10 places to go close to Bermeo
URDAIBAI
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Bermeo is located within the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve along with 22 other municipalities, Bermeo and Gernika being the core areas of population in the region. Whether it is a museum, performance center, overlook, trail, building or sculpture, there are nearly infinite places to see and things to do. That being said, we recommend that you take full advantage and hope that you enjoy the time that you have with us.
MUNDAKA
SURF AND RELAXATION
Mundaka is one of the best places in the world to surf thanks to its long left handed waves which as they enter the Urdaibai estuary, form powerful barrels that delight the world’s best surfers.
Throughout the year many travel to the idyllic town of Mundaka looking to catch the perfect wave, but it has much more to offer.
It is part of a vast landscape with a town planning that takes us back to another time, both making it a true jewel on the crown that is Urdaibai.
Más info: http://www.mundakaturismo.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx
Train: www.euskotren.es
Bus: http://www.bizkaia.net/home2/Temas/DetalleTema.asp?Tem_Codigo=195&idioma=EU
URDAIBAI BIRD CENTER
URDAIBAI AND IT'S BIRDS
Urdaibai Bird Center is a living museum about our ecosystem located in Gautegiz Arteaga, within the lagoons of Urdaibai. It is a center for research and protection, as well as outreach for our birds. Here you can directly observe and learn about these stunning animals.
More information: http://www.birdcenter.org/en
ELANTXOBE
ARCHITECTURE ABOVE THE SEA
Built on a steep slope and a thousand year old tradition of fishing, it is one of the most beautiful municipalities of the Basque Country. In a port that is just hanging on to what is left of it’s fishing fleet, we have a pool of salt water perfect for smaller vessels. In the upper part of the village, continuing on from a curious cemetery, there is a precious path that leads us to the top of the prominent cliff called Ogoño, from which we recommend seeing at least once, the beautiful sunset.
More information: http://elantxobe.eu
OMA
THE PAINTED FOREST
Treat your senses and take a walk through the work of Agustín Ibarrola. Very close to Basondo and the Santimamiñe caves.
More information.
THE SANTIMAMIÑE CAVES
HISTORY AND ARTE
The Santimamiñe cave, located in Kortezubi, contains cave paintings approximately 13000 years old. After decades of being open to the public it is now only partially open due to deterioration. Nevertheless, we highly recommend the virtual visit in which you will feel like you were in the depths of the cave. The Santimamiñe cave has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008 along with two other Basque caves, Eki and Atxerri.
More information.
EKOETXEA URDAIBAI
THE WINDOW OF THE BIOSPHERE
Ekoetxea Urdaibai claims itself the observatory of our biodiversity by organizing a multitude of excursions and welcoming both temporary and permanent exhibitions.
More information:http://www.ekoetxea.eus/
VIEWING POINTS
SUMMIT LOCATIONS
You could consider almost any place a viewing point in Urdaibai, but we will still recommend the following places:
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Ermita de Santa Katalina (Mundaka)
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San Miguel de Ereñozar (Ereño)
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San Pedro de Atxarre (Ibarrangelu)
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Balcón de Bizkaia (Mendata)
GUERNICA
TRADITION AND SYMBOLISM
A spiritual village for the Basques, Guernica carries a symbolic and historical load being recognized as the origin of Basque freedom and sovereignty. After being bombed by Nazi planes, the village inspired the hand of Pablo Picasso to create one of the most important works of contemporary art. Places you must visit: the tree of Guernica, El Frontón Jai Alai [Basque pelota court], Europa park, the market plaza (only on Mondays), the arms factory Astra (a once abandoned factory that the community has recuperated and turned into a self sufficient cultural center).
You can enjoy a pleasant twenty minute train ride from Bermeo or take a bus that comes every half hour.
Trains: www.euskotren.es
Buses: http://www.bizkaia.net/home2/Temas/DetalleTema.asp?Tem_Codigo=195&idioma=EU
BILBAO
GASTRONOMY, ART AND CULTURE
Even though Bilbao is famous for the Guggenheim museum, do not forget to visit the beautiful old part of town or Casco Viejo. Bilbao is a city with a high level of cultural activity and it is impossible to get bored there. It’s both practical and interesting to take the tram through the city which you can catch at the same station that train from Bermeo arrives to every half hour.
Just 35 kilometers from the capital and easily accessible by public transport, Bilbao is a key pace to visit not far from the tranquility of Bermeo.
More information: http://www.bilbaoturism.net