Paramoudras from Our Lady of Guadalupe

A visit to this very special place where paramoudras can be observed.

Plan to be at your destination at low tide for best viewing.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 507 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 511 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 326 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Head for Hondarribia airport. Drive past the airport and turn left towards "Guadalupe" on the Jaizkibel hill. Just after the hermitage, turn right and leave your car in the large car park.

(S/E) leave the car park, cross the road and take the path opposite. Turn right at the fork just after.

(1) At the first bend in the road, take the forest track to the right and continue along it to the edge of the forest.

(2) Turn left at a hairpin bend and follow the road below to the right, staying on the grassy path that eventually joins it.

(3) Cross the road and follow the path opposite, which winds along the hillside, descending gradually to the coastline, where you can see the paramoudras.

(4) Climb back up to the path and fork left to follow the coastline. Cross several streams: Burnitz, Marticerreka, Txurtxipi and others. Stay on the coastal path, ignoring the numerous departures to the right.

(5) approx. 150 m after crossing the small Iturrain stream, turn right onto the path leading up to the Justiz golf course. Go past a small parking area, turn left at 90° after approx. 400 m, then right onto the small road leading to the golf course.

(6) Leave this road and turn left onto the forest track that winds through the forest before coming out onto the road leading to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

(7) Turn left to follow the road to the hermitage and reach the car park on the left (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 196 m - Hermitage car park
  2. 1 : km 0.46 - alt. 215 m - Yaw, path to the right
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 233 m - Edge of the forest, left
  4. 3 : km 1.87 - alt. 304 m - Road crossing GI-3440
  5. 4 : km 5.77 - alt. 6 m - Paramoudras
  6. 5 : km 9.17 - alt. 22 m - Path on the right towards the golf course
  7. 6 : km 10.47 - alt. 146 m - Golf de Justiz, left
  8. 7 : km 11.81 - alt. 192 m - GI-3440 junction, left
  9. S/E : km 12.14 - alt. 195 m - Hermitage car park

Notes

There are no water points, except in the car park.

Worth a visit

An ideal hike for me starts around 9:30, arrives at the paramoudras in the late morning (choose a day when the tide is low in the late morning).

Include a picnic before the return trip in the early afternoon.

Further information on paramoudras: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramoudra

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.1 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
th.postel@cegetel.net
th.postel@cegetel.net

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great coastal walk
For the poorly signposted section (points 2 to 3), when you reach the end of the wood and the corner of the meadow, head up into the meadow via the gap in the fence; at the top of the meadow, take the path to the right, and further on, head back down to the right until you reach point 3, thus avoiding all the brambles.

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User 14203065

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a lot of doubt and confusion about the route description... Unfortunately, we took a wrong turn at the end and ended up missing the most interesting part of the hike. What a shame!

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User 14203065

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I will simplify the description of the hike using the markings on the path.

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CriMey
CriMey

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike at the end of August. It was a beautiful hike, combining trails through the woods and along the side of cliffs. The scenery is magnificent.
The route is easy to follow, except between points 2 and 3. We couldn't find it, but we were able to cut across in a straight line to rejoin the road we had been following for about 300 metres before turning off onto the path from point 3. With a phone, it's very easy to find your way. The rest of the route is clear.
The coastal section is magnificent. However, be careful not to get too close to the water at high tide. The section between points 4 and 6 is not shaded.

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User 5628226

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, especially the wild coastal section, with no roads or buildings. We did it on a grey day, with light drizzle at times and a slightly rough sea: it felt like we were alone at the end of the world... Including a 4½-hour lunch break facing the sea, it took about 4 hours of walking, and we really took our time!
It should be noted, however, that you do need to register for the hike and follow the GPS route, as the instructions are, as always, accurate but a little brief.
The brambles are between points 2 and 3 and, unless you're wearing armour, they form a thick, impenetrable wall... We decided to go around them by climbing over the top, i.e. on the left, then cutting back through the woods, jumping over a fence and following the road for 300 metres to get back to point 3.
Obviously, hiking boots are a MUST!

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BERRABernadette
BERRABernadette

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Between markers 2 and 3, the path is non-existent, in the middle of brambles. The brambles were so high that it was impossible to follow the route.

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stjo
stjo

@Gérard 40 please understand: waymarking is not Visorando's responsibility. So there's no point in pointing out its absence, except to kindly inform other users.
Furthermore, having already hiked this coast, I have no recollection of there being any very vertiginous areas.

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Gérard 40
Gérard 40
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The site is fantastic with a view of the big blue BUT :
- No signposting, which is a real shame (fortunately the app guided me precisely)
- Dangerous unmarked passages overlooking the void!

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wallaby47
wallaby47

This is a fine walk with few visitors, but beware of the almost non-existent signposting. You have to rely on the GPS and the Visorando route. But the walk is well worth it.

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jycome
jycome

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This walk is very poorly signposted, or not signposted at all, or there are lots of other paths that have nothing to do with this walk. Loading up and using the track is a must for me, and I have to spot any major changes of direction beforehand. The start is particularly difficult, with paths that are difficult to see through the vegetation.
On the other hand, it's a beautiful walk, with these rather unique paramoudras".

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wallaby47
wallaby47

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a good thing we had the Visorzndo trail, as some of the markers are missing.

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yannick pessotto
yannick pessotto

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, alternating mountains and ocean. The paramoudras are very curious geological formations and make a nice change from flysch. Magnificent, varied scenery, not too many people.
Just one difficulty at the start... After turning left onto the grassy path, it was blocked by a barrier before the junction with the road. We turned left again along the ridge... The climb was a little steep, but the view was exceptional. Getting back to the road was a bit more complicated as we had to cross some brambles, but we don't regret it.
Do it again...

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Jejelasker
Jejelasker

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike with superb panoramic views. However, I had my doubts about passing point 4 (very slippery rock at the bottom). We preferred to go further up into the forest.
Finally, we would have liked to reach the car park from the back. I think it should be possible, even if it makes the walk a bit longer.
Do it again!

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Popolski
Popolski

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The paramoudras are a geological curiosity that is almost unique in the world. We did this walk with 5 grandchildren aged between 10 and 16. It's quite a long hike, but it's great fun. Unforgettable for everyone. The first few kilometres were not easy, as there were goshawk hunters around. 15-minute diversions.

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JJG54
JJG54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice views of the coast and easy access with lovely views.

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