Aracena & Riotinto Mines Tour From Seville

Well, to be honest, apart from the incredible caves of Aracena, the rest of the trip proved mediocre. I would greatly advise any visitor with walking difficulties to avoid the cave complex due the number ( especially one section) of very demanding steps leading to one particular gallery. Another suggestion ( although available in the 'much-dismissed UK') is the availability of safety helmets - due to some sections proving quite low. As for general Aracena - well there's very little there apart from the caves. A cautionery note for my fellow British travellers - be aware of the overt discrimination shown in some eateries. We sat for thirty minutes and found ourselves totally ignored in favour of the Spanish diners being attended to long after our arrival. A very poor show. I advocate a packed lunch with a proper 'Blighty' thermos of tea!! Oh, and lastly, be aware of the 'stinking English' ubiquitous titular. Sine dubio Rick Sinclair

As a result from our good experience w/ the bike tour, we booked our private tour to Gruta de las Maravillas. It’s nice to change the scene from Seville to the small towns w/ a comfortable transportation. The underground cave is really a natural wonder. The limestone formations are so stunning, the “lake” water was so pure and clear. Our guide Nacho brought us to an authentic restaurant and helped us order food that he would normally eat. We feel that we are truly immersed to some local experiences.

The tour was amazing. I have been on other tours before with this company and always had great experiences. Very professional, timely, polite and great trips and great value for money. This particular trip to the Rio Tinto river and mines was really funky to see a new part of the region, great for photographers with the mars like landscapes and the unbelievable beauty of the underground caves really do feel magical. However the tour was made so amazing by our fabulous tour guide - Driss. A bundle of joy and energy he was amazing at leading the group, entertaining and bringing us all together. On other trips it’s very normal for groups not to mix much and keep to themselves. But the group and Driss all grouped together, chatting and laughing the whole day and all sharing lunch together. Which for a solo traveler like myself that was really special and kinda rare. Driss was a delight, charming, extremely knowledgable and he really aimed to get the best experience for everyone and what they were wanting most from the trip. Overall a lovely trip and an incredible guide ! Can’t recommend enough (:

Fun and interesting trip to the Rio Tinto mines and the caves in Aracena. Our guide Nacho was very friendly and entertaining, and knew about the history of Spain. Nice lunch in Aracena, and the red river and the caves were beautiful.

Great company to deal with. Chauffeur was fantastic and very knowledgeable!!!!! Great tour. Learned a lot. Very beautiful country

Mine and caves were nice but too much wasted time. Could have done the tour in half the time and spent more time at the 2 major attractions. Would have paid the same price to do the tour in 5 hrs vs 10.

Carlos (guide) and Lola (driver) make an excellent team. Carlos was very knowledgeable. The tour was well organised with plenty of stops for photo opportunities. The caves at Aracena are well worth a visit.

Great trip Comfy transport Informative guides Mines very interesting The caves were incredible easily the highlight of our week.

Tour guide was kind and helpful, and we enjoyed the day . The caves at Aracena were amazing - a little frustrating that you are not allowed to take photos, but I understand the rules. What was annoying is that they were very strict about not taking photos (which doesn't cause any damage), but yet we saw several people touching the delicate cave formations which does cause damage, and no one stopped this.

This tour was fabulous — the sites they showed us were interesting and beautiful, the tour guide, Peter, was knowledgeable and fluent in multiple languages, and the pace was just right. Sometimes group tours can be grueling, but this one had a laid back feel while still being engaging. We weren’t totally exhausted by the end, but instead felt excited and happy.

It was interesting to learn about the national park. Our guide was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to give us a great experience. It is mating season for the lynx, so you can't get in certain areas that would disturb them. Sergio got us in to another area where we could see some of the lynx that are older and no loner breeding so we would not miss out. You do go to the beach and learn about the sand dunes, etc.

It was a wonderful experience thanks to our Wonderful guide Catherine. We spend a whole day in Aracena caves and then visited some mines and few small towns. It was a different experience compared to that tourist spots and I am glad we did it.

very varied day with some spectacular views. It was also interesting and the driver/tour guide was very patient and interested/knowledgable about the areas seen. Would have been good to have forewarning that audioguides are no longer available in the cave (everyone should have a smartphone for that) and a bit more information in parts of the tour would have been fabulous

Lovely places to visit, both the mines and Aracena. Our guide (Sergio) is really knowledgeable and passionate about what he explains, he paints the places in vivid colours as he talks. The Cave was absolutely beautiful, the food in aracena delicious. One of my favourite experiences during my trip in Sevilla, second only to the Real Alcazar. My advice for those who are interested is to wear comfy shoes, as sandals or wedges are not a great choice (the cave in Aracena is slippery, and in Riotinto there is a lot of sand)

The only good was the Caves in Aracena, and the city. Eventhough the tour guides didn't show us the city they could take us close to the castle and plaza, the mines area experience not good, it was 4 hours or wasted time.

They advertise this tour as Iberian ham paradise, El paraiso del jamon iberico but it's completely wrong as we didn't go there. For this tour they mentioned ,see below photo, that we will make a complete tour to a biosphere reserve and the forest where Iberian pigs are graze. This never happened to the actual tour. We spent half of the day to Rio Tinto and mines and then to Aracena, castle, lunch and cave. They should definitely change either their tour catalogs or provide accurate information to their clients. The office staff should have known any details or any changes in the tour.

Very interesting trip. Sergio excellent guide. Wonderful cave and interesting medieval castle. the program was respected. the guide's explanations very good.

Exelente guide and driver. Well organized trip. Beautiful country. Good food in town. Great walks in the clean maintain air

A very good trip. Just 13 of us plus our guide, Miguel. Lots of interesting things to see - the Rio Tinto, the mining operations, Aracena and its cave. I like Aracena and it is well worth walking up to the castle for panoramic views. The cave is well worth a visit but the English language commentary is very limited and added little to the experience. Miguel was an excellent guide - engaging and informative, really added to our experience.

Not very popular trip but definitely the best part of my staying in Seville. Manuel, our guide, was fantastic and made this trip extra valuable. He is extremely knowledgable and enjoys giving you the most out of this experience. We visited the Riotinto springs whose water are naturally res and mustard like yellow due to the minerals in the soil. We saw some of the surrounding mineral caves and the lake that formed from the extractions. The lake too is bloody red 😯 Then we visited the allegedly most ancient mosque in Spain and finally the cave of wonders which well deserves the name: it is amazing!! I loved this trip. I met lovely people and saw some extraordinary places. Marianna

I took this tour along with my mother; there were 8 of us altogether. This was one of the highlights of my week. The cave is really well done, both narratively and visually. I really enjoyed seeing the different formations and how deep the water is in some points. The tinto mines are also fascinating; do take the small hike down to the stream if you can. It's just fascinating that this mine has been operating for over 3,000 years

Excellent tour and amazing guide (Manuel). As an educated historian he is extremely Knowledgeable, patient and very clear both in their command of different languages and in their explanations. The vehicle was in great shape and perfectly clean.

We had a nice tour and saw a lot of the Spanish landscape. The mines may be not naturally beautiful, but very impressive and (unfortunately) they are also a part of Spain. Aracena then was a cute little town with a cool old castle. We had lunch and enough time to relax from the hiking, so it's not too exhausting. Our guide told us a lot and made us all feel welcome (unfortunately I forgot her name...sorry). As this is not one of the popular tours, the group was small, but I liked that!

I had a blast on this excursion. I met so many amazing people and the experience was well worth the money. We saw "mars on Earth" mining area, went to the caves, had lunch in a local town and then walked to Arcena and overlooked the old and new city while seeing the castle and cathedral. Our Guide, Sergio, was incredibly kind, super knowledgeable, spoke 3 languages (French, English and Spanish), and really took the time to get to know each of us in the group 1:1. It was a small group of 9 and I can say we walked out of that experience with several new friends. I highly recommend this trip!

Very well organized day trip, and very good value for money. The landscapes at Riotinto are spectacular, and the detailed explanations of our guide, Sergio, made the experience much more interesting overall. The Cave in Aracena is one of the best we have seen (and we have seen many, in several countries!). The visit inside the cave is led by the local guide (not the Naturanda guide) and follows a strict schedule (ours was exactly 50 min.). You may feel a little rushed, and definitely would prefer to be allowed more time to admire the various spots, but on the other hand one can understand that the effect on the ecosystem of the cave must be kept to a minimum. Between these two main sites, the visit to Almonaster la Real was definitely a plus! All in all, we would recommend this trip to people interested in geological formations and the history and culture of Andalucia. (It is not tailored for families with small kids just looking to have fun!)

This is a spectacular sight for anyone who loves colour and is interested in unknown history of the mining that has gone on here and continues to do so. The area is massive with old ruins and rusty vehicles and a town where the English built a little enclave with run down tennis courts. Carlos was a great guide, full of enthusiasm, fun and a huge ‘mine of his own’ information of this place. The cave at Arcena was spectacular and a real surprise as we were going for the mine trip and the photos we had seen of it on the net. Highly recommend but choose a better cafe for lunch. That was the only minor disappointment. And if you have binoculars take them. A fantastic trip. Thanks for everything Carlos.

We had a great experience. Carlos was an amazing guide, friendly and he gave us a lot of information about the places we visit. The cave is amazing..

The excursion is very good and you see many curious things. It is a full-day excursion but it is done by car so it is very comfortable to do. Our guide was Miguel and he was very nice and adapted to us at all times. It is better to book the excursion directly with them because they give you a discount for the next ones.

Punctuality of more than half an hour, not only in this tour, but also in the other 2 I did with the company. I also know that other excursions left late, as I saw them leave after the most heartfelt apology for the delay. On the Aracena excursion, Riotinto, grotto of wonders, did not comply with what was described in the itinerary. The whole part related to the mine of rather little interest, a filling to justify the trip to the Grotto of Wonders; and for the only thing that could be striking, which is that Martian landscape, we spent it from afar with the car without interacting with the particular nature of the site, and to finish the comment of the guide "there are activities in which you can walk around"... while the destination was to see a monolith in the middle of nowhere dedicated to the British fallen in the 2nd world war (with all the respect they deserve, but that nothing painted within the excursion). All we could see of the red river is the photo with maximum zoom. On the other hand, the tours sin of what sin all the tours I have done, hour and a half of explanations and then a ridiculous time to enjoy the sites.

We recommend doing this really rewarding excursion! Our guide Sergio was exceptional, rich in knowledge and thanks to him we were able to see really great places we would not have been without knowing. The cave of wonders is also superb! Not to be missed:)

The visit very interesting and complete. They need to better indicate where to go because the visit consisted of 5 activities and had to travel by car between them. For a full day and do something different. To avoid the hot season.

We were able to observe the Rio Tinto mines from different places. It was very impressive. We also visited the Castle of Aracena and the Grotto of Wonders. We had a great day. Our guide Sergio, was very friendly throughout. And he gave us a lot of interesting information. The day was short. We had a great time.

The tour of the Rio Tinto mines was an exciting discovery orchestrated by our Pro Geology and History Guide. Stunning landscapes, unique, magnificent and beautiful. The choice of the village of Almonaster de la Real in the program of this visit is great. A gem away from the crowd in the authenticity of local life. As for the Gruta de las Maravillosas, a true fairy tale, even for regulars to visit the caves of Périgord. This journey has enchanted us beyond what we had imagined. A big thank you to Sergio!

Well organized tour. Among the various meeting points there was one right next to our Accommodation. We boarded a 19-seat bus dedicated entirely to the tour. Our Guide, Inés, was prepared and welcoming. Throughout the journey he told us curiosities and information about the places we crossed ranging from current events to historical events. The day was not very tiring, indeed, really suitable for everyone.

Great excursion of 10 hours, very complete and entertaining, but exclusive with transfer by Minivan. Guide and driver Sergio, a great professional and knowledgeable about the natural environment and geology.

Fueron muchos momentos especiales xq el tour estubo perfecto , Kaytherin la guia maravillosa , mucho conocimiento y muy buena atencion al igual que Juan el chófer

School trip with two classes of the last year of high school: the classic fifth grade trip! We made a group visit to Aracena, the Cave of Wonders and Rio Tinto: the visit was beautiful, very interesting and we saw wonderful environments. Thanks to our driver Pedro and our Italian guide, the very good Miguel!

We are disappointed with the Rio Tinto. The rest of the visit was very good. Our guide Catherine was perfect. The explanations were rich and interesting. The caves are breathtaking. The mining tour is very superficial. Fortunately Catherine was there to enrich the visit Thanks to her Valérie and Didier The French

Leuke trip, het gebied rondom de mijnen is erg indrukwekkend om te zien. Heel apart landschap met veel kleuren. Genoeg vrije tijd in Aracena om uitgebreid te lunchen. Hele mooie grot, ik had alleen niet verwacht dat er zoveel trappen naar boven en beneden zouden zijn, dan had ik het waarschijnlijk niet geboekt ivm mijn moeder die wat slecht ter been is.

No matter where you come from, Driss will know how to speak to your heart, French, English or Spanish, our guide has always demonstrated patience, clarity and humor. We could feel that he loved his job and transmitted his passion to us throughout the entire excursion. I recommend.

The wonderful place, I honestly think it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen and I am not exaggerating (too bad they don't allow photos to be taken), it is worth going. The guide, Driss, super funny and friendly, a person who conveys a lot about what he likes about his job, explaining and getting to know people. It has made this tour an experience that I will not forget in Seville. Thank you so much :)

The tour was very informative and fun Miguel was very nice and answered all questions well.

We were a small group, and we had a great time. The guide did not speak Italian, but we were notified the days before and spoke to us in English. He was very kind and it was a great experience. Perhaps you can shorten the time at the castle of Aracena because it is really very small, but otherwise, experience to recommend.

We were with Miguel and a group of tourists with old and young. It was an excellent tour that the guide has always adapted to our pace. I also accompany the elders when I needed it! We could see everything we wanted and with a good rhythm adapted to everyone. The explanations were clear and he was always available to answer our questions. 100% recommended - trusted agency. Well organized - punctual.

Save your money!! Excursion a bit too expensive (89 euros) to spend most of the time on the bus. The visit to the río tinto and the quarries lasted 5 minutes, we got off the bus and in the distance we saw the quarries and a small puddle passed off as Rio tinto!! Afterwards we visited an English quarter and a monastery without there being a historical/logical connection between the places, a bit to occupy the day. Around lunchtime we go to aracena to have lunch and visit the caves, the only place worth seeing! I recommend you choose agencies that organize a more in-depth visit to the quarries and Rio tinto or rent a car to go visit the caves!

The tour was wonderful, Carlos was very friendly and attentive throughout the tour, explained in detail about the story. I highly recommend that the tour be worthwhile and if you can go with Carlos.

The beautiful mines, the guide staff are excellent, the train leaves on time and everything very well organized

Very good experience making this excursion through the Riotinto area and the Sierra de Aracena, largely thanks to our guide Sergio, who gave everything to enjoy an unforgettable day. The source of the Riotinto River and mines are impressive, as well as the landscapes of the surroundings of Aracena, the Cave of Wonders or the mosque of Almonaster la Real. Thank you very much, Sergio, for how well you did!!! I really enjoyed the excursion!

It's an amazing tour. My favorite part: the grottos, which are not named for nothing. Carlos a genius, super friendly and always attentive. Excellent and clear explanations. Thanks for the experience!!!!