GRUTA DO NATAL OPENING SEASONS
OPENING DAYS AND SCHEDULES
- JANUARY 1st until MARCH 31st:TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS – 2:30pm until 5:00pm (1)
- APRIL 1st until MAY 31st:EVERY DAY – 2:30pm until 5:00pm
- JUNE 1st until SEPTEMBER 30th:EVERY DAY – 2:00pm until 6:00pm
- OCTOBER 1st until DECEMBER 31st:TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS – 2:30pm until 5:00pm(1)
TICKET AND PAYMENT
- No bookings are required, tickets can only be purchased upon arrival. There are no online bookings, advance purchases or group rates
- Payment methods; Cash, Debit Card and Credit Card (except America Express)
- Admission price per person: 9,00€ (there are no Combo Tickets Natal+Algar do Carvão)
(1) THE CAVE WILL BE CLOSED ON NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: January 1st | Easter Day | December 1st | December 25th
THE CAVE WILL BE CLOSED ON TOLERANCE DAYS: Carnival Tuesday | December 24th | December 31st
- Ticket sales and admissions are processed during hours established by the Board of Diretors
- The schedule is posted at the Natal Cave Visitor Center, as well as on the official website and Fabebook page
- Opening hours and days are subject to change without prior notice
- The right to deny entry after closing time is reserved, even for those with combined tickets
CAPACITY & QUEUE MANAGEMENT
- A single queue system will operate on a first-come, first-served basis
- No priority is given for organised groups or free admission groups.
- The maximum capacity inside the cave is 80 people (this number may be lower)
- Admissions are temporarily suspended whenever the maximum number of visitors is reached
GROUP VISITS
- For groups, it is recemmended that the number of people be no more than 20
- For groups larger tha 20 people, slitting into smaller groups may be
FREE ADMISSION
Eligible for free admission:
- Montanheiros members with regularized membership fees (entitled to one guest)
- Children under 12 years of age accompanied by a paying adult
- Local tour guides on duty
- Holders of a card or official certificate of disability
- The maximum number of free admission is 25 people per day
- Free admission groups must submit a visit request at least 48 hours in advance (approval is subject to availability and operational constraints)
- Priority is given to Azorean organizations like schools (except higher education), support centers for the elderly or disadvantaged people, after-school activity centers (ATLs), scout groups and fire departments
- Family members accompanying theses groups are no eligible for free admission
- All requests for collaborations will be reviewd and considered individually, the decision will always be made by the Board Of Directors of the Association
SAFETY & PHISICAL CONDITIONS
- Relative air humidity is always very high (above 90%), sothere is constant dripping inside the cave
- The floor is quite uneven (largely the original cave floor) and rough
- Not recommend for: people with physical limitations, balance problems, claustrophobia (if applicable, this shoud be reported at reception), babbies or toddlers, or women in advanced stages or pregnancy
- Appropriate footwear and clothing are advised (sneakers, boots hiking gear)
PROHIBITED
- Collection/destrution of geological samples
- Leave litter inside the cave
- Use of tripods (except with prior ant timely autorization from Montanheiros Board of Directors)
- Smoking and eating inside the cave
- Entry with animals is prohibited without exceptions
ASSISTANCE
- In case of doubt, visitors should seek clarification at reception
CONTACTS:
TRAVEL AGENCIES (Prior email: Group name | File or Voucher number | Paxs):
INFORMATIONS | VISITATION REQUESTS | AUTHORIZATIONS:

This cave, initially known as Galeria Negra, was renamed to Gruta do Cavalo around the first explorations, due to the finding of the remains of the bones of a horse that had fallen through the entrance opening. Later, conquering the “mystery” that this cave had represented in the past, the Montanheiros started something that would become a singular tradition.
Thus, after December 25, 1969, with the celebration by the Patriarca das Índias D. José Vieira Alvernaz, it was renamed to Gruta do Natal. This date also marks the opening of the cave for the first time to the population, for which a simple access was built and rudimentary lighting installed.
Christmas Masses have been held in other years, and the cave has also hosted a christening and a wedding.
Location
Gruta do Natal is located aproximately 12 km from the city of Angra do Heroísmo, near Picos Gordos, still inside the Natural Forest Reserve of Serra de Santa Bárbara and Mistérios Negros, but already integrated in a strongly humanized zone, surrounded by high altitude pastureland and cryptomeria and next to the Lagoa do Negro.
It has the following coordinates 38°44’14.73″N 27°16’6.63″W.
On the way to Biscoitos, in the interior of the island, there is a sign 500 meters away at a road junction, indicating its existence and location.
The Cave
The interest of this association for the touristic exploration of this cave is due, in the first place, to the historic and sentimental relationship which the association has always maintained with this cavity. But also due to the fact that, amongst all the caves which exist on the Terceira island, this was the one which offered the best conditions for tourist exploration as well as the fact that it constitutes a complementary geological structure to an algar.
The genesis of the cave is uncertain. One explanation points to its origin in lava flows from fissure eruptions, which occurred in a valley that once existed between the peaks that make up the local landscape.
This is a lava tube with a total length of 697 meters, mostly of easy transit, on a floor with little unevenness and high ceilings. The internal circuit is made so that there is no need for the visitor to take the same route in the return trip. It is also important the cultural and traditional history that this cave possesses, as well as the scientific value in geological formations.
In its interior you can see various geological structures such as flows of different types of lava, staphylites and lateral counters.
It presents itself as a didactic space that more and more teachers, accompanied by their classes, use to better understand the volcanic manifestations that were found in the genesis of these islands.
It has been the scene of numerous acts of vandalism in the past, so access is now conditioned.
The Support House
In the distant past, the Montanheiros had built a house – a hayloft type – to give support to the explorations of the Cave of Natal at the time. However, the simplicity of the structure led to its degradation, also due to the criminal acts to which it was subjected.
Finally, in 1998 the Montanheiros managed to start the tourist exploitation project of the Cave of Natal, with the construction of a new support house, perfectly integrated in the surrounding landscape. This building has the following functions: to house the generator system and control the permanent electrification of the cave, to protect it from vandalism and to value it, creating the minimum conditions for visitors to have a first contact and to enjoy the beauties and novelties that a lava tube has to offer.
The building also houses sanitary facilities, a room for the Generator and a tunnel with access stairs to the interior of the cave. Inaugurated on December 1st, 1998, anniversary date of the association, it opened to the public regularly from June 1st, 1999.
Visits to the Gruta do Natal
It is possible to visit the Gruta do Natal all year round, both in low season, with weekly openings on fixed days, and in high season, with daily openings.

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