The Flysch Route: cliffs with 50 million years of history. Basque County Spain

Spain is full of stunning natural settings. However, there are some places that are especially fascinating. One of these is the Flysch Route on the coast of the Basque Country, northern Spain. Come and accompany us on a journey along the coast of Guipúzcoa and admire one of the most spectacular areas of cliffs you have ever seen, which also conceal 50 million years of history. Come and discover this whim of nature.

Only occasionally do we have the privilege of seeing real natural treasures. So, if you travel to the province of Guipúzcoa (in the Basque Country), we would recommend you take a boat trip to the coastal towns of Mutriku, Deba and Zumaia. There you can do what is known as the “Flysch Route”: several kilometers of rugged cliffs that lead down into the sea, formed through the erosive action of water and movements of land over the course of 50 million years. These rocks have always been of interest to geologists on account of their fossil remains. Now it is your turn to discover them.

When you are facing these cliffs, you stand before the richest marine ecosystem anywhere on the Basque coast, and rocks that contain the mark of vital events in the earth’s history such as the disappearance of the dinosaurs or the last major global warming event. A real journey back through time.

Guided tours
From Zumaia to Deba you will visit a center in Mutriku, which has spectacular fossil remains and where they will explain the geological history of the Basque coast. From the port in Mutriku, you will take a boat trip to Mutriku, Deba and Zumaia, with a panoramic view of the cliffs from the sea. Once you get to Zumaia, if you like walking as you observe beautiful views, then you can get sure to wear comfortable clothing and footwear and trust Iberinbound Travel, iberinbound@iberinbound.com incoming travel agency specialized in Educational and leisure groups in Spain & Portugal, Shorex, Groups ad-hoc, MICE to organize your tour in order to be really sure it will be a success. We can organize sport events for groups of different sizes with their very own priorities, conceptions, budgets and time frames. Our experience in planning sport visits allows us a wide portfolio of ideas and suppliers in order to plan the right trip including entrances, transports, accommodation, guides, etc.

Sports and relaxation as you decide
The area where the route takes place is also ideal for sports such as surfing, scuba diving and underwater fishing. If you are interested in any of these then you will find perfect conditions here. You can also enjoy bicycles, kayaks and boats to organize an unforgettable outing on land or at sea. For those who prefer something more relaxing, then in Zumaia there are bird watching boat trips on the Urola River accompanied by a specialist guide.

After enjoying all these activities, you can always opt for a swim at one of the local beaches, like Santiago, Ondarbeltz or Aitzgorri. You will love their crystal clear waters and stunning landscapes. Furthermore, there are also spots like Sieteplayas: a series of small, quiet, hidden coves in Mutriku.

Gastronomy in Zumaia
We are in the Basque Country and, therefore, gastronomy is the queen of any getaway or visit and the excuse for any encounter. A cuisine as rich and varied as its landscape, with fish and shellfish from the Cantabrian as protagonists, of which the cod is the king (it is prepared in a thousand ways), which shares courtship with hake (to koskera, in green sauce or Basque) or squid. If we are in the old town, what less to spend the sunset or meal time to go pintxos: from bar to bar, the proposals will be as varied and delicious as the imagination of the Basque chefs. You will want to try them all !, always watered with a txacolí, a Basque cider or a wine from the Rioja Alavesa. Take advantage! Without forgetting a specialty: “Olarro soup”, sun dried octopus soup.