La Calera Mines Hike & fly June 2026

The Minas de La Calera are an abandoned iron ore mining complex located on the slopes of the Peñas Blancas mountains in Cartagena, Spain, near La Azohía and Isla Plana. Active primarily from 1884 to the 1960s, the rugged, labyrinthine site features ruins, old mine shafts, and preserved cable-car towers. The complex was established around 1884 by French companies (like the Société de Forges de Firminy) to extract high-quality iron ore. Today, the remains of the complex serve as a popular—but highly challenging—hiking and caving destination. You can still spot the haunting ruins of the mining buildings, preserved remnants of the aerial tramway towers, and the blocked or open mouths of shafts like Mina Estigia. The site is considered a difficult and dangerous area to explore. It is essentially a vast underground labyrinth of deep shafts and multilevel galleries. Recommendations: Entering the mines alone is highly discouraged. It is strongly advised to go with experienced local guides or spelunkers, and ensure you have proper equipment, including multiple flashlights and fully charged batteries. With BaqPaqJaq