Walking from Zarautz to Getaria

There are two ways to link the two villages on foot. The easy one is the seafront path: you leave from the western end of Zarautz beach and follow the pedestrian track beside the road, flat, with the Ratón ahead, to the harbour of Getaria. The other is the Camino de Santiago: at the end of Zarautz's old town, a steep stone causeway climbs among txakoli vines to the hermitage of Santa Bárbara, and from there the path descends to Getaria. Allow an hour or an hour and a half depending on the route. You can go by one, return by the other or come back by bus.

The seafront path

This is the route for everyone. Zarautz Turismo presents it as a continuation of the promenade: the pedestrian path follows the coast from the end of the beach to Getaria. It is about 4 or 5 kilometres. It is flat and runs right by the sea, with the Ratón de Getaria getting ever closer: from here you understand why they call it that. It runs beside the road, so it is not a mountain path, but the views of the Cantabrian Sea make up for the noise of the cars. It can be done with a pushchair and with small children.

On stormy days, the upper path is better. In summer, set out early or late in the afternoon, when the sun is less fierce.

By the Camino de Santiago and Santa Bárbara

The coastal Way of St James passes here. According to the Basque Coast Route leaflet from Turismo Euskadi, at the end of Zarautz's old town a stone causeway begins that climbs steeply among txakoli vineyards to the hermitage of Santa Bárbara, at the top, with Zarautz bay at your feet. From the hermitage, the path descends to Getaria.

It is more demanding than the seafront path: the climb is short but steep, with stone that is slippery when it has rained. Wear shoes with soles, not flip-flops. It is not for a pushchair.

How to organise it

The most convenient is to go by one path and return by the other: go up via Santa Bárbara in the morning, in the cool, and return along the coast in the afternoon. If you only want to walk one way, come back by Lurraldebus: the UK10 links Zarautz and Getaria in a few minutes. Walking from Zarautz to Getaria and not the other way round has an advantage: you reach the harbour at lunchtime.

In Getaria, go up the Ratón, stroll round the old town and harbour and, if you go Monday to Saturday outside the grape harvest, book the visit to Txomin Etxaniz. To start in Zarautz, the beach and the Iñurritza dunes are at the other end of the promenade. The Getaria tourist office, at Kale Nagusia 38 (943 140 957), also provides information on Zarautz.