A path to the Putzubeltz Waterfall from Arantza

The starting point for the walk is at the car park, at the entrance to the village of Arantza (or Aranaz in Basque), on Beheko Street. To get there, see the ‘Practical Information’ section below.

(S/E) From the car park, continue along Rue Beheko towards the school. You’ll come to the first sign: follow the direction ‘autres’.

(1) At the sign, follow the sign for “Putzubeltza”. Walk behind the church (where there is a ‘no through road’ sign), then take the path that descends steeply.

(2) You’ll come out onto a very beautiful stone path and the descent continues. Take care as the stones can be slippery, and bear in mind that you’ll have to climb back up everything you’ve gone down on the return journey.

(3) After crossing the bridge, turn left. Follow the white and yellow markings. Follow the^PR®-NA 10 Arantzako Zirkoa.

(4) Carry on straight ahead, then walk past the house.

(5) At the tarmac road, turn left.

(6) Turn right. Then follow some white and blue markings.
This point also marks the end of the shared path, which is used for both the outward and return journeys.

(7) Leave the^PR® and take the path on the left. You’ll then begin a fairly long stretch of the route on almost level ground.

(8) Walk past the hut. The wide path you have been following so far narrows into a very, very narrow track where, if there are several of you, you will need to walk in single file.
From this point onwards, you should walk carefully as the path runs along the mountainside and, in some places, the drop-off may be daunting for some people, particularly those prone to vertigo.
This warning applies up to the fifth waterfall and a little beyond.

(9) First waterfall and a river crossing – normally easy.

(10) Second waterfall, smaller, and a river crossing, which is normally easy.

(11) Third waterfall and river crossing, normally easy.

(12) Change of direction: turn left.

(13) A beautiful waterfall.

(14) Large waterfall and a tricky river crossing. Take great care not to slip.
The path remains as narrow and tricky as ever. However, a few hundred metres past the waterfall, the path widens and leads out of the dangerous area. This long section can be classified as ‘difficult’.

(15) Just after the sheepfold, take the small path on the left.

(16) Finally, you’ll reach the Putzubeltz waterfall. Then retrace your steps a little and take the path on the right. It’s a wide path marked in white and blue.

(17) At the house, turn left (ignore the direction indicated on the signs). Follow this wide path.

(18) Note: if you look at the map, there are numerous dotted lines showing paths that allow you to avoid walking on the tarmac road. In particular, these paths used to allow you to walk along a disused canal. These paths are currently closed for safety reasons. So there’s no point in tempting fate and asking for trouble.
Reach the tarmac road (fortunately with little traffic) and follow it to the left until you rejoin a section of the route taken on the way out.

(6) Take the reverse route of the outward journey to return to (S/E).

To get to the starting point by car.
From Saint-Jean-de-Luz, head to Béhobie to cross the border.
After crossing the bridge, turn left at the roundabout onto the N121A towards Pamplona.
On the N121A, at kilometre 58, take the NA-4020 exit for Igantzi / Arantza.
At the roundabout, take the second exit for the NA-4020 Igantzi / Arantza. Then follow the NA-4020.
At the roundabout, take the second exit towards the NA-4020 Arantza (so do not take the right-hand exit for the NA-4052 Igantzi).
Continue along the NA-4020 for quite some time (you’ll pass the Yanci and San Juan Xar quarries).
You’ll enter Arantza, pass a few blocks of flats, and the car park is immediately on the right-hand side of the road (opposite a large bus park): you’re now on Rue Beheko (Beheko Karrika).

For your information: by car from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the journey is approximately 35 km and takes around 50 minutes.