Guadalupe Chapel and the coastal path at the foot of Jaizkibel

Take advantage of a sunny day to picnic and enjoy this short family walk of about 8km. A bit of road with very little traffic, then a forest path, and then the descent to the ocean. You'll find coves, steep hills, sailing boats, cows, sheep and pottoks.
Before or after your walk, don't forget to visit the chapel of Guadalupe and its view over the bay of Hendaye/Hondarribia and the mouth of the Bidassoa.

Details

1135169
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 228 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 227 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 200 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 12 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Hondarribia, follow signs for "Jaizkibel-Guadalupe".
Just after the Guadalupe chapel, at the crossroads, take the small road to the right and park in the large car park on your left, 50m after the crossroads. Between this parking area and the chapel, a large green space with picnic tables awaits you.

(S/E) Head North/North-East (opposite the entrance to the car park) and continue along the small asphalt road. At the next crossroads (4 roads), turn left down the road. You'll find a large house on the right-hand side of the road, go straight on for about 250m.

(1) At the fork in the road, take the dirt track on your left, which descends into the forest. After approx. 1300m, you'll find a path on your left which descends a little steeply. Go down to the small concrete building.

(2) At the level of the small building, go left up the rock steps to find a dirt track, the GR®121, which runs along the ocean coast from the Phare du Figuier to San Sebastian. Follow this path up and down along the Atlantic coast. After about 800 m, you'll come to a small cove that's very popular with Spaniards in summer.

(3) At the next intersection, turn right onto the path leading down to the cove. Cross the stream and take the path on your right, which climbs up the other side of the cove. Continue along this path for about 2km, ignoring the numerous tracks on your left. Along the way, you're likely to come across pottoks, sheep and cows (don't go near these rather wild ruminants) and, on a clear day with a little breeze, you'll catch a glimpse of sailing boats on the ocean.

(4) At a fork in the road (when the path turns away from the ocean), leave the right-hand path leading down to the cove (the GR®121 continues), go straight on into the forest and take the wide path running alongside it. Without leaving this path, come to a large parking area and join the asphalt road.

(5) Turn left onto the asphalt road and keep to the left to keep a clear view of the vehicles on this road. Be careful with children, you'll be walking on the edge of the road, so it's advisable to walk on the grass as much as possible.

(E) After about 1200m, you'll come to the last crossroads (buildings). Keep left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 196 m - Large car park behind Guadalupe
  2. 1 : km 1.05 - alt. 136 m - Intersection, left-hand dirt track
  3. 2 : km 2.51 - alt. 15 m - Meeting point with the GR121, on the left
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 18 m - Intersection, right towards the creek
  5. 4 : km 5.31 - alt. 32 m - Head for the forest, leaving the GR
  6. 5 : km 6.97 - alt. 184 m - Left on the road
  7. S/E : km 8.26 - alt. 196 m - Large car park behind Guadalupe

Notes

There are no drinking water points or shelters on this hike, so we strongly recommend that you take precautions before setting off.

As for any walk, you will need to take along some water, cereal bars or fruit, rain gear and the essentials, walking shoes or very good sneakers.

Worth a visit

Between (3) and (4), you're sure to encounter pottoks. If you see foals, it's highly recommended not to get too close, as mothers are very sensitive.

Between (4) and (5), at the right time of year, you'll be able to pick mushrooms, more precisely coulmelles, if you know anything about mushrooms.

(S/E) Before or after your hike, visit the chapel of Guadalupe and admire the view over Hendaye Bay.
You can also take a tour of the Guadalupe fort, on the right at the end of the parking lot. There's a path up the hill to the left of the fort's entrance.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 2293863

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike of moderate difficulty, with rockfalls, but I recommend it.

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Terranova
Terranova

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a superb easy hike, accessible to a wide range of people, especially for a family outing. The scenery is sumptuous, alternating between woodland, moorland and wide plateaux adjoining the coastal path above the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Many Pottoks. I recommend doing this walk in the opposite direction, as it avoids the short stretch of road at the end; also, the descent at the start in the direction indicated is not really interesting and it's better to finish there and arrive directly at the car park at the end of the walk. I'd also recommend a short detour to the viewpoint at the Guadalupe chapel at the end of the walk, as the view is very pretty.

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Audreyy166
Audreyy166
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very, very nice walk! We found it easy, and it can be done by anyone. We did come across a few people (2nd weekend of school holidays) but there was no hindrance between hikers. Be careful, around point 3, part of the cliff had collapsed. We therefore had to take a side path (not very popular) to get back on our way. We enjoyed the beautiful views, plenty of sunshine and many pottoks along the way. We recommend this hike!

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jcbtz
jcbtz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very nice walk, magnificent views, the only downside was the last kilometre along the road.

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Pou95
Pou95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful seaside walk with lovely views of the rocky coastline.

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O_Des
O_Des

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk in full sunshine, with very little shade once you reach the seafront.
Streams to cool off in.
Lovely views.

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eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We walked this route during the week in June and met hardly anyone. The descent from the chapel is on concrete paths of little interest. On the other hand, the uphill section is absolutely magnificent. The return journey follows a relatively busy road for over a kilometre, but it is possible to walk safely behind the protective barriers.

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des Georges
des Georges

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice little nature walk. The short section on the road is not very interesting. It's better to do the route in the opposite direction to the one suggested, as the return is uphill in a wooded area, so in the shade.

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benât 44
benât 44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk.

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edrig
edrig
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice, easy coastal walk with magnificent views. Very reliable guidance
Last km on the road (10 to 15 mins max)

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mhochard
mhochard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant, varied route, would have been perfect if not for the last kilometre on the side of the road, but there was little traffic that day.

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charlef
charlef

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route with a view of the ocean. The return journey by road could perhaps be avoided in part, but I didn't try it out.

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titouberg
titouberg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice, easy walk, with no particular danger, the seafront is magnificent, especially at the end of the day. Beware of hunters during goshawk season.

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Fabymart
Fabymart

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk, no difficulties, low gradient, superb seaside!
I recommend using the application to "get to the starting point with MAPS" and "start the walk" (with a package that includes the connection in Spain). We found the starting car park without any difficulty, the GPS followed us all the way and we even avoided the road on the way back by going through the woods (a path that climbs a little to the right) thanks to the previous reviews. This was a morning hike, with a visit to the chapel on the way back.
The area is superb, I recommend this walk!

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Thierry LANOT
Thierry LANOT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nothing more than the previous comments. Very nice walk, the seaside section (GR) is superb.
We followed the guidebook, which was very reliable. I agree with the comments made by Germainy and jmarotcarena regarding the last section along the road. It's certainly better to take the alternative route through the forest, as the road is quite busy, especially on Sundays.

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