Nature reserves and national parks in the province of Vizcaya

The area is made up of limestone rock formations and there are many underground water currents which is why there are lots of caves and caverns. Several rivers run through this area: the Altube, Arnuari, Zeberio, Arratia, Bayas and the Undabe.

The park consists of Mount Gorbea and the surrounding mountains. The highest peaks are: Gorbea or Gorbeia at 1482 metres above sea level; la Peña Aldamin at 1373 metres above sea level and las Peñas de Itxina.

This park has become a leisure area for the citizens of Bilbao and Vitoria. Popular sports here are: horse riding, mountain bike riding, hiking, fishing, bungee jumping, climbing, mountaineering, canoeing.

Features of the Sierra de Gorbeia Nature Park:

• Climate: Atlantic with frequent rainfall all year round. Moderate temperatures in summer and winter
• Flora: Oaks, evergreen oaks, beech, pines, cypress and alder trees
• Fauna: Falcons, vultures, goshawks, eagles, mountain cats, sparrowhawks, martens, deer, otters and mink
• Access: There are various ways of getting here: approaching from the south on the N-622, approaching from the north on the.BI-2522 and A-624, on the la BI-3513 from Orozco to Artea; and from the east on the AP-68 that goes from Bilbao to Vitoria
• Interesting Places to Visit: The Mairulegorreta caves. There are 13 chapels of which the most famous is la Virgen de las Nieves chapel. The Visitor's Centre and reception is Parketxea de Areatza (Tel: 944 066 849) and Parkeetxea de Sarría (Tel: 945 430 709). You can book guided tours here.

La Sierra de Urkiola Nature Park: This area became a park in 1989. It covers 5,768 hectares and includes the following towns and villages: Amorebieta-Echano, Achondo, Abadiano, Durango, Dima, Izurza and Msñaria. It consists of the Aramotz-Eskubaratz mountain range (the Mugarra mountain is very pretty), the Duranguesado mountains and the Aragio mountains. The highest peak is Amboto at 1331 metres above sea level, Alluitz at 1043 metres and Saibi.

This park consists of karstic rock formations with multiple caves where prehistoric fossils have been found. Popular sports here are horse riding, mountain bike riding, hiking, fishing, mountaineering, climbing and canoeing.

Features of the Sierra de Urkiola Nature Park:

• Climate: Atlantic
• Flora: Ash, maple, lime, beech, birch, eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees, heather, reeds and furze
• Fauna: River trout, wild boar, squirrels, weasels, hares, foxes, shrews, bats, hedgehogs, moles, frogs and toads, lizards, eagles, vultures and many other smaller birds
• Access: You can get here from the province of Alava on the BI-623 or the A-623, that connects Durango to Vitoria
• Interesting Places to Visit: Santos Antonios Abad and Padua Sanctuary and the Visitor's Centre located in an old caserio (farmhouse) in Toki Alai (Tel: 946 81 41 55 and 944 06 68 49). Both are situated in Urkiola. The Balzola and Gentil Zubi cave, situated in the Arratia valley in Aramotz. Various chapels and shrines: Santa Barbara, San Martín, San Lorenzo, Santo Cristo...

The Urdaibai Nature Park: This covers 23,000 hectares and goes along the Gernika-Mundaka estuary which stretches 12 kms and is up to 1 km wide in some places. The area forms the largest wetland in the Basque Country. It includes the following towns and villages: Gernika, Bustuna, Sukarrieta, Mundaka, Bermeo, Kanala, Burritxana, Elautxobe, Ereño, Errigoiti, Forua, Gautegiz, Arteaga, Ibarrangelu, Kortezubi, Mendata, Morga, Munitibar-Arbatzegi Gerrikaitz, Murueta, Muxika, Nabarniz, Ajangiz and Aramaio.

The highest peak here is mount Oiz at 780 metres high. In 1993 UNESCO declared the area to be a Biosphere reserve. The park enjoys a variety of microclimates something which is demonstrated in its rich vegetation. 

This area is popular for the following sports: diving, surfing (especially Mundaka), climbing, hiking, cycling, canoeing, sailing…

Features of the Sierra de Urkiola Nature Park:

• Climate: Various microclimates
• Fauna: A wide range of different types of birds - herring gulls, cormorants, spoonbills, geese as well as different species of fish, amphibians (frogs) and mammals such as mink
• Flora: Oak and beech forests, alder trees and bulrush.
• Access: You can get here on the C-6315 continuing until Gernika. A-8 take the exit to Amorebieta Etxano. The B-635 crosses the reserve from south to north between Gernika and Bermeo
• Interesting Places to Visit: The Santimamiñe cave (cave paintings), Elantxobe (a seaside village), the Gernika tree and ancient Basque Parliament buildings in Gernika, the Fishing museum in the Ercilla Palace in Bermeo.
  

Gaztelugatxe Protected Natural Area: This is in Bermeo. It is an island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Located between Matxitxako and the village of Bakio. The island was granted special status in order to protect an important colony of birds that live on it. It is also significant for its orography.

There is a 9th century chapel (la Ermita de San Juan) which belonged to the order of the Templars, to reach it you need to climb 237 steps. From the chapel you get some great views over the cliffs. Following many transformations over the centuries the chapel was rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1980.

A good area for diving. However, the beaches in this area are full of pebbles.

Features of Gaztelugatxe Protected Natural Area:

• Flora: Oaks, wild olive trees, furze and heather.
• Fauna: Sea birds (gulls, cormorants...), fiddler crabs, spider crabs, goose barnacles, seabass, conger eels, mackerel and octopus.
• Access: There is a bridge to the island from Bakio.
• Interesting Places to Visit: The San Juan chapel.
  " Itxina Protected Natural Area: This is in Orozco. It has an interesting landscape made up of karstic rock formations. There are a large number of caves, chasms and underground rivers here as well.