Sardinia has plenty of natural caves open to the public. These places offer a unique atmosphere and some truly unforgettable sights. If you are planning to visit the east part of the island, you absolutely cannot miss the Grotte del Bue Marino (Sea Oxen Grotto in English).
Located in the stunning Gulf of Orosei, and easily visited from Cala Gonone, in the territory of Dorgali, the Bue Marino Caves are part of the Codula di Luna karst tunnel, the largest in Italy with a whopping length of more 70 km (around 43.5 miles).
I love the area of the Gulf of Orosei, and visit almost every summer. So I have been to the Sea Oxen Grotto many times. If you want to know more about them – what’s special about them, how they were discovered, and how you can visit too – then keep reading this guide!
Make sure to also read my posts The Nicest Caves To Visit In Sardinia and A Guide To Visiting Neptune’s Grotto.
The History Of The Grotte Del Bue Marino
The Grotta del Bue Marino were only discovered recently. The first visits actually date back to the 1950s, when fishermen and shepherds guided scholars or plain tourists through the caves on the Cala Luna trail.
The caves were particularly famous in the past for being a breeding place for monk seals – in fact, the larges in Italy. That’s actually what the name “bue marino” (sea oxen) refers to: the large monk seals that populated the cave, as they were affectionately called by the locals.
And that’s how we learned about them in school as children – only to discover with time that the monk seals have become extinct in the 1980s, following the exploitation of the area for tourist purposes.
The presence of some ancient rock carvings are testimony of the fact that the cave was also visited during the Neolithic period. These carvings, representing a human circle around a stylized sun, suggest that the cave was considered a sacred place.
Exploring The Grotta Del Bue Marino
The Sea Oxen Grotto is divided into three Rami (branches): the Ramo Nord, Ramo di Mezzo and Ramo Sud. The Ramo Nord was open to the public from the 1950 to the 1980, then closed due to the cessation of karst activity. It is currently equipped with walkways for tours, and will probably reopen in the future.
The middle branch consists of submerged tunnels and is accessible only by authorized speleologists. A new cave was discovered in 2016 and the exploration is still ongoing.
With this in mind, at the moment the only branch open to visits is the Ramo Sud, which is equipped by walkways and lights.
Upon arriving, you will join a guided tour that will last about 30 minutes and will take you through part of the cave, where you can admire the freshwater ponds, created by underground rivers, as well as the sandy beaches that separate them.
The stalactites and stalagmites offer a unique and striking atmosphere, while the light beams entering the cave create chromatic wonders worth seeing. The tour will end at the beach, which in the past was used by seals for mating and for giving birth.
How To Visit The Grotta Del Bue Marino
Sea Oxen Grotto opening hours
The only way to visit the Sea Oxen Grotto is on guided tours that last about one hour. Tours are available from April to October.
Departure times vary – you can see them on the official site – and there are less tours during the shoulder season (April, May and October), and 7 daily departures from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm from June to September included.
If you intend to visit in the off season, you’ll have to make an appointment via the ProLoco Dorgali by calling +39078496243.
Grotta del Bue Marino tickets
The price of guided tours of the Grotta del Bue Marino varies between low season and peak season (June to September). Adults currently pay €10 during low season and €12 in peak season. Concession tickets are €5 in the low season and €6 in the peak season. This is just the price of the grotto tour, but not of the boat ride.
You can buy tickets for the boat ride and the cave at the Cala Gonone port ticket office; or at the harbor in Arbatax, Orosei, Santa Maria Navarrese and La Caletta di Siniscola. Otherwise, you can book your visit online on the official website.
If you use the official website, the ticket already factors in the cost of the boat ride to and from the cave.
How to get to the Grotta del Bue Marino
The Grotta del Bue Marino can only be reached by boat, so unless you have your own, you will have to opt for one of the many cruises that depart from the nearby harbors.
The best departure point to visit the Grotta del Bue Marino is Cala Gonone, a beach hamlet that can be reached by car or bus from Dorgali. Boat tours departing from Cala Gonone go along the Gulf of Orosei as well as Cala Luna and other nearby beaches.
You will also find boat rides that depart from Orosei, Arbatax and Santa Maria Navarrese, but navigation time in this case will be longer.
There are several companies that offer transportation services and depending on your needs you can just show up at the harbor for the ride – just make sure to double check if tickets to the caves are included, to avoid any unpleasant surprise when you get there.
You can also book this hop-on hop-off cruise in the Gulf of Orosei with a stop at the Grotta del Bue Marino. Please be advised that this boat tour does not include tickets to the caves.
You should also read my posts A Guide To Cala Gonone and The Best Cala Gonone Boat Tours.
Final tips
Make sure to wear comfortable, closed shoes for your visit, as the trail can be slippery in places.
The caves have a yearly temperature of about 18°C (little over 64°F), so make sure to bring an extra layer to wear inside, as it can feel quite cold compared to the outside if you are visiting in the summer.
Also don’t forget to charge your smartphone and camera, because the cave interior provides for some spectacular shots!
Pin It For Later!
Hello Robin, I don’t know of any tour from Arbatax that goes all the way to the Grotte del Bue Marino, and I am not sure you can just get a boat at the harbor if you just show up. While many boat tours from Cala Gonone do stop at Grotte del Bue Marino, boat tours from Arbatax only go as far as Grotta del Fico. I visited last summer and it was gorgeous so you may want to consider that instead. My post https://strictlysardinia.com/gulf-of-orosei-boat-tour/ gives you all the options – including departures from Arbatax.
Good Morning Claudia,
We are staying in Arbatax in two weeks and want to take a boat from there to the Grotte del Bue Marino. Will we need to reserve a boat ahead or just go to the port? Is there one you recommend?
Thank you so much. I’ve really enjoyed your site while planning our stay!
I don’t. You can actually get there by public boat (there are boats departing regularly from Cala Gonone) and once there, your admission ticket includes a guided tour.
Do you know of a private guide to take 4 adults by boat to see the Grotte del Bue Marino in the third week of September.
Thank you
Kathy
Hello Sandy!
Let me link to some posts that may help you plan your trip:
1) https://strictlysardinia.com/airports-in-sardinia/
2) centenarians won’t be eating plant based. It’s been a trend here perhaps in the last 10 years. I am not sure you have read this https://strictlysardinia.com/sardinia-blue-zone/ – but it also gives you an idea of guided tours in the area, and where to go.
3) I am not sure I understand the question? Anyhow, my post https://strictlysardinia.com/cala-gonone-boat-trips/ gives you options for tours that stop in the caves too.
4) Here https://strictlysardinia.com/best-cala-gonone-hotels/ you can find information on the best places to stay in the area.
Hope this helps!
Lovely post…Thank You for the detailing. I am traveling to Italy in early June and spending some 4 days (that’s all sadly) in Sardinia. Request your help in figuring a few things if possible 🙂
1. I am using public transport/ traveling solo. Do you suggest I fly from Rome to Cagliari or Olbia or Alghero?
2. I was fascinated by the Blue Zone coverage of Sardinia. Would you know which villages have been covered as the village/s with centenarians/plant based predominantly?
3. The post on the Grotte del Blue Marino & Neptune’s Grotto is beautiful. Which area should I be in to join a guided tour/ Rather how can I do a guided tour of both?
4. Lastly any acco that you’d recommend would be immensely helpful.
Thanks a mega ton. Sandy