Cable Car Stations
The Cabárceno Nature Park Cable Car consists of two independent installations that connect strategic points within the south and east access areas of the park, as well as the Mirador del Rubí area and the area located on the upper perimeter of the bear enclosure.
The cable car system spans a 6-kilometer route, divided into two independent installations:
– Line 1: Elephants.
– Line 2: Rhinoceroses.
The independent travel time for each cable car line is approximately 45 minutes for Line 1 (Elephants) and 15 minutes for Line 2 (Rhinoceroses), with transport speeds ranging between 2 and 3 meters per second.
Additionally, the cable car has four stations from which you can access the installation, located at strategic points within the park:
The access stations for each of the cable car lines are Station 1 and Station 4, both of which have parking available in their immediate vicinity.
For most of the year, it’s possible to ride both cable car lines in combination, allowing for a circular aerial tour. To do this, you’ll need to get off at Station 3 (Bears) and use the interchanger. It is always mandatory to disembark at Station 1 and Station 4. Whether or not to get off the cable car at stations 2 and 3 is up to the user.
Getting off at the intermediate stations (2 and 3) does not grant priority access if there are queues.
* Check the schedules for excluded dates.
Line I
Elephants
➢ Possible Routes from Station 1: Elephants
Departing from Station 1 – Elephants, you can enjoy views of the elephant and lechwe kob enclosures, as well as the watusi, addax. Cape buffalo, bison, oryx, lions, and lynxes, before arriving at Station 2 – Mirador de Rubí.
Upon reaching the Mirador de Rubí, if you choose to disembark, you can enjoy magnificent views of the entire Bay of Santander and part of the Peña Cabarga Massif on one side, and almost the entire Park on the other. It’s a very beautiful and characteristic image of Cantabria’s valleys and mountains, along with the Bay of Santander and the Cantabrian Sea all at once.
From the Mirador de Rubí, once you’re back on the cable car, you’ll reach Station 3. Along this stretch, you can observe the lion, baboon, and wallaby enclosures, as well as many of the Park’s spectacular karstic rock formations.
Once you reach Station 3, you can decide to get off again and enjoy the upper view of the enclosures for bears, giraffes, elands, and ostriches. From here, you can reboard the cable car to head to Station 4. Alternatively, you can continue your journey without leaving the cabin, returning to Station 1. In this case, you’ll fly over the enclosures of the hyenas, pygmy hippos, and elephants, thus concluding your trip.
If you decide to get off at Station 3, you can reboard the cable car to return to Station 1, or you can take the line that leads to Station 4 (Rhinoceroses). From this line, you can observe the enclosures for bears, common zebras, and amphibious hippos (in Lago Sexta). You must disembark at Station 4, from where a short walk will take you to the camel and rhinoceros enclosures.
Once at Station 4 (Rhinoceroses), you can decide whether to return to the starting point via the cable car (by reboarding to go to Station 3, and from there, changing to Line 1 to return to Station 1). Alternatively, if the free internal bus transfer system is operational (available in summer), you can use this service to return to your starting point. To check the availability and schedules of this bus service, it’s recommended to visit the “Schedules” section of the Cabárceno website.
Line II
Rhinoceros
➢Possible Routes from Station 4: Rhinoceroses
Starting from Station 4 – Rhinoceroses, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the bear enclosure, Cabárceno’s unique karstic landscapes, the zebra and hippopotamus enclosures, and a spectacular panorama of Lago Sexta and a geological area featuring lapies approximately 15 meters high. Upon reaching Station 3, you can decide whether to continue in the cabin back to your starting point or disembark to enjoy the elevated view of the bear, giraffe, eland, and ostrich enclosures, as well as a wonderful vista of the Pasiego mountains and valleys and then reboard the cabin to return to Station 4 or switch to Line 1 – Elephants.
In this latter case, you will pass over the hyena, pygmy hippopotamus, and elephant enclosures. You must disembark upon reaching Station 1 and then begin the previously outlined route from there.
From here, and before getting back on the cable car, you can also explore on foot the immediate surroundings and perimeter of one of the Park’s largest enclosures. This vast 25-hectare habitat is home to Cabárceno’s elephant herd.
Also, if the free internal bus transfer system is operational (available in summer), you can return to your starting point at Station 4 (Rhinoceroses) by using this service.
To find out the availability and schedules of the free bus service, it is recommended to visit the “Schedules” section on the website.
