A trip along the River Ibaia from Altzibar to Elizalde

The starting point for this walk is in the car park at Klarene Plaza in Altzibar.
To get to this starting point by car, see the ‘Practical information’ section below.

(S/E) Return to the car park entrance and follow the road you took to get there; cross the bridge and take the path on the right, which runs alongside the River Ibaia. Follow this path, which is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.

(1) Read the information board about an old railway line and ore mining. Then carry on along the path.

(2) Cross the bridge to the other side of the river and turn left to continue along the path that runs alongside it.

(3) At this junction, carry on straight ahead – slightly to the right – leaving the return route on your left.

(4) Carry on to the right for about 150 metres.

(5) Take the path on the left and you’ll come to an old bridge spanning the river: this is an ideal spot to let children play in the water (under supervision).

(6) Cross the bridge and turn left to take the return path along the right bank. You’ll reach the entrance to the tunnel on an old railway line: torches are required.

(7) Go through a gate, close it behind you, and enter the tunnel.

(8) Once you emerge, take the sharp left-hand bend, cross a bridge over the river, then head right to quickly rejoin the path you took on the way there.

(3) Continue to the right and follow the outward route in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

Drive to the starting point of the walk.
Head to Oiartzun, which is served by the GI-2134. From there, head south towards Altzibar Karrika. Cross the River Oiartzun ibaia, next to which you’ll find Klarene Plaza.
For your information, the journey by car from Saint-Jean-de-Luz is approximately 24 kilometres and takes around 30 minutes.

A bit of history.
In the past, there were two trains: one that ran as far as Artikutza and the other that ran as far as Arditurri. Both were used to transport ore (iron, coal, kaolin) as well as timber. However, interestingly, they did not use the same track. Up to Errenteria, they ran in parallel because they had different track gauges. In the 1950s, the Artikutza train ceased operations, followed by the Arditurri line in 1966, after which freight was transported by lorry.