Cave of Altamira Cueva de Altamira
Santillana del Mar, Spain UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Cave of Altamira is a Stone Age site and monument in Santillana del Mar, Spain. It contains prehistoric art and is part of the Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the 18th most looked-up sight in Spain on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
July and August are the warmest months, with daily highs of 22 °C to 23 °C and daily lows of 16 °C to 17 °C. These months also have the fewest rainy days, with about 10 rainy days each. In contrast, November is the wettest month with 171 mm of rain and 17 rainy days. January, February, and December are the coldest months, with daily highs of 12 °C and daily lows between 6 °C and 7 °C. April has daily highs of 15 °C and 12 rainy days.
The site is 24 km from Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport and 332 km from Madrid. Bilbao Airport is located 98 km away from the area. Nearby, the Cave of El Castillo and the Cave of La Pasiega are both located approximately 16 km from the site. The cave is open Tuesday to Saturday from 09:30 to 18:00 and on Sundays from 09:30 to 15:00. Admission is €3 for adults and free for children, and some days offer free entry. There is no wheelchair access.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 23 °C. The wettest is November, with about 171 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 12 |
| Average low, °C | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 132 | 108 | 111 | 122 | 96 | 73 | 65 | 81 | 90 | 133 | 171 | 143 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
