Starting point San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Start the day marvelling at the islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, crowned by a simple hermitage dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, which you can reach via its 241 steps. The best thing to do is to park your vehicle in the designated car park, then begin the climb to the hermitage. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a protected Natural Biotope where beauty and seafaring roots come together, a unique setting of battles, legends and festivities. You must have a free access ticket to get in, but if you prefer you can go to the viewpoint next to the restaurant to admire it.

The next stop is Bermeo, but before you arrive you can take a detour to Matxitxako cape, the most prominent cape on the Cantabrian coast. It’s an excellent viewpoint over the coast and has two lighthouses. The old one is now an observatory for seabirds and cetaceans, while the new one, built in 1909, continues to operate as a lighthouse.

Bermeo is an essential stop on your coastal visit. It’s a seafaring town that has the Fisherman’s Museum and its port offers the chance to visit some canneries and see the guild’s net-menders. Make the most of your visit to taste its delicious cuisine.

We continue to head right into the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, on the left bank of the estuary, the municipality of Mundaka is much more than a picturesque fishing village. It has the best left-hand wave in Europe and is a major draw for surfing enthusiasts. It has viewpoints and charming spots.

Following the route, we’ll head to Ekoetxea Urdaibai, where nature and culture meet. It’s the Biodiversity Centre of the Basque Country, located in Busturia, in the Madariaga Tower. From the Clock Tower, you can enjoy a 360º view that includes mountains, marshes and the iconic Mundaka beach.

We’ll end the day in Gernika. Gernika is a city steeped in history. The Casa de Juntas and the Tree of Gernika form a monumental complex declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, and above all they are a symbol of the history of Bizkaia and the Basque Country. In the town you can visit two key museums: the Peace Museum (an interactive museum that transports you to the day of the 1937 bombing) and the Euskal Herria Museum. It also has the largest in-use fronton (pelota court) in the world, the Jai Alai, and fairs where you can taste and buy local produce: The Monday market and, in particular, the market on the last Monday in October, when the biggest one of the year is held, with almost 900 stalls.

Starting point Salto del Nervión viewpoint

Our starting point will be the Salto del Nervión viewpoint. To get there, you can park your vehicle in any of the three car parks within the Monte Santiago Natural Area. From the first outer car park to the viewpoint, it’s 4.7 km , about an hour on foot, and from the third and nearest car park, it’s 2 km, around 20 minutes on foot. In snowy or icy conditions, access to the two inner car parks isn’t permitted.

The Salto del Nervión waterfall, 223 metres up, is the highest one on the Peninsula. Set in an exceptional natural environment between the borders of the Basque Autonomous Community and Castile and Leon, it’s very close to Orduña, the only city in Bizkaia and listed as a Historic and Monumental Complex. The waterfall can be enjoyed from the viewpoint over the Delika Canyon, which offers a spectacular panorama, especially during the rainy months when the water flows more freely. Accessed via the Orduña pass, you’ll find the turn-off on the left after around two kilometres once you reach the top.

Once we’ve enjoyed this magnificent experience, we’ll continue with our itinerary in Orduña, but first we’ll head to the Sanctuary of La Antigua. We can do this before reaching the Historic Quarter, or with a short ten-minute walk once we’ve parked in it.

La Antigua is the patron of Orduña and of Arrastaria, the villages that share the valley. The Otxomaio festivities are celebrated in honour of the patron saint (8 May), commemorating the appearance of the Virgin. The first Orduña settlement was located around this emblematic sanctuary. The sanctuary is open every day of the year and also offers guided tours that must be booked in advance.

After visiting the sanctuary, it’s time to get to know Orduña, visit the city and recharge in any of its bars and restaurants. Located in Bizkaia and surrounded by Alava and Castile, it becomes a geographical island. Orduña’s Historic Quarter preserves traces of its important customs and trading past between Castile and northern Europe from its foundation in the 13th century until the early 19th century.

In the heart of the city, the Plaza de los Fueros, the largest medieval fair square in the Basque Country, stands out for its arcaded architecture. There we’ll find the Sagrada Familia Church and the former Customs House (now a spa hotel), and less than 100 metres away, along Calle Burdin, we’ll reach the fortified church of Santa Maria.

You can end the day at its spa hotel, where you can rest and switch off in a monumental 18th-century building listed as an Asset of Heritage Interest.