Two caves in one town
Drach or Hams caves
The Cuevas del Drach and the Caves of Hams both sit near Porto Cristo and both stage music underground. How they differ and which to choose.
Choose a date for the Drach caves ↗Quick answer
The Cuevas del Drach and the Caves of Hams are separate cave systems near Porto Cristo. Drach has the longer route and a classical quartet on a large lake. Hams is shorter and stages a light show to Mozart on a lake called the Sea of Venice. If you can only do one, Drach is the larger visit. A full-day excursion can cover both.
Two caves, one town
Both caves lie within the municipality of Manacor, close to Porto Cristo. The Caves of Hams, whose name means fishhooks, lie about a kilometre west of the town. Wikipedia says they were found on 2 March 1905 by Pedro Caldentey. The Drach caves were known for centuries and were explored in detail in 1896. Both are lit, both have paths with steps and both stage music on an underground lake. They are not the same cave, and entry to one does not cover the other.
The route and the rock
The Drach route is about 1,200 metres through four connected caves. The Hams tour is shorter, though sources disagree on by how much: Wikipedia gives about 500 metres through 12 areas, and the Hams ticket page gives 850 metres. Hams is known for its fishhook-shaped formations, whose cause scientists have not yet explained. Drach is known for its scale and its large lake.
The music
At Drach, a quartet of cello, harpsichord and two violins plays four works of classical music from boats, in about ten minutes, and the lights brighten in an effect called Sunrise on the lake. At Hams, the music show on the Sea of Venice is called Magical Mozart. It pairs Mozart's music with a light show inspired by the Carnival of Venice, with musicians playing from a small rowboat. If you want live classical music, Drach has it. If you want a light show, Hams stages one.
The lake
Lake Martel at Drach is about 117 metres long and 30 wide, by the cave's own figures, and it is one of the largest underground lakes in the world. The Sea of Venice is the underground lake at Hams. Visitors sit in a natural amphitheatre above Lake Martel at Drach, and in both caves the music is staged on the water.
What the Hams ticket includes
The Hams entry ticket on this site covers entry to the cave, the Magical Mozart music show on the Sea of Venice, the visuals shown in the caves, a botanical garden with free-flying birds native to the island, a picnic area and free parking. The ticket's description also mentions a short documentary in a cave lit blue by LED lighting. The voucher is exchanged at the cave's ticket office before you start, where you are assigned the next available tour. The tour takes about an hour.
Tickets and booking
Drach tickets are sold by the cave, online, in its app and at the ticket office, and as part of excursions. The Hams entry ticket on this site is a plain ticket whose voucher you exchange at that cave's ticket office, with free cancellation until 24 hours before the start. The Drach cave's own tickets accept no changes or refunds. If you have a car, you can book the two separately and fit them into one day around Porto Cristo.
Read next: Cuevas del Drach tickets
Doing both in a day
A full-day excursion option from the southern resorts adds the Caves of Hams and Porto Cristo to the Drach visit, according to the excursion's description. With your own car, two cave visits and lunch in Porto Cristo fit into a day, but each visit is timed, so book the slots with a gap between them. Each cave takes about an hour inside. Allow time to walk from the car park to the entrance at either.
Who this isn't for
Do not choose Hams expecting the Drach concert: it is a different show. Do not choose Drach expecting a plain ticket on this site: the main ticket is a coach excursion. Neither cave suits wheelchair users, and reviewers of the Hams entry warn of quite a few steep steps. The Drach cave does not recommend its visit for people with heart conditions or claustrophobia.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Drach and Hams caves the same?
No. They are separate cave systems near Porto Cristo, each with its own ticket, route and music.
Which is bigger?
Drach. Its route is about 1,200 metres, and its lake is one of the largest underground lakes in the world. Hams has a shorter tour.
Can I see both in one day?
Yes. A full-day excursion option covers both, or you can book each on your own and plan around the timed slots.
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