# August long weekend from Pamplona: getaways for 15 August, the Assumption Getaways from Pamplona for 15 August: Ordesa first thing, Urbión, canyons at Aínsa, the shade of Irati and the coast of Getaria, Hondarribia and Urdaibai. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/pamplona/getaways/august-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Pamplona - [A weekend in Ordesa, 1 h 20 from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/ordesa-weekend-torla-from-huesca.md) (2 nights, Ordesa Valley): In summer you only go up to the Pradera on the Torla bus, and the August long weekend is when the valley's 1,800-person limit is reached soonest. The first departure is at 6:00: with the first bus you walk to the Cola de Caballo in the cool and without people. - [A weekend at the Laguna Negra and Urbión, an hour from Soria](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/laguna-negra-and-urbion/itineraries/night-in-soria-pine-forests-laguna-negra.md) (1 night, Laguna Negra and Picos de Urbión): At about 1,700 metres, the Urbión glacial lagoons have in August the temperature the Ribera lacks. Some weekends access to the Laguna Negra is regulated: call the Casa del Parque first, and go up early, before the track fills. - [A weekend in Aínsa: Añisclo, a canyon descent and the square at dusk, an hour and a half from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe/itineraries/ainsa-anisclo-canyoning-weekend.md) (2 nights, Aínsa and the Sobrarbe): August is the month of the Guara canyons, with the water already warm and the sun high in the gorge. Do the guided canyon in the morning and leave Añisclo for the other day, first thing. At night the Plaza Mayor in Aínsa stays cool. - [Irati: Cubo Waterfall and Ochagavía](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/navarre/irati-forest/itineraries/beech-forest-cubo-waterfall-and-ochagavia.md) (Day itinerary, Irati Forest): When Pamplona goes above 30 degrees, you walk under the Irati beeches in short sleeves without sweating. The 10 km to the Cubo Waterfall are almost all in shade. In August the Casas de Irati car park fills: arrive before ten. - [A weekend in Urdaibai, an hour from Vitoria: the estuary by canoe, Gernika and Gaztelugatxe](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/urdaibai/itineraries/urdaibai-canoe-gaztelugatxe-weekend.md) (1 night, Urdaibai): Urdaibai is at its best from May to September, with Laida beach and the canoe along the estuary. In July and August the climb to Gaztelugatxe usually has controlled access: book the free ticket from the Bizkaia provincial council and go up first thing. - [Getaria: museum, the Ratón and grill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/getaria-and-zarautz/itineraries/balenciaga-raton-and-harbour-grill.md) (Day itinerary, Getaria and Zarautz): From April to October you eat on the terrace above the harbour and end the day at Zarautz beach. In August the Gipuzkoa coast is full for Donostia's Semana Grande: park in Getaria before eleven and book the grill. - [Hondarribia: old town, the Marina and Jaizkibel](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/hondarribia/itineraries/walls-ferry-and-jaizkibel.md) (Day itinerary, Hondarribia): In summer the motor boat crosses to Hendaye until late and the Jaizkibel boat sails on the days in its calendar. With small children, Hondarribia beach, inside the bay, has hardly any waves. 15 August is also a holiday in France: Hendaye will be full. - [An oyster weekend on the Arcachon bay, 2 h 30 from San Sebastián](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/arcachon-bay/itineraries/oyster-weekend.md) (2 nights, Arcachon Bay): For those who do not fear crowds: in July and August there are traffic jams towards Cap Ferret and the Pilat dune is climbed in a queue, because 15 August is a holiday in France too. In return, the oyster huts open every day. Book the hotel months ahead. ## A holiday in the middle of the holidays For the Assumption, Pamplona looks north and upwards: 15 August is a holiday across Spain and, when it falls on a Friday or Monday, gives three days; when it falls on a Sunday, in Navarre it is not always moved and the long weekend disappears. But in August many people are already on holiday, so the August long weekend is less a date than a week: the most expensive of the year to sleep away and the fullest on the coast and in the Pyrenees. The rule for those days is simple: up high or beside the sea, and first thing. ## Escaping the Ribera heat Southern Navarre in August is not for getaways. In the Bardenas the heat bears down from mid-morning and there is no shade; in Olite, the medieval festival of an August weekend fills the village, and on other days the midday sun empties the streets. For someone leaving Pamplona, the cool is to the north and east. The Irati Forest is the nearest answer: two hours by car and a forest where the sun does not enter. In the Huesca Pyrenees, Ordesa and Aínsa raise the stakes, with high-mountain paths and canyons. And in Soria, the Laguna Negra is at about 1,700 metres among pine woods. ## Ordesa on the first bus In summer you cannot drive up to the Pradera de Ordesa: you park free in Torla and go up on the shuttle, €6 return. Buses leave from 6:00, and on the August long weekend the difference between the first and the ten o'clock is enormous. First thing you walk the Gradas de Soaso in shade and reach the Cola de Caballo before the groups. From mid-morning the valley approaches its capacity and ascents may be suspended. Two nights in Torla or Broto let you repeat the trick: on the second day, Bujaruelo or the Faja de Pelay. The last descent from the Pradera is in the afternoon: check it before setting off. ## The sea, if you do not mind sharing it The coast of Getaria, Hondarribia and Urdaibai is a little over an hour away, but in the week of the 15th it coincides with San Sebastián's Semana Grande and with half of France on holiday, where 15 August is also a holiday. You can go, on two conditions: arrive before eleven and book lunch. Gaztelugatxe, in addition, usually requires a free ticket in summer. ## Forest, bay and estuary for the little ones Irati, with 10 km that are almost flat and shaded, is the easiest mountain plan. In Hondarribia, the bay beach has hardly any waves and the motor boat to Hendaye is an outing in itself. In Urdaibai, canoeing along the estuary ends at Laida beach. The Guara canyons have beginner stretches with a guide for children from a certain age: ask what it is when you book. ## What sells out first In August everything sells out, but in this order: the beds in Torla, Broto and Aínsa, guided canyons on holiday days, the tables in Getaria and the rooms in Arcachon. Book weeks ahead. In Ordesa the bus is not booked: the ticket is bought at the car park ticket office or at some Torla accommodation. ## The road in August The exit towards the coast by the A-15 and the return on the afternoon of the last day get heavy, especially on the approach to Pamplona. Towards the Pyrenees, the N-260 between Biescas and Torla is slow behind caravans. Carry water and fill the tank before climbing: in the valleys there are few petrol stations. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Can I drive up to Ordesa in August? No: in summer access to the Pradera is by the shuttle bus from Torla. The Torla car park is free and the return ticket costs €6. ### Is it hot in Irati in August? Much less than in Pamplona. The forest gives shade along almost the whole way to the Cubo Waterfall and the stream water is cold. ### Do I have to book Gaztelugatxe in summer? On controlled-access days, yes. They are set each year by the Bizkaia provincial council and in July and August there are usually many. ### Is the coast a good idea on 15 August? If you arrive early and book lunch, yes. It is the week of Donostia's Semana Grande and holiday in France, with the coast full.