Tourism in the Baztán Valley: a guide to enjoy its nature

Forests of the Baztán Valley

The forests of the Baztán Valley are home to numerous species of flora and fauna, some of them endemic or in danger of extinction. Among the most characteristic trees are beech, oak, chestnut and fir trees, which offer a spectacle of colors in every season. Among the most emblematic animals are the bearded vulture, griffon vulture, golden eagle, capercaillie, deer, wild boar, fox, gray dormouse and the Pyrenees desman.

To enjoy the forests of the Baztán Valley, you can go hiking along its numerous paths and trails, which will allow you to discover its most beautiful and surprising corners. Some of the most recommended routes are:

• The route of the Xorroxin waterfalls, which starts from the town of Erratzu and takes you to an impressive 100-meter-high waterfall, surrounded by vegetation and legends. It is a circular route of about 10 kilometers, of medium-low difficulty, which can be done in about 3 hours.
• The route of the monumental oaks of Jauntsarats, which starts from the town of Urdax and takes you to see some of the oldest and largest oaks in Navarra, classified as monumental trees. It is a circular route of about 2 kilometers, of low difficulty, that can be done in less than an hour
• The route of the Leurtza reservoirs, which starts from the town of Urrotz and takes you to see two beautiful reservoirs surrounded by forest, where you can observe a great variety of water birds. It is a circular route of about 7 kilometers, of medium difficulty, that can be done in about 2 and a half hours. In addition, you can take advantage of it to take a bath in the cold waters of the reservoirs.

Rivers of the Baztán Valley

The main river of the Baztán valley is the Bidasoa, which originates in the town of Erratzu, where the Izpegui and Iztauz regattas converge. As it travels through the valley, it is called the Baztán River and forms the natural border between Spain and France for about 10 kilometers. The Bidasoa River is a trout and salmon river, which offers the possibility of practicing sport fishing with a permit. You can also do canoeing, rafting or kayaking in some of its sections, especially in spring, when the flow is higher.

In addition to the Bidasoa River, the Baztán Valley has other rivers and streams that give it life and beauty, such as the Baztan River, the Urritzate River, the Ezkurra River, the Latsa River or the Erro River. Some of these rivers form waterfalls and pools that invite you to bathe and relax, such as the Oinaska waterfall, the Gorostapolo waterfall, the Ziga pool or the Arizkun pool.

Baztán Valley Caves

The Baztán Valley is also a place of caves, which hide secrets and mysteries underground. Some of these caves are of karst origin, formed by the erosion of water on the limestone rock, and others are of prehistoric origin, with remains of paintings and rock engravings. Among the most notable caves in the Baztán Valley are:

• The Zugarramurdi caves, known as the witches’ caves, due to the legends that relate them to the akelarres or witches’ meetings that were held inside. These caves are large karst formations, which can be visited freely or with guided tours. You can also visit the Witch Museum, which explains the history and culture of witchcraft in the Baztán Valley
• The Urdax caves, called Ikaburu caves, which are some of the most visited caves in Navarra. These caves have about 900 meters of underground galleries, with stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other formations of great beauty. They can be visited with guided tours lasting about 45 minutes.
• The sarah caves , located in the French Basque Country, which are prehistoric caves with remains of paintings and rock engravings that are about 12,000 years old. These caves also have about 900 meters of galleries, with seashell fossils and an underground lake.

To get to know the natural environment and the caves of the region, you can take a hiking route that connects the three caves, following an old path used by smugglers. It is a linear route of about 13 kilometers, of easy difficulty, that can be done in about 4 hours

Baztán Valley Mountains

The Baztán valley is surrounded by mountains that do not exceed 1000 meters in altitude, but that offer spectacular views of the valley and the Pyrenees. Some of the most emblematic mountains of the Baztán Valley are:

• Mount Gorramendi, which at 1077 meters is the highest in the valley. From its summit you can see the Baztán valley, the Cinco Villas valley, the Malerreka valley, the Bortziriak valley and the French Pyrenees. You can climb the mountain from the town of Erratzu, along a forest track of about 10 kilometers, of medium-high difficulty, which can be done in about 3 and a half hours. ⁹
• Mount Auza, which at 934 meters is the second highest in the valley. From its summit you can see the Baztán valley, the Cinco Villas valley, the Malerreka valley, the Bortziriak valley and the French Pyrenees. You can climb the mountain from the town of Irurita, along a forest track of about 8 kilometers, of medium difficulty, which can be done in about 3 hours
• Mount Atxuria, which with its 756 meters is the most emblematic of the valley. From its summit you can see the Baztán valley, the Cinco Villas valley, the Malerreka valley, the Bortziriak valley and the French Pyrenees. You can climb the mountain from the town of Urdax, along a path of about 6 kilometers, of medium-high difficulty, which can be done in about 2 and a half hours.

Bertiz Manor

He Bertiz Manor It is a natural park located in the town of Oieregi, which occupies an area of ​​more than 2000 hectares. It is one of the most unique and best preserved forests in Navarra, with a great variety of plant and animal species. The Señorío de Bertiz also has a centenary botanical garden.