In Asturias, a land of hollows and mountains that seem designed to keep secrets, Cueva Huerta is aligned with other notable cavities, although without the prehistoric pomp of Tito Bustillo or the stalactitic brilliance of the El Pindal cave. Nor can it be compared to the spectacular depths of La Lluera or Candamo, where the ancient inhabitants left evidence of their pictorial interests on the skin of the stone. No, Cueva Huerta is different: wilder, more abrupt, with a karst system of almost 14 kilometers of galleries - composed of a gorge, sinkhole, large cave, various underground channels and resurgence - where there are no bison or rock horses, but rather an underground symphony of dripping water, dark lakes, and bats tracing their blind routes through the shadows. Here dwells one of the most important bat colonies in northern Spain.
The surrounding environment is as overwhelming as the cave itself. We are in the Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park, in the Estrechura gorge, just a few kilometers from the Prehistory Park., a territory where nature still dictates the rules. What begins as a peaceful cavity becomes a labyrinth where the rock seems alive, shaped by water and geological patienceThe Sampedro River, which runs through it, has carved its galleries with the precision that only nature achieves when it has thousands of years to complete its work.
For speleologists, Cueva Huerta is a gem; for bats, a home.; for unsuspecting walkers, a reminder that there are places that don't need to be tamed to be understood. It's no coincidence that it has been declared a Natural Monument in 2002: In a time when everything must be accessible, where roads are paved and viewpoints are marked with explanatory signs, Cueva Huerta remains a challenge, a mystery that penetrates the earth and invites us to look at it with the reverence of someone looking into the unknown.
The galleries: a labyrinth sculpted by water
Its karst system is one of the most extensive in Asturias, with galleries that wind under the mountain range with the patient tenacity of rock shaped by water.
can be distinguished two main levels:
· The upper level, drier and easier to access, where the visitor can tour large rooms with limestone flows and speleothems that reflect the slow filtration of waterStalactites and stalagmites predominate here, some of them with whimsical shapes that speleologists have given evocative names. The formations often resemble stone curtains or dripping water frozen in time, creating a mysterious setting that seems straight out of a Celtic legend.
· The lower level, on the other hand, is the domain of waterThe Sampedro River flows through these galleries intermittently, increasing its volume during the rainy season and forcing cavers to carefully measure their steps. At this level, there are underground lakes, some of them with siphons that defy human exploration. It is not suitable for casual visitors: here the cave reveals its most untamed side, with Narrow passages, sinkholes and flood zones that require skill and respect.
In addition, inside There are chimneys and vertical ducts that connect the different levels and have been formed by the erosive action of water over thousands of years. These passages connect narrow galleries with larger rooms, creating a labyrinthine path that only the most experienced can navigate safely.
Visits to Cueva Huerta
Currently, guided tours are managed by the active tourism company Deporventura. They can be taken two types of visit: a family member with a duration about 50 minutes. And another, 3 hours long With rappels, crawl spaces, siphons, and more, this route explores the underground course of the Val de Sampedro River. The tour inside the galleries is simple and suitable for everyone, unless you have mobility issues.
How to get to Cueva Huerta
From Oviedo he takes the A-63 La Espina highwayWe take exit 9 direction N-634 Trubia, and then take the detour to the AS-228 to Proaza and Teverga. Crossing the areas of the Bear Trail - Tuñón, Villanueva, Proaza, Caranga de Abajo, Entrago, until reaching San Martín de Teverga. From there, continue towards Puerto de Ventana, about 6 and a half kilometers from San Martín, where a well-signposted detour leads to the mouth of the cave, a short distance from the road.
Photographs: © Roberto Molero on Flickr
