Hike Gaztelugatxe, Fishing Port Bermeo & Pintxo Lunch from Bilbao
Description
-This experience offers a fantastic overview of the Basque coast, countryside and culture! Furthermore, this tour mixes an invigorating trek with the renowned Basque cuisine and wine! -Please wear comfortable walking shoes and loose clothing as we will be hiking to the top of Gaztelugatxe with some of the most amazing views in the Basque Country! We also advise bringing a rain jacket, hat and sunblock as the weather can change a lot in this region. -Following the hike, you will experience some delicious tapas/pintxos at a local restaurant in the quaint fishing village of Bermeo that exemplifies our love of food and drink! -If you are visiting the Basque Country, it is an absolute must to come see our rugged and dramatically beautiful coastline. -This tour is great mix of exercise, nature, food and wine that will surely be one of the highlights of your vacation!
Tour Options
Itinerary
-We will make the hike to the top of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe! Expect to spend approximately 2 hours hiking to the top and back. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. -Located just off the shore along the Bay of Biscay and 35 km (22 miles) east from Bilbao, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a definite “must” if you are visiting the Basque Country. Many will recognize San Juan de Gaztelugatxe as the island fortress of “Dragonstone” from season 7 of Game of Thrones, however, its real name can be translated as “castle rock” from Basque (“gaztelu” = castle + “aitz” = rock). -The island is connected to the mainland by a man-made stone bridge. The bridge transitions into a narrow path that contains 241 steps and zigzags its way back and forth to the top. These steps have even been recognized as one of the world’s grandest staircases.
Bermeo is a colorful coastal village located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and is less than 10 km away from the impressive San Juan de Gaztelugatxe island. Famous for its fishing tradition, it is a great place to stop for a while and explore. We will enjoy some pintxos/tapas at the marina, and for a leisurely stroll through the scenic old fishing port.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The tour is operated from the city of Bilbao only. Pickup and drop-off is offered from within the city limits at your hotel, Airbnb, etc...
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travelers without a decent moderate of physical fitness
Reviews(65)
Wonderful! Zach showed up on time, which already felt like a small miracle. He knew a lot but did not act like a know-it-all. He smiled. He waited for us, which mattered, as our group moved like a geriatric ward The van was brilliantly clean. No odd smells. Seats soft enough that no one complained, which says a lot. The walk to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe felt like a scene from a film, but with more stairs and less grace on my part. Worth every step. Then the wine. Good wine. The kind that makes you nod as if you understand things you do not.
We had an amazing experience with Zach as our tour guide! We booked this tour expecting a typical group excursion, but it exceeded all of our expectations. Zach was punctual, responsive, friendly, and very knowledgeable. You can tell he genuinely loves the area and is passionate about sharing it with others. His enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. The tour was the perfect length for us, we were back in Bilbao by early afternoon. Zach also shared great restaurant recommendations for Bilbao. Everything was taken care of from start to finish. Zach picked us up directly from our hotel, and dropped us off at the same location afterward. It was completely stress-free. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a safe, well-organized, and enjoyable day. Thanks again, Zach, for such a great experience!
Great tour to hike Gaztelugatxe and visit Port Bermeo. Irene was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about the Basque Country history and culture. She kept our kids entertained and was easy to talk with. She is probably the best tour guide we have ever had!
This is a bit harder of a hike than most are expecting, but so worth it. If you are not fit or have young kids this is NOT a great choice for you. But if you are fit then this tour is spectacular.
We can recommend this tour. Very knowledgeable and nice guide. Early start is smart, because it is less crowded. We walked the 242 stairs almost alone. We had a great time.
Booking the private tour was a great decision. We were lucky to have an excellent guide. Irene was fantastic from the moment she picked us up at our hotel and took us first to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and then to Bermeo. She always let us go at our own pace to enjoy the incredible views. She shared fascinating stories about the history, culture, and local traditions, making every stop much more meaningful. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she went above and beyond to ensure we had the best possible experience. Even the stop for pintxos and txakoli was great. Thank you Irene!
Zach was phenomenal. Very informative & descriptive of region. An enjoyable time & a hike to boot. Pintxos in Bermeo quite good. Zach made pick up easy & the drive very comfortable.
What a wonderful way to visit San Juan de Gatztelugatxe and Bermeo! We had the most amazing day with Olaia at this beautiful site. It was great learning more about the history and legacy and to see it from so many different perspectives as we walked up and back down (and back up… be ready for lots of steps!). Then we had such a lovely visit to Bermeo afterwards and enjoyed hearing stories about this village. Having some pintxos and txakoli overlooking the picturesque harbor was the perfect way to wrap up the day. And we truly can’t say enough about Olaia. We’ve done many tours in different countries and she was the best guide we have ever had! She is so kind, thoughtful, considerate and goes above and beyond to make sure you have the best possible experiences. She is wonderful! The booking process was seamless and easy. The owners are responsive and helpful. Do not miss your chance to book with Best of Basque — for this or any other tours!!
excellent overview of basque area with a great hike -short but moderate - lots of steps up and down, can be steep but the views are incredible. Zach was an amazing guide. Pick up was early but we beat the crowds! Borneo was a nice fishing town -- Very comfortable airconditioned van. Pintxos were delicious. highly recommend!
Irene was an excellent guide. Very friendly and helpful. It was great to hear about Basque culture and history. Gaztelugatxe itself was stunning and worth the trio. Great Pintxos in Bermeo an idyllic little fishing village.
