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 Santa Katalina Lighthouse

Today we’ll spend the day travelling through the Lea Artibai region.

Our starting point is the Santa Katalina Lighthouse in Lekeitio. The Santa Katalina Lighthouse is the only visitable lighthouse in the whole of the Basque Country. It also has an information centre where visitors can learn the techniques and basic principles of navigation. It is located next to the watchtower in a natural setting, and offers visitors the opportunity to take a virtual trip from Lekeitio to neighbouring Elantxobe.

Before continuing, don’t miss Lekeitio, where its narrow cobbled streets lead down to a port where you can still see boats unloading fresh fish or the net-menders sewing. The old town preserves a wealth of artistic heritage. The Basilica of the Assumption of Santa María and its splendid Gothic altarpiece stand out, which is one of Bizkaia’s religious jewels.

Following the coast, we’ll reach Ondarroa, where in the old part we find the Old Bridge and the Old Guild, two of the most charming places. Ondarroa can be the stop to taste local cuisine and its exquisite fish, as its port is one of the busiest in Bizkaia. Don’t miss the Kamiñazpi district, with murals paying homage to the working people of the sea, which are impossible to ignore, nor the medieval Old Quarter, with narrow streets, huddled and stepped houses and a rich historical heritage.

In the afternoon, and heading inland, we’ll visit the municipality of Markina-Xemein, the gateway to the Way of Saint James. It is home to the unique hermitage of San Miguel de Arretxinaga, with its surprising hexagonal layout and megalithic altar, and the municipal fronton (pelota court) known as “La universidad de la pelota”, the sport’s legendary “university”.

Very close by is the Zenarruza Collegiate Church (Ziortza), declared a National Monument of the Basque Country. This religious complex includes the church, cloister, guesthouse, the new abbot’s house, tenant farmers’ houses, the two entrance gates, and the buildings housing the Cistercian community, as well as the former canons’ houses, the courtyard, and the cobbled path built in medieval times. In fact, it is currently the only stretch of cobbled path on the Way of Saint James in Bizkaia.