Sometimes losing your bearings can be incredibly rewarding. This feeling, far removed from anxiety and nervousness, is mirrored in the Cantabrian village of Villapresente. The largest labyrinth in Spain is one of the most unique leisure options in Cantabria, along with a visit to Cabárceno, a getaway to El Soplao, exploring GaudÒs Capricho in Comillas, a pilgrimage to Santo Toribio de Liébana, or taking a surfing lesson in Suances.
The Villapresente labyrinth is a network of cypress trees that grow to over 3 meters tall, planted in such a way as to create a series of paths where visitors to this attraction try to solve the enigma: escape as quickly as possible. Most of these paths lead nowhere, so in this case, not all paths lead to Rome. Many of the adventurers, even strangers, gather inside to try to reach the exit. Its interior gives the sensation of being in one of those imperial botanical gardens worthy of 19th-century English royalty.
Where is the Villapresente Labyrinth?
The Villapresente Labyrinth is located in the municipality of ReocÃn, in the town of the same name, just 10 minutes from Torrelavega, Suances, or Santillana del Mar, and 30 minutes from Santander and Comillas.
To reach it from Torrelavega, take the A-8 motorway toward Cabezón de la Sal/Oviedo and take exit 234 at Puente San Miguel. At this point, take the CA-136 regional highway and then merge onto the CA-353. Taking this road, and after passing the town of Villapresente, the labyrinth will be on your right.
To reach the Villapresente Labyrinth from Santander, take the A-67 motorway toward Torrelavega and follow the same route described above.
Also, from Asturias and the Basque Country, take the A-8 motorway and take exit 234 at Puente San Miguel. Next, follow the same path explained above.
Price of the Villapresente Labyrinth
There are several entry fees for the Villapresente Labyrinth:
- For those over 13, admission is €4/person.
- For children between 7 and 12, admission is €3/person.
- For children under 6, admission is free.
- For groups of more than 20 people, a fee of €3/person applies (in this case, reservations must be made through the labyrinth’s website).
Labyrinth Schedule
The labyrinth is open from Easter to the October Bank Holiday, from Tuesday to Sunday. Opening hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with last entry at 7:00 p.m. Throughout July and August, the labyrinth is open continuously, including Mondays.
The Villapresente labyrinth may be closed in case of heavy rain. This is due to the dirt floor, and areas may become too muddy for the activity to proceed optimally.
The largest labyrinth in all of Spain
Upon arriving at the labyrinth, the most striking thing is its size. Just over 5,000 m² of surface area, completely square, contains more than 5 kilometers of narrow corridors to navigate. Before entering the Villapresente labyrinth, remember: only one of them is the correct one. However, if you can’t find it for a while, don’t worry, as there are staff inside the labyrinth who will guide you with clues just enough to help you reorient yourself and, if necessary, get you out through one of the designated emergency exits.
At this point, you’ll probably be wondering if anyone hasn’t arrived by lunchtime. Don’t worry; the entire journey (even for the slowest people) usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Despite this, there are exceptions, and some people have spent their entire afternoon strolling around Villapresente, covering many more kilometers than necessary.
A good way to know if you’re doing it right is to reach the center of the maze. From there, there’s no turning back: you only have to complete the other half. However, reaching the center doesn’t necessarily mean completing the maze, as the second half is a bit more complicated.
One of the most fun options is to challenge your friends to see who can get out the fastest. One thing’s for sure: once you get out, you’ll want to try again and beat that time.
Other famous labyrinths in the world
Horta Labyrinth Park (Barcelona)
This 18th-century garden, a true example of the neoclassical style, has been a place to lose oneself and reconnect with sophisticated nature. It’s a historic garden in Barcelona’s Horta-Guinardó district, the oldest preserved garden in the city. Along the way, you can see a series of statues of mythological figures.
Longleat Hedge Maze (England)
More than 16,000 hedges cover the nearly 2 hectares that make up this labyrinth located in the United Kingdom. Nearly 2 kilometers of paths and even wooden bridges to cross paths create this place to get lost.
Reignac Sur Indre Labyrinth (Loches, France)
It’s known for being the world’s largest plant labyrinth. It’s located in a sunflower field in France. Interestingly, each year in winter, the entire field is planted, and in spring, when the sunflowers grow, a new labyrinth is created. You could say it’s a new labyrinth every year.
Dole Plantation Maze (Oahu, Hawaii)
The world’s longest maze is located at the Dole Plantation in Oahu, Hawaii. Owned by the Dole Fruit Company, it consists of 11,400 native and tropical plants. The striking feature is the pineapple in the center, a typical fruit from this area of ​​the planet.
Masone Natural Park (Fontanellato, Parma)
The Masone labyrinth covers eight hectares and is made up of 200,000 bamboo plants, each measuring between 30 centimeters and 15 meters. Located in the Italian region of Parma, it houses a palace with a world-class art collection.
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