Overview
A five day, self-guided walking holiday, starting and ending in Zumaia, as well as two nights in Deba. Both of these are traditional coastal towns, with the former particularly famous for its magnificent flysch cliffs and nearby Itzurun beach, which are two highlights of the region. These are two of many reasons why it’s a designated UNESCO Basque Coast Geopark. It’s this coast, and its Geoparkea Tour that take centre stage on our walking holiday, which is also a favourite with photographers. In addition to the marine magnificence, the trails then take you inland to Olatz Valley and the Arno Massif, a limestone region with sheltered woodlands. While still bringing you back down to the sea at Deba, the medieval coastal town where you spend two nights.
- Zumaia
- Itzurun beach
- Deba
- Flysch cliffs
- Mutriku
- Sakoneta
- Elorriaga
- Itziar
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Zumaia
Arrive in Zumaia where, depending on time available, you can check out the historic centre, home to several notable palaces as well as San Pedro church. In addition, the dunes at Santiago and Itzurun beach are a short walk away. The Espacio Cultural Ignacio Zuloaga, located in a former hermitage, is worth a visit for its collection of work by the Basque painter after which it is named. Depending on time available, another option is to head out to the Algorri headland, where the flysch cliffs rise straight from the sea, and visit the Algorri Interpretation Centre.
- Accommodation: Hotel Flysch or similar in Zumaia
Day 2: Zumaia – Deba | 13.5km
Leave Zumaia along the cliffs above Itzurun beach, following the coast past Urola estuary, an area of dunes, marshes and an array of birdlife, before walking up to Elorriaga, a small rural village where txakoli (white wine) is produced. Continue past viewpoints at Baratzazarrak, Sakoneta and Mendatagaina before following the clifftop path to Itzaspe. The route then descends to Deba, a historic coastal town with a Gothic parish church and a medieval centre that reflects its maritime past.
- Walking for the day: 13.5km, ↑500m ↓490m
- Accommodation: Agroturismo Perlakua-Saka or similar in Deba
- Optional hotel upgrade: Hotel Hiru Uhinak or similar in Deba
Day 3: Mutriku circular via Olatz Valley | 21km
Walk along the coast from Deba to Mutriku, on a trail that takes you past the Alkolea viewpoint. Mutriku is a historic fishing town with a medieval street layout, stone townhouses and one of the oldest harbours on the Basque coast. You may wish to visit the Nautilus Geological Interpretation Centre, which houses a collection of ammonite fossils found in the surrounding area. Continue past Saturraran beach before turning inland towards Olatz Valley. From here, the route enters the Arno Massif, an area of limestone formations, woodland and protected habitats, before returning to Deba.
- Walking for the day: 21km, ↑660m ↓660m
- Accommodation: Agroturismo Perlakua-Saka or similar in Deba
- Optional hotel upgrade: Hotel Hiru Uhinak or similar in Deba
Day 4: Deba – Zumaia | 19.5km
Walk inland from Deba to Itziar, a hillside village known for the Sanctuary of Itziar, an important stop on the Camino de Santiago. Join a section of the coastal pilgrimage route as it heads west through farmland and across the clifftops above the Bay of Biscay. Walk through Elorriaga before returning to Zumaia, with views inland towards the limestone ridges of Andutz and Izarraitz.
- Walking for the day: 19.5km, ↑520m ↓520m
- Accommodation: Hotel Flysch or similar in Zumaia
Day 5: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is in two places, an agroturismo and a hotel. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view standard hotels
- Hotel Flysch (Zumaia)
- Agroturismo Perlakua-Saka (Deba)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Hotel Hiru Uhinak (Deba)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This walking holiday is suitable for regular walkers, with a good fitness level, who are used to hiking. Most walks described will be 13-20km, taking approximately 3-7h depending on the route. The routes cover a variety of terrain including dirt paths, forest trails, old mule tracks, and cobblestone streets, with some days involving a couple of steep ascents and descents (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain.
We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available all year round, from January until the end of December. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Please note supplements may apply on certain dates during major holidays, such as Easter, Christmas and New Year.
The best months for this walking holiday are April to June and September to October, as during the summer months it may become too hot and crowded.
To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blog, the Best time to go to Spain blog.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The recommended airports for this tour are Aeropuerto de San Sebastián (EAS) or Aeropuerto de Bilbao (BIO).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with a train station in Zumaia. For more details, see Euskotren or use the Omio planner above
- From San Sebastián Airport, take the E-30 Lurralde Bus (30mins) to Donostia-San Sebastián where you can take a daily train or bus service to Zumaia. For more information, visit Euskotren or use the Omio planner above
- From Bilbao Airport, take the D004 Lurralde Bus (55mins) to San Pelaio-Zarautz, where you can take the train to Zumaia (10mins). For more details visit Euskotren or use the Omio planner above
- A private transfer from and to Zumaia can be arranged at the start and at end of the tour
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- Daily baggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps (digital format), a navigation app for smartphones, and GPS tracks
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Hotel upgrade in Deba on request
- A private transfer from and to Donostia-San Sebastián can be arranged at the start and at end of the tour
- Extra nights before and at the end of the tour can be booked on request
