A few kilometres from Ronda, just outside the white village of Benaojan lies one of the most spectacular cave systems in Spain, Pileta Paleolithic Cave Paintings at Benaojan and in the mouth of one, several galleries of cave paintings that are as old as 30,000 years, and were created by paleolithic people of Ronda before the last great ice age. Best of all, the caves are open to the public with a local tour guide to explain the significance of the artwork.
How to book a visit to Pileta Paleolithic Cave Paintings at Benaojan
The Cave is open all year round but you MUST reserve in advance. Visits are guided in Spanish and English in a group with a maximum of 2o people and the visit lasts for about an hour.
Reservations: Tel: +34 677 610 500 Attention hours: 10:00h to 13:00h. SMS messages will not be answered.
Alternatively, Ask your hotel reception to make a reservation for you.
Website of the Pileta cave:
https://www.cuevadelapileta.es
Visiting hours
- Weekdays: 11:30 h, 13:00h y 16:00h
- Weekend and holidays: 11:00h, 12:00h, 13:00h, 16:00h
Rates
- Adults: 15 €
- Children (5 to 10 years): 10 €
- Students (or groups more than 15 people): 10 €
Observations:
it is required to be at the Cave 20 minutes before your allocated entry time, otherwise the reservation may be canceled. Note that the path that ascends from the parking to the Cave entrance takes about 10 minutes to walk.
If you don’t have reservation you maybe able to join a group if there are places available due to no shows, late arrivals or cancellations but it is best to reserve your visit in advance to ensure you get in.
Pileta is 670m above sea level, and the cave entrance 40m above the road so views of the surrounding land are wonderful though the walk to the cave entrance can be difficult for some people, but inside the cave visitors normally have no problems, actually even people with poor stamina are able to enjoy the guided tour.
The caves were rediscovered after thousands of years of being closed to the world, by Jose Bullon Lobato in 1905, a local farmer who followed a group of bats because he wanted to collect their droppings to use for fertilizer. The bats seemed to be living inside the mountain, and when he managed to crawl into a small space and explore, he was surprised to discover discover pictures on the walls, pieces of ancient pottery, and human bones on the floor of the cave.
At first he thought the artifacts were from the medieval times, and thinking they weren’t important, he abandoned his search, but in 1911 a retired British colonel heard about the paintings and visited to see for himself. It’s lucky he did, because the significance of the paintings was immediately obvious to him.
Since then, numerous discoveries of animal and human bones dating back more than 30,000 years have been made, and the paintings dated to over 20,000 years old, which proves that Ronda and the mountains have been home to people for a very long time, making the area one of the most important crossroads of human migration in Southern Europe.
Paintings you will see include pictures of cows, birds, deer, dolphins, tortoises, people, fish, and numerous lines that seem to be an ancient calendar. The precise meaning of many of the pictures has yet to be deciphered, but this hasn’t prevented the owners opening the cave to the public so you too can enjoy seeing what our ancestors wrote on cave walls.
FAQ — Pileta Paleolithic Cave Paintings at Benaoján
Located just outside Benaoján, near Ronda, the Cave of La Pileta contains galleries of cave paintings dating back as far as 30,000 years—created before the last Ice Age. As one of Spain’s most spectacular cave art sites, it offers visitors a rare, direct glimpse into Paleolithic life.
Visits are guided in Spanish and English, require advance booking via phone (+34 677 610 500) or through your hotel, and operate year-round in groups up to 25. Winter hours are roughly 11:30, 13:00, 16:00 (weekdays) and weekends add 11:00, 17:00; summer adds extra morning and late‑afternoon slots.
The one‑hour tour explores the cave’s galleries via staircases from the car park (allow 10 min uphill). Arrive 20 minutes before your tour; late arrivals risk losing their slot.
Tickets are €15 for adults, €10 for children aged 5–10, and €10 per person for large groups (15+). Under 5’s are not charged.
Discovered accidentally by farmer José Bullón Lobato in 1905 while collecting bat guano, the cave later attracted scholarly attention from Willoughby Verner and Abbé Breuil in the early 1900s.
Expect depictions of cows, deer, birds, fish, dolphins, tortoises, humans, and abstract calendar-like motifs, some dating over 20,000 years old.
The route includes a 10 minutes uphill walk from the carpark to get to the cave entrance and around 243 internal steps over uneven terrain. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and note that young children may struggle and need a helping hand. Inside, the terrain is manageable but the floor can be slippery when wet.
Photography and flash are prohibited to protect both the art and the resident bat colonies.
The site remains privately managed by the Bullón family’s descendants, with strict visitor limits to preserve its condition.
This UNESCO-level Paleolithic site is one of the most significant in southern Europe and makes a powerful complement to Ronda’s historical attractions—bridging modern city charm with one of mankind’s earliest artistic legacies.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!