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Day
1
Collection day from Bilbao airport. Collection time to be confirmed.
After just over an hour’s drive we arrive at our first night’s stop over at Hondarribia, close to the French Spanish border.
Our hotel for the night is Hotel Jauregui in the fishermen’s quarter of Hondarribia.
After a bit of free time to explore the old quarter of Hondarribia we get together for a welcome buffet and drinks at the hotel restaurant. |
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Day 2
This first day’s walk is a perfect synthesis of the constant features that will appear throughout the week: mountain ranges besides the sea, estuaries that need to be overcome by boat, paths with splendid views over the coastline, fishing villages and the regal summer town of San Sebastian. Setting off from the Sanctuary of Guadalupe the morning walk is 12km. We gather for lunch at the one street fishing village of Pasaia Donibane.
After lunch, a short boat crossing to Pasaia San Pedro for a 6km walk up to Mount Ulia passing by La Plata lighthouse, a look out point of breathtaking beauty set in a rocky crag. We then drive to the splendid Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra overlooking the Concha Beach in San Sebastian. Evening is free for you to explore the old Quarter of San Sebastian and sample the local way of eating “pintxos”
Day 3
Today’s walk starts with a short climb up to Mount Igueldo. Lonely farmhouses, the odd cattle farm and the vegetation ridden paths are the standard today. 12km before a short drive to one of the areas typical Basque Cider House for a traditional lunch and glass of cider. The afternoon walk is a short 4km climb up the Talaimendi hill through the vineyards that provide the fruits locally referred to as “white gold” – txakoli, the local wine. Your hotel for the next two nights is the stunning Hotel Saiaz Getaria with the best sea views in the area.
Day
4
Today’s walk continues over the mounts without losing sight of the Cantabrian waters and stopping at the main fishing ports of Gipuzkoa. With the full 14km walked before lunch this should awaken the appetite for some fantastic home cooked food at Restaurant Xabin Etxea . After lunch, a short drive back to Hotel Saiaz Getaria and a free evening to relax at this splendid hotel or if you are feeling up to another walk you could try the mount of San Anton, more commonly known as the Mouse of Getaria for it’s distinctive shape.
Day 5
A 50 minutes drive takes us away from the coast and into the undulating mountains of Biscay, the idyllic village of Bolibar and the monastery of Ziortza. In contrast to the previous day’s walk the Basque landscape will make itself known, with it’s typical farmhouses, pastures and small clusters of houses around a church and in most cases, a fronton (pelota) court. After lunch we return to our spa hotel in the pretty town of Durango. Optional Spa and Relax at the hotel.
Day 6
Today is a day of contrasts, the Cantabrian Sea once again appears on the horizon following the route of the old mining railway from Pobeña and then taking a worthwhile variant inland of meadows, stables and cattle. A very pleasant 14km walk followed by lunch at Casa Lucia. For the next 2 nights we are at the 4 star hotel Las Rocas on the beachfront of Castro Urdiales.
Day
7
Today we take another Camino variant with a short drive inland starting the walk from the Chapel of San Mames. Following a forest track flanked by Eucalyptus and Cantabrian Oak trees a short but pleasant 10km walk that opens out into the Liendo Valley surrounded by abrupt limestone peaks. Lunch at the Asador Erillo on the rocky crag of Islares. Free evening in Castro Urdiales.
Day
8
Departure
Day
Transfers to Bilbao airport or city centre.
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