Altamira is located in northern Spain, in Cantabria, near a small town called Santillana del Mar. Santillana del Mar is situated on the northern branch of the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela; it is a beautiful medieval town with palaces and towers that have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cantabria.

The museum is located in the heart of one of the most important concentrations of Palaeolithic rock art in Europe, the Cantabrian coast. In July 2008 UNESCO granted World Heritage status to the Palaeolithic Cave Art of the Cantabrian Coast (northern Spain), a total of 17 prehistoric caverns that culminated the recognition granted in 1985 to the Cave of Altamira.

However, Cantabria also boasts many monuments and a rich cultural heritage; it is famous for its diverse landscapes, due to the concentration of high mountains, deep valleys and rugged coastlines, and for its excellent gastronomy. Visitors to the region will therefore find no shortage of alternatives to enrich their Cantabrian experience.