The Santimamiñe caves in Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve contain Paleolithic-era paintings of horses, goats, deer, and bears discovered in 1916. Due to deterioration from uncontrolled public access, the caves closed to visitors in 2004 but now offer hour-and-a-half guided tours where visitors use virtual technology to view the cave interior and paintings from the chapel of San Mamés interpretative center.

1. SANTIMAMIÑE CAVES

2. Santimamiñe caves are located in the beautiful Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai. The
paintings inside of them were discovered in 1916 by a group of children who played
in the area. The paintings represent several animals such as horses, goats, deer or
dun bears.

3. Due to the important disintegration of the paintings because of the masses of people
who visited the caves without control, it was decided to close them to the public in
2004. Even so, the investigations inside Santimamiñe continued, since they are
historical relics.
However, nowadays hour and a half long guided tours are offered. In these
tours, visitors enter the cave and admire the entrance of the site. Then, they
enter the chapel of San Mamés, which is today an interpretative center.
There, they can travel to the inside of the whole cave, with the aid of a
sophisticated virtual tour.