Etxalar walks

A lovely circular route south of Etxalar to climb to the summit of Azkua. You’ll encounter all sorts of paths: tarmac roads, tracks, wide paths, narrow paths and even meadows. The entire ascent follows the GR®11, marked in red and white, whilst the descent takes the standard Azkua route, marked in places with yellow and white. Magnificent views from the summit and throughout the hike.

A beautiful hike from a delightful Basque-Spanish village over the passes, with magnificent views on both sides of the border.

Karmen – which we French spell Carmen – is indeed the heroine of a short story by Prosper Mérimée, written in 1835, as well as of George Bizet’s famous opera (1875). Carmen was born in Etxalar. The municipality of Etxalar has therefore created a path leading to the house where Karmen lived as a young woman. Along the route, there are six information boards about Karmen’s era, her way of life and the events that took place at that time. This is the route we are suggesting here. It is therefore a walk that combines nature and culture.

A beautiful hike offering superb views of the surrounding peaks and the ocean in the distance. In addition, you will pass through a fascinating archaeological site.

This is a short version of the pidgeon hunting hut circuit (the long version starts at the bottom of the valley). Starting from the pass, the elevation gain is greatly reduced, but this does not detract from the magnificent views of the surrounding peaks, the valleys (French and Spanish) and the coast (Basque and Landes) in the distance. Information boards also provide a better understanding of wood pigeon hunting.

An easy and quick climb to a beautiful summit offering enchanting 360° views.

Climb to Ibanteli from the Lizarrieta Pass, which is easy and offers beautiful views. The Lizarrieta Pass is a birdwatching spot and also the starting point for a large number of hikes.

This route starts at the Lizarieta Pass and goes around Ibanteli without passing through the Xokobia car park (the lowest point of a long loop). It offers the possibility of a half-day hike, without missing out on the magnificent views of the Basque valley and some legendary peaks.

A beautiful hike that allows you to admire many legendary peaks of the Basque Country and gain a better understanding of wood pigeon hunting.

A lovely, easy hike. Beautiful view from the summit.

Starting from refreshing streams, a warm-up walk through chestnut and oak woods gradually reveals the other side of the Rhune, towering above the foggy plains iridescent with the first rays of the sun. After following a small canal, the route climbs into the open, widening the view of the hillsides. The slope becomes steeper along the edge of the forest, then along the border, before levelling out onto a wide, beautiful lawn. It is then time to climb the last slopes leading to the summit of Ibanteli. This summit offers a breathtaking 360° panorama of the Basque countryside, the ocean, the Rhune, the Col d'Ibardin, the Peñas de Hayas and, to the east, the Pyrenees and Atxuria. In this direction, you can also see the Lizarrieta border pass, which may be waiting for you for a refreshing break or a typical, hearty lunch..

A short mountain walk which, as you climb, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding villages.

This mountain hike offers stunning views of the surrounding villages as you climb. Furthermore, the route takes you over the Col de Lizarrieta, where there are two restaurants—one in Spain and the other in France—offering the chance to stop for a bite to eat.

A ridge route above the town of Bera, taking you from the Col de Lizuniaga, on the French-Spanish border, to Bera. The Haute Route des Pyrénées is not yet very high at this point.

This is a very pretty hike that takes you up Atxuria or Peña Plata, a rocky peak above the caves of Sare. We will start near the caves. Etymologically speaking, Atxuria comes from aitz-xuria, meaning "white rock". To the south, it is called Peña Plata, or "silver peak", which comes from the light colour of the rock when the sun shines on it. This peak is a border peak. During this hike, we will be in Spain, in the part that goes around the peak.

Starting from the caves of Sare (which are well worth a visit), the climb to this proud summit offers a magnificent panorama. The climb up the French side, which is sometimes steep, quickly takes you close to the summit ridge, which you follow to reach the top of Atxuria. The route continues opposite the village of Zugarramurdi, the village of witches, before plunging down the Spanish side. A wild crossing precedes a steeper descent back to the French side, passing at the foot of cliffs made up of countless brown-red ledges: overhanging, they serve as a refuge and nesting place for colonies of griffon vultures that fly over this idyllic pastoral landscape. As you approach the forest, the hundred-year-old beech trees and the refreshing company of streams give this gentle valley an enchanting air.

A beautiful walk starting from the Sare Caves and passing through the Zugarramurdi Caves, the Witch Museum and the village of Zugarramurdi.

A beautiful circular route around Atxuria (Peña Plata in Spanish).

Atxuria or Peña Plata is a beautiful peak with 100-metre cliffs on its southern face. Magnificent views of the Spanish mountains and the northern plains. There are numerous caves at its base. The most famous are those of Sare and Zugarramurdi, which were inhabited in the Palaeolithic era.

A lovely circular walk starting from the Grottes de Sare and climbing up to the Col des Trois Bornes.

Another way to do a circular route around Atxuria. Easier than some of the other routes already published, with only 450 m of elevation gain. Magnificent views of the impressive cliffs of Atxuria. Some difficult sections – see the reviews

Several hikers have reported that the path after the Zugarramurdi caves is now blocked. I have modified the route (July 2023). From the centre, take the road that leads to the cemetery. A superb hike that avoids the climb to the summit, which can be exhausting and difficult to find.I have already posted this hike on Visorando.You will walk along the magnificent and impressive cliffs of Atxuria. On this southern side, the hike, with less elevation gain and a few hundred metres more, becomes bucolic.

Un itinéraire en boucle à travers les vallons qui entourent Sare en passant par la Redoute en étoile de Santa Barbara.

A beautiful loop from the charming village of Vera de Bidassoa with a magnificent view of La Rhune on the way up and a pleasant descent through the forest.

The climb up the south face of Aritzmendi allows you to hike in the sun, apart from the beautiful forest sections. The view from the top is magnificent, with a 360° panorama of mountains and ocean.