The town of Mutriku
The municipality of Mutriku is located on the west coast of the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country. It is bordered by Berriatua and Ondarroa to the west, Marquina to the southwest, Deba to the east and Mendaro to the south. To the north the Cantabrian Sea washes the coastline of the Municipality, between Mutriku Beach and Saturrarán Beach. It is an area of steep elevated terrain that within a few kilometres ascends from 0 to 608 metres at Monte Arno. Local flora consists mostly of radiata pine and other conifers (around 1,127 hectares), as well as typical Atlantic flora species. In fact, 64% of the flora found within the municipality is composed of these trees, apart from holm oaks, beeches and oaks. As you can imagine, it is an area of wonderful landscapes, being recognised by various European authorities. The holm oak forest that stretches along the Monte Arno mountain range has been an area protected by the European Union for many years. The beauty of this landscape is undoubtedly a priority heritage area with regard to the tourism sector.
The wild coast of Mutriku and its surroundings are also of great beauty. Moreover, this part of the Basque coastline is of very high geological significance. This is the reason why since 2010 Mutriku has been a part of the Geopark of the Basque Coast, together with Deba and Zumaia. This Geopark was incorporated into the UNESCO World Geoparks network in 2015.
Moreover, Mutriku has had a rich history and is of great interest. Every visitor must go and see the historic quarter, which has been classified as a cultural heritage site since 1995. Walking through its narrow streets, visitors can discover numerous historical palaces and tower houses and for those who want to find out the village secrets in detail then the tourist office can offer guided tours.
The different localities surrounding the town of Mutriku are also of interest. In the areas surrounding Laranga and Galdonamendi, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the Guipuzcoan coast and the mountains. Also, the forests and open grasslands of the Olatz Valley contain many caves and limestone quarries, the places of numerous stories and legends, and some of the homesteads provide visitors the opportunity to sample high quality cheeses. The hamlet of Astigarrabia harbours its own cultural heritage site of great historical importance. Without a doubt, its most precious jewel is the Church of San Andrés, dating back to at least the 11th century, and which still preserves the only remaining pre-Romanesque window in the area. The tourism office in Mutriku provides anyone interested in guided tours around this locality. Also worth mentioning is the hamlet of Olabarrieta, where visitors can taste the local txakolí wines.
For sports lovers, Mutriku offers a wide range of activities: Diving, horseback riding, mountain trekking and, during the summer, canoe rentals and stand up paddle boarding. For those that love to surf, the Alcolea Beach offers the ideal conditions for experienced surfers (for beginners we recommend Deba Beach, 5 km from Mutriku).