Holiday apartment in Atapuerca: Archaeology, Caves and Nature

The Sierra de Atapuerca contains the earliest and most extensive evidence of human presence in Europe. The archaeological sites were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Atapuerca, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies side by side on accommodation listing pages. When comparing such information, you can consider the individual fields separately and align them with your own travel plans.

Culture

The guided tour of the Atapuerca sites starts at the CAREX visitor reception centre in Atapuerca or the CAYAC centre in Ibeas de Juarros. The tour of the sites departing from CAREX lasts approximately one hour and 45 minutes. It takes you through the so-called Trinchera del Ferrocarril, an artificial passage through limestone created in the Sierra at the beginning of the 20th century. The sites of Sima del Elefante, Galería and Gran Dolina are visited during the tour.

CAREX is dedicated to communicating experimental archaeology and houses Spain’s first permanent exhibition on experimental archaeology. The combination of the sites, the artificial limestone passage and the exhibition connects the on-site visit with a specially designed educational offering.

Nature

Atapuerca Natural includes a guided walk along the botanical trail next to the archaeological sites and in the surrounding area of the Sierra de Atapuerca. During the tour, visitors learn about the flora and fauna of the Sierra. The Sierra de Atapuerca is a karst complex with numerous caves, many of which are open to the outside.

At Atapuerca Espeleo, participants visit Cueva Peluda, one of the best-known caves in the Trinchera del Ferrocarril. Cueva Peluda has an easily walkable route suitable for all visitor groups. For your own planning, the guided tour, walk and cave visit can be compared as different formats side by side.

The offerings can be distinguished by their focus: the sites represent archaeology and guided tours, Atapuerca Natural the botanical trail with its flora and fauna, and Atapuerca Espeleo the cave visit. For planning your day, the approximate duration of the guided tour, the walk and the easily walkable cave route are also different features.

History

North of Atapuerca, the parish church of San Martín stands on a hill. The parish church combines Gothic and Renaissance styles. According to tradition, the menhir known as “Fin del Rey” is connected with the death of García III of Navarre in the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054.

The dolmen mounds are located on the Camino de San Juan, which is also known as Carresanjuán. The Camino de Santiago, described as Europe’s most important pilgrimage route and part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1993, also runs in the immediate vicinity of the Atapuerca archaeological sites.

Other places

Jurisdicción De Lara, Villalbilla de Burgos, Castrillo Del Val, Arenillas de Villadiego, Fuentelcésped, San Millán de San Zadornil, La Puebla De Arganzón, Población De Arreba

For the higher-level travel overview: Burgos.