# Ochagavía and the hermitage of Muskilda What to do en Irati Forest · Irati Forest Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/things-to-do/ochagavia-and-muskilda · Revisado: 2026-11-13 - Duración: 2 h 30 - Temporada: All year - Para quién: Everyone The stone village of the Salazar valley, with its bridge over the Zatoya, and the Romanesque hermitage of Muskilda on the hill · 2–3 h Ochagavía, Otsagabia in Basque, lies at 764 m at the head of the Salazar valley, where the rivers Zatoya and Anduña meet. Its origins go back to the 11th century. It is the village from which you go up to Casas de Irati, and the afternoon left over after the forest is well filled with a stroll through its streets and the climb to the shrine of Muskilda, on the hill above. Along the streets of the Zatoya and the Anduña The village is of stone, with cobbled streets and houses bearing coats of arms from the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the Zatoya there is a bridge with a Plateresque cross, and another bridge crosses the Anduña. Montxo Armendáriz filmed Secrets of the Heart here. Muskilda on foot or by car On foot, a signposted path of about 3 km leaves from the upper part of Ochagavía and climbs through the hills to the shrine. There is another option, the Romerías track, shorter but steeper. Along the way you come across a Gothic cross, the Arritxuria one, a wayside shrine and a four-metre stone pillar dated 1654. By car, leave Ochagavía on the NA-140 towards Isaba and, a few kilometres on, take the turning that climbs to the shrine. At the top there is a small car park with a picnic area next to the entrance. From the ridge there are broad views of the valley, and the track continues towards the Arpea and Abodi pastures and the Irati Forest; on a clear day you can see the Orhi. What the shrine holds The church of Nuestra Señora de Muskilda is Romanesque, from the 12th century, and tradition links it to the reign of Sancho the Strong. Its square tower has a conical roof of wooden shingles, as is the custom in the valley. Inside, a 15th-century wrought-iron screen separates the nave from the chancel, and a Baroque altarpiece of 1672 holds the image of the Virgin, a seated 14th-century Gothic carving with a flower in her right hand and the Child on her knees. The walled enclosure includes the guesthouse, the hermit's house and the ruins of the hermitage of Santa Cruz. 8 September and other pilgrimages On 8 September, Ochagavía's patron saint's day, the procession circles the hermitage accompanied by the village's dancers, led by the Bobo, a character with a two-faced mask. There are also pilgrimages on 23 April, 3 May, 26 July and 15 August. November and December hours In November, the hermitage is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 16:30 to 18:00, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 18:00; it is closed on Tuesday and Thursday. In December it opens only on certain days: ask at the tourist office. In the same building as the office, the Nature Interpretation Centre explains on three floors the geology, fauna and vegetation of Irati, with an ethnographic room on the valley. Until 14 December it is open Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00, and Friday and Saturday also from 16:30 to 19:30. ## Cómo llegar y contacto - Coordenadas: 42.9064, -1.0902 ## Cerca de aquí - [Bar Restaurante Auñamendi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/where-to-eat/aunamendi-bar-restaurant), a 429 m - [Hotel Rural Auñamendi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/where-to-stay/aunamendi-rural-hotel), a 429 m - [Camping Osate](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/where-to-stay/osate-campsite), a 683 m - [Irati-Abodi Mountain Centre café](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/where-to-eat/irati-abodi-cafe), a 8.2 km - [Pikatua Viewpoint and Irati-Abodi](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/things-to-do/pikatua-viewpoint-and-irati-abodi), a 8.2 km - [Casas de Irati bar-restaurant](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/where-to-eat/casas-de-irati-bar-restaurant), a 9.3 km - [Cubo Waterfall on the Errekaidorra circuit](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/things-to-do/cubo-waterfall), a 9.3 km - [Guided walk through the Irati Forest with naturalists](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/things-to-do/guided-nature-walk-in-irati), a 9.3 km ## Consejos ### Go up in the afternoon on a weekday If you go on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday in November, the hermitage is only open from 16:30 to 18:00: time the climb on foot to arrive before six. ### Finish the day in the village The Bar Restaurante Auñamendi is on the square, and the plan Sunday in the Irati Forest combines the Cubo Waterfall in the morning with Ochagavía in the afternoon. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How far is it to Muskilda? About 3 km along the signposted path from the upper part of the village. The Romerías track is shorter and steeper. ### Can you drive up? Yes, via the NA-140 towards Isaba and the turning to the shrine. There is a small car park next to the entrance. ### Is the hermitage open in November? Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and weekend mornings and afternoons; closed on Tuesday and Thursday. ### Can the dog go up to Muskilda? Along the streets and the track, yes, on a lead. Destino: [Irati Forest](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest.md)