Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno — Zoo in Cantabria

Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno and its collection

Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno, opened in 1989, is a safari park in Penagos, Spain.

The park covers 750 hectares in the Pisueña valley, 17 km from Santander and close to the village from which it takes its name. Wide enclosures imitate natural habitats within a restored landscape.

History

The site's mining past is treated as part of its heritage and built into the grounds. The Peña Cabarga karst massif is rich in iron ore and has been worked since Roman times, chiefly on its southern slope, with water-powered ironworks using surface ore developing in the Middle Ages. The ore supplied the royal artillery factory at La Cavada, which armed the Spanish navy for over two centuries.

Exhibits

Its exhibits include Elefantes, Osos, Jirafas, Gorilas and Rinocerontes.

Things to do

Things to do include Wild Visit, Explorer Visit, Cabárceno by E-Bike, Demonstrations and 360º Room.

What the venue says

• Visita Salvaje
• Visita Explorador
• Cabárceno en EBike
• Demostraciones
• There are several on-site restaurants, cafeterias, snack kiosks, and designated picnic/recreation areas scattered across the grounds where visitors can purchase meals or eat their own food.
• Free parking is available at multiple designated entrance areas (including the East and South entrances) located around the park perimeter.
• While the park features paved roads and designated parking spaces for visitors with reduced mobility, the vast 750-hectare landscape is very hilly and spread out.
• Most visitors tour by car, and the multi-line cable car system offers aerial accessibility and breathtaking panoramic views across the valleys.