepending on the pace and stops. Along the way you will find:
- (I.e. Collubina CaveThe protagonist of this entry. One can peer into the entrance and the sinkhole without any equipment.
- (I.e. Cave of the Cierneswith a monumental entrance, and Cagalín Cavewhere the river disappears underground.
- 💧 L'Escaniellu waterfall: one of the most beautiful places on the route, especially when it flows with water, after days of rain.
- ⚙️ Mills of the Riega de los Molinos: two old watermills, one of them with an explanatory panel, in a corner where washerwomen used to meet.
- (I.e. Fountain of the Malatos, next to the old leper colony of San Lázaro, the place where leprosy patients lived in isolation.
🏞 Recommendations
- 🥾 Comfortable and durable footwearIt's best if it can withstand water: there's mud and wet sections almost all year round.
- (I.e. Flashlight or headlamp If you want to see the inside of the caves, be aware that it's a wild, undeveloped cave: don't go in any deeper than is safe, don't go alone, and don't touch the formations.
- ???? Water and something to eatThere are no bars or restaurants along the route.
- 🌧 The waterfall looks best in autumn, winter and springor after a few days of rain.
- 🐕 If you go with a dog, keep it on a leash near livestock and caves.
📜 History and curiosities
The council of Llanes is land of limestoneAnd water has been carving out caves, sinkholes, and dolines for thousands of years. Many of them, like El Pindal or La Riera, hold prehistoric remains. La Collubina is more modest, but it perfectly illustrates how this landscape works: rivers that disappear underground, entrances that open up in the forest, and formations that grow drop by drop.
La leper colony of San Lázaro He recalls another story from the valley. The sick people who lived there would get water from the Fuente de los Malatos (Fountain of the Sick) and ring a bell to warn the neighbors not to approach.
🛏 Where to sleep nearby
San Roque del Acebal is just a few minutes from Llanes and the beaches of Andrín and Cue, making it a great base for combining hiking with a trip to the coast. These accommodations are within easy walking distance of the trailhead:
- (I.e. Indiana Boutique Hotel, in his own Saint Roch of Acebal.
- 🏡 Corral de Nuca, in the La Encina neighborhood, also in Saint Roch of Acebal.
- ???? Arpa de Hierba Rural Hotel, La Pereda, an 8-room rural hotel with a large garden, 3 km from Llanes.
- See availability
- See availability
