Debabarrena

Geoparkea

Basque Coast Geopark

The Basque Coast Geopark is a protected natural area and a UNESCO Global Geopark, revealing over 60 million years of history. Located along the coast of Gipuzkoa, it spans the towns of Zumaia and the communities of Deba and Mutriku in the Debabarrena region. This unique natural destination combines breathtaking landscapes with valuable geological heritage.

Flysch
Karst

Flysch

The flysch

The formation of its cliffs resembles an open book, where each rock layer tells millions of years of ancient ocean history, as if each were a page.

In the Mutriku area, you’ll find the unique Black Flysch, named after its dark color and singular structure, a result of ancient seabed sediments. These layers are the oldest in the Geopark. Nearby, Saturraran Beach offers a crescent-shaped stretch of sand.
Basque Coast Geopark

Karst

Interactive space

Visit the interpretative space of the Karst, in Lastur, and the Geopark Corner, in Deba; or the Nautilus, Geological Interpretation Center of Mutriku.

Geological Interpretation Center

The flavors of karst

A walk through the heart of the Geopark. Visit on foot the hidden valley of Olatz, in Mutriku, witness the cheese making and enjoy a small tasting, accompanied by the prized local wine txakoli.

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Guided tours

Enjoy guided tours, on foot or by boat.

Guided tours

Karst

Explore the Debabarrena Karst region

Venture into the interior of the Geopark, in the Debabarrena Karst region, a must-see for those eager to explore caves, sinkholes and hidden rivers.

Don’t miss the Olatz Valley, a circular basin encircled by rocky peaks, or Lastur, a long and deep hidden valley where waters vanish underground through sinkholes.

Both spots capture the essence of rural Basque landscapes and offer an ideal setting for an adventure in Debabarrena, where geology and water come together to create an extraordinarily beautiful ecosystem.

Guided tours

Guided tours in the Basque Coast Geopark offer a fully immersive experience of its natural and cultural heritage.

Accompanied by expert guides, you can explore the flysch and karst through personalised itineraries that take you through the region’s unique landscapes and cliffs, unveiling its hidden corners in a thoroughly enriching and educational experience

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More in Deba and Mutriku...

Where to eat?

Where to sleep?

Routes

Itsaslabarrak Restaurant

Ander Ausin

Deba

The menu features classic dishes with a modern touch.
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Urgain Restaurant

Nestor Pañuni

Deba

From the sea direct to your plate: freshness and flavour in every mouthful.
  • Hondartza kalea 5, 20820 Deba
  • 943 191 101
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Restaurant Salegi

Tasio Fernández

Deba

Since 1881, six generations cooking at our home.
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Piperren Txokoa

Santi Ríos

Mutriku

Your haute cuisine restaurant in Mutriku.
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Pikua Restaurant

Luis Ángel Alburquerque

Mutriku

A grill nestled between the mountains and the sea.
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Kanala Restaurant

Alberto Sánchez

Deba

Traditional flavours and the smell of the grill.
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Hotels

Hiru Uhinak

Deba

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Hostels

Geltoki Hostel

Deba

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Pensions

Zumardi

Deba

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Apartments

Endañeta Berri

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Zelaieta Berribi

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Arruan Haundi

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Erlete Goikoa

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Txerturi Goikoa

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Zubeltzu Torre

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Perlakua Saka

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Arrasketa

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Arriola Txiki

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Goikola

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Donibane

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Txindurri Iturri

Deba

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Rural farmhouses

Eleizondo

Deba

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Hotels

Hotel Kanala

Deba

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Apartments

Urain Suites

Deba

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Campings

Camping Santa Elena

Mutriku

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Campings

Camping Saturraran

Mutriku

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Eibar, Mutriku

Bizkar Trail

This mountain trail connects Mutriku and Arantzazu.
  • Registration: GR 121
  • Distance: 21,4km
  • Linear trail
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Mutriku

Tour of Mutriku

This circular trail crosses three summits.
  • Registration: PR-GI 22
  • Distance: 21,3km
  • Circular trail
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Eibar, Elgoibar, Soraluze

Mendibai trail. Kalamua-Irukurutzeta

This trail connects Elgoibar with Hondarribia.
  • Registration: PR-GI 285
  • Distance: 18km
  • Linear trail
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Mutriku

Olatz: The hidden valley

Rural landscapes shaped by natural geology.
  • Registration: PR-GI 47
  • Distance: 6,2km
  • Circular trail
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Elgoibar

The secrets of Sallobente

Circular route through two rural neighborhoods of Elgoibar.
  • Registration: PR-GI 156
  • Distance: 11,5km
  • Circular trail
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Eibar, Elgoibar

Hermitages below Kalamua

Circular route from Arrate along the slope of Mount Kalamua.
  • Registration: PR-GI 215
  • Distance: 12,6km
  • Circular trail
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Deba, Zumaia

The flysch trail

This trail offers unparalleled views of the Basque Coast.
  • Registration: GR 121
  • Distance: 13,4km
  • Linear trail
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Deba, Mutriku

Talaia Trail

This trail offers unparalleled views of the Basque Coast.
  • Registration: GR 121
  • Distance: 8,8km
  • Linear trail
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Deba, Mutriku

The coastal path

A walk to appreciate the flysch in all its splendor.
  • Distance: 3.9 km
  • Linear trail
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Deba

Black flysch

This walk will allow us to discover the secrets of the most unknown flysch in the Geopark.
  • Distance: 1.1 km
  • Linear trail
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Deba

HAB – Valley of prehistory

An open-air museum where you can discover important archaeological remains.
  • Distance: 3,8 km
  • Linear trail
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Deba

Santa Katalina viewpoint

Discover a true natural viewpoint at the end of this trail.
  • Distance: 1.7 km
  • Linear trail
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Deba

Deba and the bulls

Discover the history between Deba and the bulls along this trail.
  • Distance: 1.6 km
  • Linear trail
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Deba

Casacampo marshlands

This is a circular route that crosses the Deba estuary twice.
  • Distancia: 3,4 km
  • Circular trail
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Deba

Elorriaga Trail

This circular path runs through a protected area.
  • Registration: PR-SL 5002
  • Distance: 2 km
  • Circular trail
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Deba

Cliffs of Sakoneta

Linear path along the edge of the Sakoneta and Mendata cliffs.
  • Registration: PR-GI-5001
  • Distance : 5,2 km
  • Linear trail
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Ermua, Mallabia

Ermua-Mallabia

Circular route that runs between farmhouses and forests.
  • Registration: PR-BI-70
  • Distance : 7,61 km
  • Circular trail
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Elgoibar, Soraluze, Bergara

The Dolmen Trail

Tour the megalithic station of Elosua-Plazentzia enjoying spectacular views.
  • Registration: PR-Gi 94
  • Distance: 10,8 km
  • Linear trail
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San Blas

Christmas is over, but in Debabarrena we continue to make winter as sweet as possible. On 3 February, we make the most popular treat in our traditional repertoire of cakes and biscuits: Tortas de San Blas (Saint Blaise biscuits). Come and try them!

The tradition of making biscuits to celebrate the Feast of Saint Blaise is not exclusive to Debabarrena, and is typical also in other parts of the Basque Country, such as Abadiño and Llodio.

In our region, however, many people still make these biscuits at home and then take them to church to be blessed. Saint Blaise is the patron saint of throat-related problems, which is why, according to popular belief, in addition to eating the biscuits, you should also take a piece of string to church to be blessed, and then wear it tied around your neck for nine days before burning it. This will provide protection against colds and other illnesses for an entire year.

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 1 kg wheat flour
  • 6 eggs
  • 125 g pork lard (or butter or margarine)
  • ½ kg granulated sugar
  • 1 sachet of baking powder
  • 15 drops of aniseed essence

For the glaze:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 250 g icing sugar
  • 10 drops of lemon juice
  • 3 drops of aniseed essence

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 180º C.
  • Place the flour on a clean worktop and push into a volcano shape.
  • Break the eggs into the dip in the centre and mix with your hands.
  • Add the lard (or butter or margarine) and knead.
  • Gradually add the sugar and aniseed essence.
  • Knead until the dough is no longer sticky.
  • Shape into a ball and leave to stand for at least half an hour at room temperature.
  • Sprinkle the worktop and a rolling pin with flour.
  • Divide the dough into small balls and squash them down to around half a centimetre in thickness.
  • Adjust the shape using a plate or tray.
  • For a fluted border, pinch round the edge.
  • Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for around 15-20 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown but not toasted.
  • Meanwhile, for the glaze, beat the egg whites until stiff.
  • Still beating, add the icing sugar, lemon juice and aniseed essence until you have a dense white paste.
  • Spread the glaze over the still-warm biscuits using a spoon.