From Deva to Zumaia: the best route for this summer

You don't have to travel halfway around the world to find landscapes that seem like they're from another planet. On the Basque coast , between Deba and Zumaia , lies one of the most spectacular routes in the northern Iberian Peninsula. It's part of the Basque Coast Geopark and follows the profile of cliffs that hold millions of years of history within their folds. A perfect getaway for those who want to stretch their legs, enjoy incredible landscapes, and finish with a good bite by the sea .

We started

The route between Deba and Zumaia covers one of the most spectacular stretches of the Basque coast: 14 kilometers of cliffs , green meadows, isolated farmhouses, and breathtaking sea views. It takes about 4 or 5 hours to complete at a leisurely pace, and although there are some uphill and downhill sections, the difficulty is medium and no previous experience is required . As it is a linear route, many people complete it one way and then return by train, as Deba and Zumaia are very well connected.

The route begins in Deba, a charming little town , where it's worth visiting the Church of Santa María (a gem of Basque Gothic architecture) and taking a stroll through the old town or along the beach before starting your hike. From there, take the well-marked path that gradually gains altitude until you leave the town behind. The best part soon appears: a landscape of open meadows facing the sea , with the flysch in the background, marking the path ahead. This is where the true wonder begins.

It's not Ireland

The greatest treasure of this route is, without a doubt, the flysch, a geological phenomenon that turns this stretch of coast into a kind of open book of Earth's history. These layered rock formations originated more than 60 million years ago from the accumulation of marine sediments on the ocean floor. Tectonic movements and subsequent erosion have caused these layers to emerge today in the form of striated cliffs, which jut out into the sea like the pages of a gigantic book.

The most spectacular thing is that these layers hold a record of key events in the planet's evolution, including the extinction of the dinosaurs . Nowhere else in the world is this sequence so clearly visible. The best-known section is Sakoneta , between Deba and Zumaia, where the flysch is exposed at low tide and you can literally walk over millions of years of history.

The trail offers natural viewpoints from which to admire the flysch without leaving the trail, but if you want an even closer experience, it's best to check the tide tables and head to the coast at low tide. Always be careful, though: this is a protected and fragile area.

Halfway there

About halfway through the route, you'll reach Elorriaga, a small rural town that seems frozen in time. It's a good place to rest for a few minutes, admire the traditional farmhouses, and enjoy the silence among the green hills. Here begins the most spectacular part of the trail, where the flysch takes center stage.

From this section, the trail runs along the cliffs and offers some of the best natural viewpoints along the route. There's no need to descend to the coast: from above, the folds of the flysch can be seen with surprising clarity, as if someone had opened up the earth to reveal its secrets. Several explanatory panels help explain how these layers were formed and what they represent.

The perfect brooch

Arriving in Zumaia is a real treat after the hike. This small coastal town not only has one of the most impressive stretches of flysch, but also one of the most cinematic beaches in northern Spain: Itzurun . Its vertical rock faces, shaped by the sea over millions of years, have appeared in films and series such as Game of Thrones .

In addition to visiting the shore and exploring the cliffs, you can visit the Algorri Interpretation Center , where the geological secrets of the flysch are explained in a visual and simple way. And if you still have energy left, there are short walks that take you to the San Telmo Hermitage , perched over the sea.

But maybe that plan will be left for another day… to end the day, your body craves a terrace with sea views, some pintxos, and a glass of ice-cold txakoli . You've crossed one of the most spectacular stretches of the Basque coast. Time to celebrate.