Pasaia Donibane

de fr

A beautiful loop on the southern tip of the Jaizkibel above Pasaia. The first part of the route passes through the town of Pasaia via charming narrow streets. The route then passes along a steep path and returns to the village along a narrow road.

Details

n°14981914
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 277 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 278 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 255 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -1 m
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Photos

Jagged rocks
Path between the rocks
First difficulties
Arrival at the summit

Description of the walk

Start: drive to Pasaia and park in the public car parks.

(S/E) Walk down into the old town, past Victor Hugo's house, then along the quayside to the cove into which the Kalaburtza stream flows.

(1) Turn right (East), onto the road.

(2) Ignore the road that continues East along the creek, and turn left onto the cemented road up to the lighthouse.
The path veers off to the East and is not very wide, but overhead passages are secured by handrails.
Ignore a path to the left and continue to the end of the forested area with a beautiful view of the coast.

(3) Take the downhill path to the right, heading South-East, to join the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela (Camino del Norte).

(4) Turn right onto the Camino de Compostela. Bear left at the next two junctions.

(5) Turn right to the West, continuing to follow the Camino del Norte.

(6) Leave the Camino on the right and continue left, heading South-East, skirting the village on a hillside path.

(7) Turn right to return to the village of Pasaia and find the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Parking in Pasaia
  2. 1 : km 1.53 - alt. 16 m - Along the Kalaburtza stream
  3. 2 : km 1.63 - alt. 37 m - Left-hand road
  4. 3 : km 3.41 - alt. 253 m - On the right, after the forestry sector
  5. 4 : km 3.81 - alt. 218 m - The Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela
  6. 5 : km 4.95 - alt. 124 m - Right fork
  7. 6 : km 5.47 - alt. 25 m - Abandonment of the Camino, left
  8. 7 : km 5.77 - alt. 24 m - Back to the village
  9. S/E : km 6.22 - alt. 4 m - Parking in Pasaia

Notes

Beware: After the lighthouse, some passages, although without danger, may be uncomfortable for people prone to vertigo. This is why we have set the difficulty level at medium.

Warning: No water outside the village.

Please note: During the summer season, parking may be difficult, and the route will have to be extended to allow parking further away from the village center.

Worth a visit

Most of the restaurants in the village offer a fine view of the Pasaia pass and the boats entering and leaving San Sebastian harbor.

You can take a shuttle back and forth and visit the museum and shipyard at Albaola, where the San Juan is being rebuilt.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Totolitoto40
Totolitoto40

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views; picnic at point three facing the sea and under the trees before starting the descent, perfect. The absence of handrails and vertigo are not too much of a problem, you just have to turn your back to the ravine while leaning on the wall (there are plenty of handholds) and you'll be fine. However, the path after the lighthouse is quite physically demanding, and it would be good to have a point 2bis on the map (two-thirds of the way along the section, I think) to indicate the end of the difficult part (the path remains narrow but is no longer "aerial"). There were three couples wondering whether to turn back or continue! Another tip (always applicable when hiking): start as early as possible. Although we left early (1 hour 45 minute journey), we lost time due to an accident on the motorway and dawdling in the narrow streets at the start, and found ourselves against the rock face, with our backs to the sun, around midday when the temperature was already approaching 28/30 degrees! This adds a lot of difficulty to the route.

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User 21475027

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. Starting from a small, typical port village, there is a nice climb with a good elevation gain, magnificent views of the ocean and mountains, a small path through the rocks of the mountain that gave us a few thrills, and a return to the starting village in the cool shade of the trees. For us, it was a very beautiful hike that took 3 hours with a few photo breaks.

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TISSOTY
TISSOTY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short but very beautiful walk to discover this locality, which deserves its popularity. This route, which offers magnificent views over the pass and the ocean, should be undertaken by experienced walkers (narrow, airy path).

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Franck64200
Franck64200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Family walk before eating at the restaurant in the Place de Pasaia.
3 youngsters with parents and 78-year-old grandparents (in good health) plus a French bulldog.
Magnificent walk through the village, extraordinary views and unusual rocks on the way up after the lighthouse to the pine forest at the top. Incredible views over the ridge!
The return is less pleasant but quick.
I'd definitely recommend it!

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Rena
Rena

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice route

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balade montagne
balade montagne

Hello,
You're right, I've discovered that I'm afraid of heights!

I did it 10 years ago, and I remembered that there were handrails.
It's a shame they were removed,
It's a beautiful walk

Best regards

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

Hello,

In the description of the walk, it is clearly explained that :
Be careful, after the lighthouse, some passages, although not really dangerous, may be uncomfortable for people prone to vertigo. This is the reason for the moderate difficulty.

As you now know, you are prone to vertigo.

I don't quite see why you should rate the route as difficult to follow and of little interest.
In the end, your disappointment only concerns your own ability in the mountains and should not therefore be directed against this route, which is advertised as unsuitable for those who fear heights.

No hard feelings

Hervé

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balade montagne
balade montagne
• Edited:

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : Yes

Not disappointing, but hard, especially the passage between 2 and 3, very, very narrow, with no handholds to hold on to
I had to turn back, forcing my friends to do the same. It's a shame, because it promised to be a great walk.

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lucio64
lucio64

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk. As soon as the fine weather arrives, parking becomes difficult in the village. Arriving early or on two wheels can help. In the details, at point 2, it is indicated that there are handrails on the overhead passages. This is no longer the case, but if you take it easy you'll get over it without any problems.

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LSG1955
LSG1955

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Lovely walk, beautiful views

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Moreninha
Moreninha

Thank you very much Hervé for your quick reply and your advice, it's lovely!
See you soon : )

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

The Jack Russell is a robust dog, but not an acrobat.

This route is not at all recommended, as you will have to carry your dog all the way up a steep path.

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Moreninha
Moreninha

Hello,

Thank you for suggesting this hike,
Do you think it's feasible with a small Jack Russell dog that's not particularly used to hikes?

Thank you very much and have a nice day : )

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Betiño
Betiño

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The start of the walk is quite steep. Narrow passages.

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JEAN LUC MOUESCA
JEAN LUC MOUESCA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The word "easy" seems inappropriate for people who are not used to hiking and who have poor footwear.

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