Roncesvalles - Esteribar

(S) With your back to Roncesvalles Monastery, cross the park and then, taking care, cross the Pamplona–Roncesvalles Road to follow a footpath southwards. After about a hundred metres, you will see the Pilgrims’ Cross on your left, across the road – a Gothic cross erected there in 1880. A hundred metres further on, the path veers away from the road to the right and enters the woods. Continue on until you reach the White Cross.

(1) Turn left in front of the industrial estate and continue to the Stop sign at the junction with the N-135, almost opposite a small convenience store (provisions available if the shop is open).

(2) Carry on to the right and enter the village of Auritz. Walk through this pretty village, past San Nicolas Church, and stop in front of the Santander bank branch.

(3) Turn right in front of the branch and cross the wooden bridge over the River Xorinaga. Continue along the tarmac road, passing the Canadian crossing before arriving at a small industrial estate.

(4) Turn left onto a wide gravel path, heading towards Zubiri. After passing through meadows and farmland where small streams flow, go through the gate, remembering to close it behind you. Continue through a wooded area until you reach a small tarmac road.

(5) Head right along this road, which then heads south-west through woodland before reaching the village of Aurizberri. Continue straight on until you reach the junction with the N-135.

(6) Turn right onto the main street and walk past the white-washed houses until you reach number 32.

(7) Turn left onto the Camino de Santiago to begin a gentle climb. Continue to the fork and take the small path that runs alongside the barbed-wire fence through the woods. Continue until you reach the edge of the woods.

(8) Turn right onto the small stony path and continue to the junction with the N135 at the Col de Mezkiritz (922 m above sea level).

(9) Cross the road carefully and continue along the signposted path, located to the left of a stone monument engraved with the image of Our Lady of Roncesvalles. Begin a descent of about 500 m through a beech forest. Stay on this path, which runs mainly through woodland, until you come close to the N135.

(10) Immediately, head into the woods on the right. Join the Camino de Santiago, which takes you south-west. Pass the N-135 once more, at a left-hand bend, and continue until you reach the exit of a roundabout.

(11) Turn right (south-west), then left about a hundred metres further on, onto a path whose paving seems to have been laid out in a pattern. This path runs alongside the N-135 and takes you to the village of Viscarret-Guerendiain, next to a bar-convenience store.

(12) Continue to the right (south-west) to enter the village, then, staying on the main road, carry on until you reach the Stop sign.

(13) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead, staying on the main road which curves sharply to the right, until you reach a grocery shop.

(14) Turn left and continue along this paved path until you reach the N-135, near a cemetery.

(15) Continue along the stony path in the middle and carry on until you reach the N-135.

(16) Cross the road carefully and continue straight ahead, veering slightly to the left, to reach the village of Lintzoain, near a farm.

(17) Continue straight on (south-west) and pass the pelota court and the wash house to reach a small square where there is a rural lodge.

(18) Turn right, go under a footbridge, then continue along a concrete path that climbs through the scrubland and reaches a crossroads.

(19) Continue straight ahead along a gravel path towards Zubiri. The path climbs through woodland to reach a crossroads.

(20) Turn left (north-west) and follow a wide gravel path to a Stop sign at a forest road crossing.

(21) Continue straight ahead along the small descending path that leads into the woods. Pass under a high-voltage power line.

(22) Continue round a bend to the south until you reach the crossroads.

(23) Head west to begin a descent to a crossroads.

(24) Ignore the hiking trail that branches off to the right and continue the descent, heading south-west, which joins the N-135 at the Puerto de Erro Pass.

(25) Cross the road carefully and continue the descent. Pass to the right of an electricity pylon and, at the fork, take the right-hand track. Continuing south-west, cross the high-voltage power line again.

(26) Stay on this path and continue to the next fork.

(27) Ignore the path branching off to the left and continue down the slope until you reach a junction of high-voltage power lines.

(28) Continue downhill towards the south-west until you reach a wide stony path.

(29) Turn right to reach the entrance to Zubiri. Continue to the Amets Guesthouse. Refreshments available if you carry on straight ahead.

(30) Turn left to climb a concrete path. At the fork (Ibesiko Erreka stream), head right to continue along a stony path. Cross another stream before reaching a junction.

(31) Turn right to walk alongside a power station. Continue to the tarmac road, opposite a factory entrance.

(32) Continue left (south-west) along the company’s fence. Pass a^second factory entrance and continue along the road, following the crash barrier on your right, until it ends.

(33) Turn right onto the stony path to pass above a mineral extraction site and reach a crossroads.

(34) Turn right, then left, and head down to the village of Ilárraz, where you’ll find a fountain and a small roundabout.

(35) Follow the right-hand track, which slopes gently downwards, and continue until you reach a right-hand bend.

(36) Continue left, following the signs for Ezkirotz. Enter the village along a row of cypress trees on your right. Follow the stony path to the fork.

(37) Turn right onto the gently sloping path. Cross a stream before arriving at a decorated shed. Continue to the junction with the NA-2337.

(38) Cross over and continue along the path opposite, which runs alongside the River Arga before moving away from it. Continue until you reach a signpost marked ‘Larrasoana’ on the NA-8204.

(39) Turn left towards Akeretta. Enter the village and continue to the Hotel Akeretta.

(40) Turn right onto the descending path, which is blocked by a barrier, and continue to the junction with the NA-2338.

(41) First turn right then left and continue towards the River Arga. Follow a beautiful wooded path overlooking the river and carry on to the bridge.

(42) Turn right, cross the Arga, then continue left onto the NA-135 until you reach the sign pointing towards Pamplona Iruna. Pass this sign and you will come to a junction.

(43) Turn left towards Ilurdotz on the NA-2339. Just after the bridge over the Arga, keep right. Pass the ruins of a castle and a factory, then continue along the tree-lined path overlooking the river until you reach a restaurant.

(44) Continue to the right. Cross a small bridge followed by a fountain, then, at the fork in front of the church, stay on the right-hand path. Continue until you cross the medieval bridge at Iturgaiz.

(45) Turn left and enter a leisure park. Walk 300 m along the road that runs alongside the river, where you will find toilet facilities, picnic tables and a secluded spot to set up camp (E).

Refreshments available at Auritz/Burguete (3), Bizkarreta-Gerendiain (13) and Zubiri (30).
No on-site camping. For wild camping, look for a secluded spot in a leisure park (E).
There are lodges at the end of the route. Remember to book in advance if you wish to sleep indoors.

(3) Auritz-Burguette
This stop is particularly pleasant, with its traditional houses with sloping roofs, spread out on both sides of the street. The village was founded as a market town of Roncesvalles. The single street will then lead you to Mezkiritz, where you can admire a stone bearing the image of the Virgin of Roncesvalles.

(6) Aurizberri-Espinal
This small village of 230 inhabitants was founded in 1269 by Thibaud II of Navarre on the Way of St James to assist pilgrims arriving from Europe as they crossed the Pyrenees. Just like the neighbouring village of Auritz/Burguete, Espinal was burnt down by the French in 1794, before being rebuilt along the main street, where you can see doors bearing coats of arms.

(30) Zubiri
After crossing the River Arga, we arrive at Zubiri. Of Basque origin, its name means ‘village with a bridge’, a reference to the medieval bridge that pilgrims cross to enter the village.