Tourism: route through the towns of the Basque coast

Ratón de Getaria

One of the most requested services by our clients when they visit Euskadi is to tour the towns of the Basque Coast.  And nobody is disappointed. Knowing the fishing villages of this abrupt coast is without doubt a pleasant and memorable experience, both because of the landscapes that open up before our eyes and because of the people who raise them and who have made fishing, agriculture and industry their way of life.

The route along the Basque coast can obviously begin, both in the east and in the west and will depend on where we are staying. Both San Sebastián and Bilbao have excellent hotels where you can spend a few days to get to know the whole Basque geography. For both options you can count on the Taxiberia transfer service, so you can get to your hotel with the maximum comfort.

We will start our route from the east, where the Bidasoa river runs in the bay of Txingudi and flows into the Cantabrico.  The bay that separates and unites at the same time the towns of the French coast and the Spanish coast, is a protected wetland and of great ecological value since it is a zone of passage and refuge for numerous migratory birds. If we want to know much better this area, we can make one of the many routes that will discover us both the natural riches of the bay as well as its history and culture.

Hondarribia, Spain

The first coastal town we will visit is Hondarribia, a municipality located between the Txingudi bay and the Jaizkibel mountain. Hondarribia is a town of fishing tradition with a history marked by its border character and, therefore, strategic position in the conflicts between France and Spain. Both aspects are perfectly reflected in the current physiognomy of the old town of the town.

On the one hand we can visit the neighborhood of the marina, where is the fishing port, which is still active although the local economy is now more focused on tourism and where we can walk among the traditional fishermen’s houses and enjoy some pintxos in their bars. On the other hand, the old part of the town is surrounded by a defensive wall and crowned by the castle of Carlos V, now converted into the Parador Nacional. The old part of Hondarribia offers beautiful corners, with old houses emblazoned and full of color with their balconies full of flowers. The military buildings that we can visit are completed with the Guadeloupe Fort, located on Mount Jaizkibel, very close to the sanctuary of the same name.

We can not say goodbye to Hondarribia without visiting its beach and the marina. It is an ideal area to walk and enjoy the magnificent views, both of the bay of Txingudi, with the French town of Hendaya just opposite, and of the Jaizkibel mountain that protects the beach on the west.

We head west following the coast and we leave behind the port area of Pasajes and the capital of Guipuzcoa, Donostia, a city that deserves an article in a near future. We pass by Orio and Zarautz and we stop in Getaria, another Gipuzkoan town with a long seafaring tradition. We will recognize it from afar thanks to the peninsula known as “El Ratón de Getaria” (mouse of Getaria) by its characteristic shape reminds us of the profile of this rodent.Ermita San Juan de Gastelugatxe

Getaria is known for being the birthplace of Juan Sebastian Elcano, the first sailor to sail around the world in the 16th century. Another famous son of the municipality was Cristobal de Balenciaga, the famous couturier who conquered Paris with his haute couture designs during the last century and that we can see in the modern museum that has been inaugurated in his native town.

Another attraction of Getaria, besides its beach and the town itself, is the gastronomy. We are in the right place to enjoy a grilled fish in the traditional style, washed down with the famous txakoli of Getaria, a white wine typical of these lands and that little by little and thanks to the efforts of the local producers has earned a place among the most well-known Designations of Origin in Spain.

We continue with our rush toward the west and perform a new stop in Lekeitio, already in Bizkaia. The town is located in a small bay formed by the mouth of the river Lea and protected by the island of San Nicolas. This is how the fishing port, the neuralgic center of a town that faces the sea and that has always lived on its offerings, is protected. At the foot of the port is the spectacular Gothic church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion, with its characteristic buttresses and flying buttresses crowned by pinnacles. In the interior, the main altarpiece in the Spanish-Flemish or Elizabethan Gothic style stands out.

Before arriving at our next destination, it is worth making a quick visit to Elantxobe, a small fishing village characterized by the abruptness of its location. It is a succession of stepped houses, flanking the slope that ends in the small harbor built in the shelter of the mass of Cape Ogoño.

Surf en MundakaWe follow the coastal route until we reach Mundaka, in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a protected area formed by the estuary of the mouth of the Oka river. It is an area full of sand and rich fauna that deserves a visit by itself, but we will leave for another occasion, focusing this time on Mundaka, a town located on the left bank of the estuary.

Mundaka is known for its left wave, bringing thousands of surfers from all over the world. A scoring event for the ASP WORLD TOUR, the world’s highest championship of this sport so visually attractive, is also being held in the town. For that reason, it is rare that there are always several people surfing in these waters, regardless of the year of the year in which we are.

In Mundaka we are struck by its old town, which is pleasant to walk among narrow streets and old fishermen’s houses. We can also get closer to enjoy the views over the estuary and its sandy areas from the Hermitage of Santa Catalina, where we will also see the remains of a defensive fortress of the nineteenth century.

We headed our steps again towards the west, and after passing the village of Bermeo, which also deserves a stop on our route, we arrive at a mythical point of the Basque coast, the Hermitage of San Juan de Gastelugatxe, a mandatory stop for tourists and locals ..This hermitage is built on the top of an island linked to the mainland by a bridge on the access road that leads to it and which is an attraction in itself. The road has more than 200 steps
we must overcome to reach the hermitage, a construction of the tenth century from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Biscayan coast.

In addition, the area is within a protected biotype, which also includes the nearby coast of Cape Matxitxako, the northernmost point of the Basque Autonomous Community and from whose lighthouse you can sometimes see large cetaceans that cross this area of ​​the Cantabrian Sea.

San Juan de Gastelugatxe

 

It’s time to put an end to our route. After passing through coastal towns such as Baki or Plentzia, we reach the Abra and Bilbao, the final point of our journey today. We will also dedicate a space to this city, economic engine of the Basque Country and host of numerous events, and that has enough attractions to visit it with more time. Remember that this route is suggested by Taxiberia, based on the experience of our drivers, but our customers can develop a different route, more according to their tastes and interests and we will be happy to perform.

The best five destinations Gay Friendly in Spain

Turismo gay friendly

Over the past decade, Spain became one of the destinations, more defendants by the collective LGBTI. To the obvious attractions that have always attracted tourists to our country, should add the adoption of the gay marriage law, which has attracted the attention of this group when choosing a vacation destination.

Since Spain has become a fashion among the collective LGBTI have developed infrastructures hospitality and leisure in general this sort of customer-oriented, which are always a good deal for the tourist industry. As well, there has been a proliferation of “gay friendly” establishments through out the country, but there are several destinations that are preferred by tourists for its atmosphere and tradition.

This review is not intended to be a guide to hotels or other establishments geared to the gay clientely, we just want to give some clue about some destinations where the presence of this collective is significant and where to find a favorable atmosphere for you to enjoy your holiday. For those interested in these destinations will not be difficult to find this information in the numerous thematic websites that flood the network.

We began our listing for the capital, in particular by the famous fashionable Chueca neighborhood. This corner of the center of Madrid has under gone a major transformation since the early 1990s and has become a world reference point for tolerance and coexistence, which has been reflected in the emergence of a commercial fabric and hotelier in the service of a thriving gay community.

In the neighborhood of Chueca are the Gay Pride celebrations attract visitors from all corners of the planet, and which have become one of the most multitudinous of the Spanish capital. The Gay Pride Parade is the culmination of the festival, an event full of color and wildness that combines the party with the claim, confirming that Madrid is one of the more open and tolerant cities of Europe.

Sitges turismo gayAnother of the most visited destinations because of the LGBT community in Spain is the catalan city of Sitges, in the region of Garraf. This picturesque coastal village is a classic of the gay tourism since decades and its streets are full of shops of all types to this clientele. In addition, it is just 35 km away from Barcelona, a city of also is modern, open and tolerant with a great atmosphere.

Sitges has beautiful beaches and very animated, in addition to an old town crossed by small streets, always full of people in high season both by the day, thanks to a flourishing trade, such as at night, with a great atmosphere thanks to its bars and nightclubs open until dawn.

Another of the classic “gay friendly” destinations in Spain is the island of Ibiza. This island is one of the Balearic Islands and is well known for its festive and cosmopolitan, and attracts thousands of young people from all over the world who are looking for a holiday of sun, beach and nightlife is spectacular.

In Ibiza we can enjoy its peoples, its festivals, its people, its beaches and its suggestive landscapes. It is an island that has it all and has attracted tourists from all over the world from a long time ago. In addition, there is always a wide cultural offer for those who are looking for a little more than party, sun and beach.

Ibiza destino gay

Speaking of sun and beach,  Torremolinos, Costa del Sol, is also a destination “gay
friendly” featured in the peninsula. If during the day you can enjoy the wonderful beaches of Torremolinos, in the evening, the atmosphere moves to bars and discos
where you live the party until the early hours of the morning. The area where more LGBT tourism-oriented establishments we find is the La Nogalera, located in the center of the Andalusian town.

Finally, we cannot fail to mention the beaches of Maspalomas and English in Gran Canaria, other tourist destinations with a wide acceptance among homosexual. This has the advantage of having a mild climate throughout the year, so we don´t have to wait for the summer to spend a few days enjoying these magnificent beaches.

My final recommendation, we would remind you that Taxiberia is the best choice for both private transfers by the tourist areas or to go to cultural and sports events, how to recruit easily transfer from any Spanish airports to the hotel that was booked for your holiday. With just a click away from your computer, we will be at your disposal for the service you prefer.