Valencia: San Jose Caves Boat Tour & Roman Settlement Day Trip

Boat ride through San Jose Caves, ancient ruins and mountain views

You’ll float quietly through Europe’s longest underground river inside San Jose Caves with a local guide, then climb up to ancient Roman ruins for wide-open valley views. Includes pickup in Valencia and time to relax or grab brunch before heading back. It’s both strange and grounding at once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore San Jose Caves and surroundings

• Meet at Valencia pickup points
• Drive to la Vall d'Uixò
• Take boat across underground river
• Explore cave formations and history
• Free time at Iberian Roman settlement

The experience

The first thing I noticed was the air: cool and damp, like opening a cellar door in midsummer. We’d barely left Valencia when our guide, Marta, started sharing little stories about la Vall d’Uixò (I still can’t pronounce it right). She pointed out orange groves blurring past the window, then handed out a few tips for the caves. “Don’t touch the walls,” she said, “they’re older than anything you’ve seen.” I think someone in the back laughed nervously: maybe that was just me.

I didn’t expect to actually get on a boat underground. The boatman had this calm way of steering us through the black water while telling us bits about Cuevas de San José in Spanish and English (I caught most of it). The river echoed with every paddle stroke. Sometimes you could hear water dripping from stalactites above. At one point, Marta whispered that the temperature stays at 20ºC all year. It felt oddly comforting. There was this moment when we floated into a wider chamber and everyone went quiet. Not forced silence, just… respectful? I still think about that view: jagged rocks lit up by tiny lamps, shadows moving as we drifted.

Afterwards we climbed up to some old Iberian-Roman ruins: honestly, I needed the sunlight after all that darkness. The wind up there smelled faintly of wild herbs and dust. You could see all across the valley if you squinted past the haze. A couple of us grabbed coffee from a little bar (the server called me “guapo” and winked, made my day), while others just sat on a stone wall eating sandwiches they’d brought along. It wasn’t rushed at all. We had half an hour to wander or do nothing.

On the way back to Valencia, Marta answered questions about cave wildlife (apparently there are blind shrimp?) and gave advice on where to eat paella in town. The whole day trip to San Jose Caves from Valencia felt easygoing but kind of surreal too: like stepping sideways out of regular time for a few hours.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transportation from central Valencia meeting points, admission tickets for San Jose Caves with an official multilingual guide throughout (plus a boatman inside), plus free time at an Iberian-Roman settlement for exploring or grabbing brunch before returning together by air-conditioned vehicle.

Options for this experience

7 options

Day trip in English or Spanish08:00, 12:00 and 13:00Regular boat tour: you will travel along the underground river on board a boat. Suitable for all ages. Starting points: Ciudad de la Justicia de Valencia, Ciudad de la Justicia, Av. del Professor López Piñero, 14, Quatre Carreres, 46013 València, Valencia, Spain; Hotel NH Valencia Center, C/ de Ricardo Micó, 1, Campanar, 46009 València, Valencia, Spain; Torres de Serranos, C. de la Blanqueria, 1, Ciutat Vella, 46003 València, Valencia, Spain

Day trip in Italian08:00Language: an official guide in Italian will be provided. Pickup point: you will be collected at Serranos Towers, at the stairs that go up the towers. Starting point: Torres de Serranos, C. de la Blanqueria, 1, Ciutat Vella, 46003 València, Valencia, Spain

Day trip in Polish08:00Language: an official guide in Polish will be provided. Pickup point: you will be collected at Serranos Towers, at the stairs that go up the towers. Starting points: Ciudad de la Justicia de Valencia, Ciudad de la Justicia, Av. del Professor López Piñero, 14, Quatre Carreres, 46013 València, Valencia, Spain; Hotel NH Valencia Center, C/ de Ricardo Micó, 1, Campanar, 46009 València, Valencia, Spain; Torres de Serranos, C. de la Blanqueria, 1, Ciutat Vella, 46003 València, Valencia, Spain

See 4 more options

Day trip in French08:00Regular boat tour: you will travel along the underground river on board a boat. Suitable for all ages

Cruise pickup in German08:30Premium pickup for cruise ship passengers (in German). Duration: 4 hours, longer than the regular excursion: includes a 45-minute panoramic bus tour through Valencia before returning to the port. From the cruise terminal: starts and finishes at the cruise terminal. Starting point: Trasmed-Grimaldi Valencia, Moll de Ponent, Poblados Marítimos, 46024 Puerto de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Cruise pickup, English & Spanish08:30Premium pickup for cruise ship passengers. Duration: 4 hours, longer than the regular excursion: includes a 45-minute panoramic bus tour through Valencia before returning to the port. From the cruise terminal: starts and finishes at the cruise terminal. Minimum passengers: at least 8 passengers are needed for the pickup, and they do not have to be from the same reservation. Starting point: Trasmed-Grimaldi Valencia, Moll de Ponent, Poblados Marítimos, 46024 Puerto de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Cruise pickup in Italian08:30Premium pickup for cruise ship passengers (in Italian). Duration: 4 hours, longer than the regular excursion: includes a 45-minute panoramic bus tour through Valencia before returning to the port. From the cruise terminal: starts and finishes at the cruise terminal. Starting point: Trasmed-Grimaldi Valencia, Moll de Ponent, Poblados Marítimos, 46024 Puerto de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30, 12:00 and 13:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (6 to 12 years) · Child (3 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Polish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Valencia & Go

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English and Spanish, at 08:00, 08:30, 12:00 and 13:00. In Italian, at 08:00 and 08:30. In French and Polish, at 08:00. In German, at 08:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 12 years); Child (3 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the San Jose Caves guided tour from Valencia?

The total duration is around 4 hours including transport from Valencia, cave visit, and free time at the Roman settlement.

Is hotel pickup included for the San Jose Caves tour?

No direct hotel pickup, but you can choose from several central meeting points in Valencia: NH Valencia Center, Torres de Serranos, or Ciudad de la Justicia.

Can I bring my own food or drinks on this day trip?

You can bring your own food or drinks but eating is not allowed inside the bus or caves. There’s time outside for snacks or brunch.

Will I get wet during the underground river boat ride?

No swimming or getting wet is involved. You simply ride in a boat along the river inside San Jose Caves.

How much free time do we have at la Vall d’Uixò after visiting the caves?

You’ll have about 30 minutes of free time to explore ruins, relax outdoors or visit local bars and shops nearby.

Are photos allowed inside Cuevas de San José?

You can take photos only in designated areas without flash to protect cave fauna. Ask your guide for details on where photography is permitted.