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If there were 6 stars, this would get them!

A most amazing place to visit! Just WONDERFUL.

This is the 2nd largest grotto in Spain, with at least 3 huge chambers, lakes, stalagmites and stalactites galore and masses of weird and wonderful sights.

You have to reserve your place on a guided walk, your hotel will tell you the opening times. We arrived at the ticket office at 5.15 and got two places on the 6 o'clock walk.

WARNING: this is a kilometre and a quarter of walking up and down, on slippery uneven floors, alongside sheer drops (with a guard rail) and with loads of steps. Not for those with walking difficulties or fear of heights. At one point you have to walk on an uneven path and bend down to avoid hitting your head - if you have poor balance it's a bit tricky.

Having said that, it was a wonderful experience. Cool inside - averaging 17 degrees Centigrade all round, it was delightful after the fierce Andalusian sun outside. The walk takes about 45 minutes, depending on how often the guide has to stop to tell people not to touch and make sure that they didn't get left behind.

The grotto is 50 metres high at one point, and you are only 100 metres under the castle and church on top of the hill. Which means that when you walk up to the castle, the ground underneath is hollow. Scary thought . . .

There is no English spoken nor any guide in English. But it's basically just what they told you in school. You know: Mites go up, Tights come down. :-)

One thing he told us was that the best time to visit is in the day or two after heavy rainfall, because then there are spectacular waterfalls in the main caverns.

But even without that, this was a real highlight of our week in the Sierra de Aracena.

They take photos of you in family groups inside the grotto and sell you the prints - go on, buy them, these poor people are trying to make a living!

And do give the guide 2 or 3 Euros - it's not a prosperous place.

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