Hostal Rural Mendilatz

Mendilatz is a rural hostel at kilometre 4 of the road that climbs to the Irabia reservoir, in Orbaitzeta, on the Aezkoa side of the Irati Forest. It is already inside the hills, past the village towards the Arrazola area and the dam, so in the morning you step out of the door into the forest without going down to the valley. It has private parking and large gardens around it.

Sixteen rooms for thirty

There are 16 rooms with 30 places in all: doubles with a double bed, standard and superior, doubles with two beds, triples and quadruples, the latter with single beds. All have a full bathroom, television, wifi and heating, and are cleaned daily. The website does not publish prices: availability and rate can be checked in its booking section or on 948 766 088.

Breakfast, dinner to order and picnic

Mendilatz has no restaurant or meal service, and it is worth knowing before you arrive. What it offers guests:

• Breakfast, from 8:00 to 10:00.
• Combination-plate dinner with dessert, to order before 16:00. Served at 20:00 sharp.
• Picnic bag, by booking, to eat on the trail.
• Café with porch.

Services and facilities are only for those sleeping there.

Eleven mountain bike routes with tracks

It is a house designed for bikes. It has a bike store with sockets for charging e-bikes, a repair workshop and a washing area, and the website publishes eleven mountain bike routes through Irati with their Wikiloc tracks, which they also load onto your GPS from a computer at the hostel. They range from the 16 km and 539 m of ascent of Nabala-Arlagain to the 66 km and 1,257 m of Pikatua-Erlan; in between, Txangoa-Soraluze (23 km), Roncesvalles (30.5 km), Burdinzokoa-Canal (39.4 km) or the Irati Queen Stage (65.6 km). They do not hire electric bikes, but give contacts for who does; see also Irati by electric bike.

For families, without a dog

Outside there is a playground, a football pitch and a volleyball court. Pets are not allowed: if you are travelling with a dog, Camping Osate, in Ochagavía, does accept them. There is also no charging point for electric cars.

Hours and cancellation

Check-in is from 15:00 to 20:00 and check-out from 8:00 to 11:00. Cancellation is free up to 15 days before arrival; bad weather does not count as a reason to cancel at no cost.

What is nearby

The Irabia dam, the starting point of the reservoir loop, is further up the road. The Royal Munitions Factory is about 5 km from Orbaitzeta, along the Azpegi road, and pays no fee.