Images

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The image shows a group of animals living in a large natural area with green meadows and gentle slopes. The enclosure is designed to respect the animals’ natural behaviour, providing wide open spaces where they can move freely within a protected environment.
The photo shows a section of the Karpín Fauna route with an information panel next to a fenced enclosure. The area is bordered by wooden railings and paved paths, integrated into a natural hillside. The interpretive panels explain the stories of the animals housed there and raise awareness about wildlife protection.

Karpin Fauna

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Description

Karpín Fauna is a shelter for wild animals who were captured for illegal trafficking, abandoned pets, irretrievable native fauna from rescue centres and other similar origins. Their mission is to take them in, give them a dignified life and tell their stories so that visitors to the shelter become aware of these problems.

Karpín is a privileged refuge for more than 55 different species, the result of 3,500 million years of evolution, situated on a 20-hectare estate overlooking one of the most spectacular valleys in the Basque Country. Along the route, in an enclosed forest, we find two areas that take us back to the Jurassic era and the animals that populated the planet after the dinosaurs disappeared.

Palaeontologist Patxi Lasa: With palaeontologists as guides, we come across life-size reproductions, some of them animatronic, of the most striking dinosaur species and others that inherited the earth after their disappearance, the large carnivorous and herbivorous forms that occupied the planet until 10,000 years ago.

Karpin Fauna is undoubtedly a centre for leisure and responsible tourism, a family outing, and a centre in which to learn how we should behave in the natural environment and commit ourselves to sustainability (Karpin Aventura Website).

Highlight

  • Views of the Carranza Valley.

  • Variety of animals recovering in the centre.

  • Autochthonous trees.

  • Almost the entire route through the park runs along cobbled or concrete paths, with some sections featuring fine gravel or wooden walkways.

  • Former access points that included stairs have been replaced by ramps or now offer alternative routes to avoid stairs.

  • Both the lower and upper parts of the route provide adapted facilities for people with reduced mobility.

  • However, it should be noted that as the park is located on a hillside, the total route of approximately 2,500 metres includes around 1,000 metres of ascent, another 1,000 metres of descent, and about 500 metres of relatively flat terrain.

  • No special footwear is required to complete the route.

  • In cases of a high degree of disability, it is recommended to consult with the reception staff.

How to get here

The best and only option is by car or private transport.

The bus line is far from the entrance

By car:

  • Direct from Bilbao (recommended when travelling with minors)
  • Along the coast via the A-8 (Colindres-Burgos exit) and the new N-629 corridor; From Bilbao inland (recommended for those who wish to visit other attractions in the Encartaciones beforehand): Along the BI-630 road.

Route

From the car park at the entrance to the interior route of Karpin

Suitable for people with reduced mobility (PRM)

The trail, prepared for visiting the Bird Centre, is made up of small cobblestones. Consequently, the rattling noise may be annoying for people with reduced mobility. The constant ramps and slopes of the route can be manoeuvred using an electric wheelchair or a normal wheelchair with the help of another person.

Shady areas, although in general the route is very sunny. Incredible views of Karranza Valley along the whole route.

Features and services

  • Section length
    1,00 km
    Pavement
    Cobblestone and concrete
    Obstacles
    The main obstacles on the route are the slopes.
  • Is there reception equipment on the section?
    Yes

    Outdoor space: Parking areas and access to equipment

    How close is it to means of transport?
    There are no means of local transport.
    Is there a parking area?
    Yes
    Parking. Are there any minimum dimensions for adapted vehicles?
    Yes
    Is there any adapted access?
    No
    Are there slopes at the entrances?
    Yes
    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    Yes, with assistance from third parties
    Are there railings and/or handrails?
    Yes
    Is there an equipment entrance sign next to the access, and is it adapted?
    No
    Is the access properly signposted to guide users?
    Yes
    Pavement type
    Stone, Concrete, Cobblestone

    Indoor space: General features

    Do the different equipment areas have adapted access?
    No
    Does the front door have a pre-landing?
    Yes
    Are the access slopes suitable for people with reduced mobility?
    Yes, with assistance from third parties
    Is there a minimum clearance of 150 cm around furniture where turning or manoeuvring is required?
    No
    Does the lighting system allow for correct reading with no reflections in each equipment area?
    Yes
    Is there a logical order to the exhibition hall's route, indicated by visible arrows and/or tactile foot signs?
    Yes
    Is there a magnetic loop or modulated radio frequency anywhere in the premises?
    No
    Are there accessible ICTs "information and communication technologies" ?
    No
    Information in Braille and/or audioguide devices
    No
    Type of lavatory
    Pushbutton
    Is there an evacuation map in Braille and high relief??
    No

    Personal care area

    Are there personnel trained in accessibility in the facilities?
    No
    Unobstructed distance around the sign of over 150 cm for wheelchair users' mobility
    Yes
    Benches or supports for people with reduced mobility
    No
    Are ICTs available so that the location and services are publicized in different languages?
    No
    Are there any resources so that people with cognitive disabilities can understand them?
    No
    Are there any resources so that people with hearing impairment can understand them?
    No
    Are ICTs available so that the location and services are publicized in different languages?
    No

    Rest zone

    Is there a rest area at the reception?
    Yes
    Maximum table height of 80cm (measured on the table top). Lower part of the hollow table top 70cm high, 50cm deep and over 80cm wide
    No
    Vending machines: Maximum height 120cm for buttons and display, lower product collection reach, minimum 40cm from the floor
    No

    Store

    Is there one or more stores at the reception?
    Yes
    Products for sale (books and documents) with lateral vertical reach to shelves between 20 and 40 cm wide and a height of between 40 and 120 cm
    No
    Products are positioned at a maximum height of 120cm
    No

    Children’s area

    Is there a children’s area at the reception?
    Yes
    Adequate and unobstructed floor
    Yes

    Exhibition room

    Is there an exhibition room at the reception?
    No

    Exhibition Hall

    Is there an exhibition hall at the reception?
    Yes

    Exhibition Hall: Lectern

    Height of reading panel between 70 and 120 cm
    Yes

    Exhibition Hall: Panel

    Clearance around obstacles of more than 90 cm
    Yes
    Eye-catching, clear and short texts with a main title and no more than five key ideas
    No
    Adequate lighting system that allows for correct reading with no reflections or considerable effort
    Yes
    There are pictograms, graphic information...
    Yes
    Information in Braille language
    No
    Information in audio format
    No
    Information in written format
    Yes
    Are ICTs available so that the location and services are publicized in different languages?
    No
    Are there accessible ICTs "information and communication technologies" ?
    No
    Are there any resources so that people with cognitive disabilities can understand them?
    Yes
    What type of resource(s)?
    Option of following the route using QR code.
    Are there any resources so that people with hearing impairment can understand them?
    No

    Exhibition Hall: Texts and graphs

    High contrast between background and text
    No
    Eye-catching, clear and short texts with a main title and no more than five key ideas
    No
    Adequate lighting system that allows for correct reading with no reflections or considerable effort
    Yes
    In general, for interpretive content, easy to understand concepts have been used
    Yes
    Appropriate typography according to reading distances
    No

    Exhibition Hall: Audiovisuals

    Audiovisual material in subtitled and/or in Spanish Sign Language version
    No
    Audiovisual voiceovers using easy to understand language
    No
  • Are there trails on the section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there lighting at night?
    Yes
    Minimum accessible connection between parking spaces, if any, the start of the obstacle-free trail
    No
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    Yes, with assistance from third parties
    Parking spaces reserved for vehicles used to transport disabled people according to current regulations. At least 5% of the total spaces
    Yes
    Parking signage, if any, with the International Accessibility Symbol on the floor and/or on walls
    Yes
    Informative poster at the start of the trail indicating the length, route, difficulty, duration and slopes by sections
    No
    Path start sign positioned no higher than 195cm
    Yes

    Itinerary

    Vertical start signage
    Yes
    Vertical signage type
    Written
    Compact, non-slip and with no projections along their entire length, allowing wheelchair transit
    Cobblestone
    For floors with planks, the spacing between the planks is no more than 1 cm, with occasional narrowings of a maximum of 90 cm
    Yes
    2 m. paved trails with non-deformable and non-slip material, with a different texture and different from the rest
    Yes
    The route is more than 150cm wide, with occasional narrowings of 90cm
    Yes
    Minimum clearance height of 220 cm
    Yes
    Rest areas
    Yes
    Urban furniture (fountains, dispensers...) arranged along the pedestrian route to provide sound orientation
    No
    End vertical signage
    Yes
    Guiding partition and/or tactile foot signs to draw attention to an important feature
    No
    Islands with a minimum width of 150 cm to facilitate two wheelchairs passing each other
    Yes
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    Yes, with assistance from third parties
    Unevenness through pedestrian routes
    Yes
    Tree branches do not obstruct the route at below 2.20 m
    No
    Ramps, bridges and walkways with more than 50cm of unevenness, 90cm handrails and with handrails at two heights: 65-75 cm and 95-105 cm
    No
    Route length dimensions and time
    1 km. The length of time to do the route is relative, as it will take more or less time depending on the visits you make.

    Cycle touring lane

    Does the section have a cycle touring lane?
    No

    Lookout and observatory

    Is there a lookout or observatory on the section?
    Yes
    Are ICTs available so that the location and services are publicized in different languages?
    No
    Are there any resources so that people with cognitive disabilities can understand them?
    No
    Are there any resources so that people with hearing impairment can understand them?
    No
    At observatories, there is at least one window at a height of 80 cm, with at least one hollow bottom part which is 70 cm high, 50 cm deep and 80 cm wide
    No
    Eye-catching, clear and short texts with a main title and no more than five key ideas
    No

  • Nature classroom

    Is there a nature classroom on this section?
    No
  • Is there a recreational area on this section?
    Yes

    Access

    Is there adequate lighting?
    No
    Is there an adequate slope to allow circulation without assistance, with personal assistance or with technical assistance?
    Yes, with staff assistance

    Outdoor space

    Are 10% of the tables and benches accessible?
    No
    At least one accessible access, if any
    No
  • Is there a beach on this section?
    No