Do you want a different summer vacation? In Navarra, you will find a diverse land, full of contrasts, committed to sustainability, and friendly people who give life to the most picturesque towns. Here is a small sample of what you can do, whether you come in a group or as a family.
Turquoise waters? If you don’t believe it, you have to go check it out with your own eyes! Urederra, which in Basque means “beautiful water”, is the name of this unique river. To access this place of exuberant beauty, you have to go to the town of Baquedano. From there starts a simple path of about 6 kilometers, round trip, with about 90 meters of unevenness. It is a very careful and protected place due to the high interest it arouses. Therefore, to visit it, you will first have to make a reservation through its official website, because it has an access limit of 500 people per day.
We continue with a most refreshing experience and ideal for families and groups: a raft ride through the Foz de Lumbier. In addition to reinforcing teamwork, you will contemplate the beauty of this Nature Reserve in a different way. The Irati River and the passage of time have sculpted these impressive cliffs that today are home to eagles, griffon vultures and a wide variety of birds. It is also possible to explore this place on foot or by bike, since in the past the first electric passenger train in Spain passed through this area and, today, it is a greenway. For this reason, it is a path accessible to everyone and ideal to do with children. And from one of the best known gorges in Navarra, you can go to one of the least known: the Foz de Benasa. There you will find a river pool and picnic area.
And what do you think about spending the day among crystalline mountain lakes where you can dive and rest under the shade of leafy beech trees? Fancy it, right? So, you have to go to the Leurtza reservoirs, located in the Malerreka valley, between the municipalities of Urroz and Beintza-Labaien. It is an area declared a Natural Recreational Area, it has two circular and simple paths of 3.5 and 9 kilometres, which border the reservoirs, go into the beech forest and run next to the Leurtza stream. Its beginning is the Information Point that is only 5 kilometers from Urroz.
The calm water, the leaves swaying in the wind and a beautiful environment in which to run, jump and shake all those hours in front of the screens. Remember that, if you come in high season, you will have to reserve a parking space to be able to access the reservoirs and the route. Afterwards, you can end the day having a banquet in its comfortable picnic area, which has barbecues and furniture, or trying the bars and restaurants in the area, such as the Albergue Orbela or the Posada de Labaien, both in Beintza-Labaien and very close to the reservoirs.
Very close to the border with France, where the protagonist of the landscape is the green of the meadows where cattle graze peacefully, is Zugarramurdi. Its history is closely linked to the Logroño Auto de Fe of 1610, in which several people from the town were accused of witchcraft and convicted by the Inquisition. Since then, this town has been known as “the town of witches” and today it is impossible to visit it without perceiving the witchy atmosphere.
There you can visit the famous caves where the covens took place, which you will access by taking a circular route through the enclosure. It is also highly recommended that you pay a visit to the Museum of the Witches, where you will learn in depth about the history of the people of Zugarramurdi, the persecution to which they were subjected, mythology, customs and typical rituals through decorations and audiovisuals. .
Olite was one of the most important enclaves of the old Kingdom of Navarre. There is its Royal Castle-Palace, which served as the residence of the kings of Navarre. Although it can be freely visited, the guided tour is highly recommended. And if you go with children, there are special guided tours that will make them enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Another fairytale place is the Castillo de Javier, which is accessed through a drawbridge. San Francisco Javier, one of the most universal missionaries and patron saint of Navarre, was born in this place. There you will learn about his interesting life and his exciting journeys. In addition, you will love visiting every corner of this historic fortress: towers, dungeons, machicolations, loopholes and arrow slits. The origin of the castle dates back to the end of the 10th century, when the keep was built. Its strategic border location, between the kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon, increased its sense of strength and, around the tower, the different bodies of this fortification were built.
The Bardenas Reales Natural Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve, is one of the natural spaces that will surprise both children and adults. There you will discover geological forms that are a true whim of nature, such as Castildetierra. In addition, it is the ideal starting point to go around the Barranco de las Cortinas, a very easy route of just over a kilometer. Although you can visit it on your own, we advise you to take a look at the experiences organized by the companies in the area, so that you make the most of your time and do not miss any detail.