AIZKORRI-ARATZ & ARALAR
natural parks
In Aizkorri-Aratz, two areas can be distinguished, according to their landscape and geology: the sharp limestone ridge with grass lowlands in the valley (Urbia) and the concatenation of hills and the siliceous mountain pass completely covered with varied vegetation, leaving the rock out of sight. The summits of the latter were the location chosen to open the first wind energy industrial estate in the Autonomous Basque Community. The treeless area increases the widespread livestock. The grass in the high mountains is always full of thousands of sheep that graze on them from the beginning of spring to the late autumn. Many species of birds of prey (peregrine falcon, griffon vulture, booted eagle…) and other forest and mountain birds fly over, while amphibians like the alpine newt populate streams and ponds in the high mountain. As for mammals, you can find wild cats and the pine marten, which are in danger of extinction.
Vegetation includes forests of limestone and acidophilus beech trees, majoral and pedunculate-oak groves in Alava’s side of Urkilla-Elgea. There are also areas of sessile oak and limestone oak, places like Arbarrain -Altzania mountains- with a very particular flora and a very specialised mountain flora in the calcareous crest and the “lapiés” areas -channels incised into the limestone by solution-.
Aralar mountain range offers an impressive layout with limestone elevations, rivers and natural springs. It presents a rich flora and interesting fauna: griffon vulture, golden eagle and bearded vulture. Horses, cows and sheep populate their fields, a very common spot to see the latxa sheep -producers of the delicious milk that turns into the famous Idiazabal cheese– grazing in the core of the massif. The most iconic peak is Txindoki, also known as Larrunari and Ñañarri. It is the most loved mountain in Guipúzcoa. You can spot its elegant silhouette from many points of the region!
Get into the park through two entrances:
Abaltzisketa or Ataun. Beech trees cover a quarter of its total area, 10,971 hectares, making it the biggest beech forest in Guipúzcoa, a true pride in our natural heritage.
At the top of Lizarrusti (Ataun) you will find Aralar’s Natural Park Interpretation Centre, where there’s a permanent exhibition as well as information about the park and its surrounding areas.
Aralar Nature Park Interpretation Centre in Lizarrusti
If you’re all about archaeological heritage, the megalithic wealth visible in Aralar will surprise you: the biggest concentration of megalithic monuments in the Basque Country is right here in Aralar, demonstrating the significance that prehistoric Basques gave to their pasturelands. In the megalithic station of Aralar they found the first dolmen in Guipúzcoa and the first diggings in Euskal Herria also took place in this site. You will see dolmens, menhirs, monoliths and cromlechs.
The long and short hikes are marked up for you to enjoy. In the port of Lizarrusti (Ataun) you will find an information point, a restaurant, a shelter and the recently inaugurated adventure park for the whole family.
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in Goierri
NATURAL AND REMARKABLE LIKE ITS gastronomy We’re certain you will only taste the highest quality in our products… but we’ll let you see for yourself: Idiazabal cheese, local cider, Beasain’s...
explore our plans with children The Goierri region is a paradise for nature activities and many of them with children. We propose some that you will surely like although you...
PLAN YOUR trip Either coming by yourself, with your partner, family or friends, in Goierri there is a plan for you. We help you organise your trip through suggested routes,...
KNOW OUR Horse riding Our wide territory allows us the possibility of carrying out innumerable activities and among them, the horse riding. Either in a closed place or doing routes...
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your trip
Get to know Euskadi’s highlands
Basque Highlands
Do you want to know the orientation game? Come to Segura and Zegama and have fun with your family and friends!
We suggest you know the Goierri by car or motorcycle. Visit the highest places and enjoy privileged views.
Do you know what is a green way? Come with your family and enjoy a pleasant walk enlivened by a nice game to have fun with family!
Do you dare climb the mountain where Edurne Pasaban started practicing? The first woman to complete the ascent of the 14 eight-thousanders on Earth developed her hobby here, in the...
You can get to the tunnel by car and walk the last 20 minutes or take a 2 hours circular route by foot, which is very beautiful and well sign-posted.
If you want to practice orienteering as a game and a sport, come to Zegama. There are three circuits with several levels of difficulty for everyone to enjoy. The starting...
Archaeological heritage, landscapes and a paradise for trekking meet in these two natural sierras: Aizkorri-Aratz and Aralar
Latxa sheep are native to Euskal Herria -Navarra and the Basque Country-. There are two varieties: dark-faced and blonde, and they are small to medium sized, as well as thin...
