URDAIBAIabounds in natural attractions: the winding paths through the Cantabrian holm-oak woods, the ever-changing landscape of the marshes where so many birds shelter and feed, the beaches and the mountains that slope sharply down to meet them and the sites of archaeological, historical and ethnographic interest to be found throughout the valleys, marshes, villages and mountains.
The local towns and villages offer a variety of leisure time activities, including pelota matches at the Jai-Alai court in Gernika, rowing races, traditional Basque sports and the International Folklore Week held in Bermeo on 14th-17th August.
The URDAIBAI Biosphere Reserve offers and endless variety of places to enjoy nature and local culture. There are several published and signposted sightseeing routes, a selection of which are described below. Routes are classified according to difficulty into three groups:
Stroll:
a walk through towns and areas accessible to the general public, requiring no special degree of fitness.
Ramble:
longer routes along country tracks and pathways that call for some degree of physical fitness.
Excursion:
routes that can be walked, cycled, or followed on horseback or even by car.
For full details of the routes shown on the map and information about other itineraries visitors are advised to contact the Governing Board of URDAIBAI and the tourist information offices of Gernika, Bermeo and Mundaka.
GOVERNING BOARD OF THE URDAIBAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Address: Palacio de Udetxea. Carretera de Gernika a Lumo, s/n 48300 Gernika-Lumo (by the Parque de los Pueblos de Europa park)
URDAIBAI offers the chance to engage in a wide variety of activities, including:
sailing, canoeing, surfing, windsurfing, diving;
river trips;
rambling;
bird-watching;
mountain-biking;
pelota matches at the Jai Alai and Santanape courts in Gernika.
URDAIBAI also has fine beaches, where visitors can sunbathe in the heart of an exceptional landscape. The beaches are now mainly resort areas, and the sand dunes that dominated the area just a few decades ago have disappeared everywhere except in Laga due to pressure from human activities. The beaches in URDAIBAI are San Antonio and Toña in Sukarrieta, Laida and Laga in Ibarrangelu, Aritzatzu in Bermeo and Laidatxu in Mundaka.
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