Imagine stepping inside an 8-meter-long, 2-meter-high crystal bubble, completely covered with translucent gypsum crystals up to 2 meters long, so perfect they seem like science fiction.
Now imagine this place really exists… just 4 meters underground in an abandoned mine in Almería, Spain.
Not Iceland, not Mexico, not Naica. This is the Pulpí Geode, declared in 2019 the largest visitable geode in the world and one of the planet’s most extraordinary geological treasures.
What is a Geode and Why is Pulpí Special?
A geode is a rock cavity lined with crystals, formed when mineral-rich water seeps very slowly over millions of years.
Typical geodes: quartz or amethyst, melon-sized.
Pulpí: gypsum (selenite) crystals up to 2 meters long, perfectly transparent, in a 71 m³ cavity (the size of a large living room).
Facts that will amaze you:
- Longest crystal: 1.9 m (world record for transparent gypsum)
- Cave volume: 10.7 m³ visitable
- Age: 2–6 million years
- Discovered: December 1999 by Grupo Mineralogista de Madrid
Note: Naica’s geode is larger but full of water at 58 °C, not safely visitable without a special suit.
How the Pulpí Geode Formed
6 million years ago, this area was a seabed. Mediterranean water infiltrated dolomite cracks rich in calcium sulfate.
Then came the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.96 million years ago): the Strait of Gibraltar closed, and the Mediterranean almost completely evaporated, lowering the sea level 1,500–2,500 meters.
Under these extreme conditions, gypsum slowly crystallized inside sealed cavities.
The secret: the water had to be perfectly still and under constant pressure.
Result: flawless, transparent crystals, so pure you could read a book through them.
Visiting the Pulpí Geode
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Temperature inside: 20 °C year-round, 100 % humidity
- Access: 72 metal stairs (not suitable for limited mobility)
- Max capacity: 12 people per tour
- Days: Wednesday–Sunday
- Price: €22 adults, €15 children/reduced
- Reservation: www.geodapulpi.com
Important: touching the crystals is prohibited; a single fingerprint can leave a permanent mark.
Why You Must Visit the Pulpí Geode Once in Your Life
Some “wonders of the world” are crowded with tourists.
The Pulpí Geode is different: a near-secret geological miracle, just 50 meters from the road and 15 minutes from the beach.
If you love crystals, geology, or simply want an unforgettable experience, book your visit now. In a few years, it will be much more famous and tickets will sell out fast.