Guided walk through the Irati Forest with naturalists

With a naturalist guide the forest changes: you learn to recognise tracks, birdsong and plants, and understand why the Irati Forest is so important. It is one of the largest beech-and-fir forests in Europe, spread across the Aezkoa and Salazar valleys in Navarre and those of Cize and Soule in France, with high pastures regulated by facerías, agreements on use between valleys that are more than 500 years old. For the white-backed woodpecker, Irati is a key place: according to local guides, it has its highest density here.

Who guides

Itarinatura is a nature guide company made up of environmental educators with many years of experience in the Navarre Pyrenees. Their outings aim for you to understand the whole landscape, not just one species, and they have experience of outings adapted for people with disabilities. They guide in Spanish, Basque, English and French. They have designed more than fifteen interpretation panels in natural areas of Navarre and have carried out studies on Pyrenean forests for the Government of Navarre.

What they offer

• Forest walks: plants and their uses, animal tracks, flora, fauna, geology, ethnography and the history of Irati.
• Bird watching: among the species they look for are the crossbill, rock ptarmigan, alpine chough, bearded vulture, wallcreeper and white-backed woodpecker.
• Night outings: moonlit walks, stargazing and basic astronomy.
• Mycology outings: basic mycology and how to tell edible mushrooms from toxic ones, in autumn.
• The deer rut: outings to listen to stags in rut, also in autumn.
• Arms factory: a visit to the ruins of the 18th-century Royal Munitions Factory of Orbaitzeta.
• Bunker route: the bunkers built beside the French border after the 1936 war.

They also design tailor-made activities and travel to wherever the group is.

Price, booking and meeting point

The website publishes no prices, durations or meeting points: they are agreed when booking, depending on the activity, the time of year and the group. Contact them on +34 660 268 750 or at [email protected]. For the rut and mushrooms, book early: they are seasonal activities. The Ochagavía tourist office has the list of the valley's other guide companies.

Before you go

In November 2026 the access road to the Casas de Irati will be closed for works from 16 to 20 and from 23 to 27; confirm with the guide which way in to use on those days. Bring mountain footwear, warm clothing and a waterproof. If you are with children, tell them their ages when booking.