Mount Jaizkibel

Mount Jaizkibel offers spectacular views of the bay of Txingudi (mouth of the Bidasoa River).

It is worth taking the road from Hondarribia to go up the Jaizkibel while making some stops to take pictures or admire the beautiful landscape.

Afterwards, if you go by car, you can go all the way to San Sebastián, Pasajes, Lezo or Oiartzun. You can also go by bicycle.

I recommend making a stop in the sanctuary of Nuestra Sra de Guadalupe and the Tower of Santa Bárbara.

Since I live in San Sebastián, I go there as a place of escape; while I walk trough the mountain, that has more than ten hiking routes, I enjoy the views of the mount.

On a clear day you can see on the northern side a big part of the French coast while enjoying the views of the sea. I personally find very relaxing just staring at the sea, leaving my mind blank without allowing any thoughts of the outside to disturb me.

On the south side you will see a great quantity of mountains and landscapes that let you see cities and towns such as Irún, Endaya and some other.

Mount Jaizkibel is nearby Faro de Higuer, and from there you can take numerous routes that pass through the mount. For example, the GR-11. There is also a route that goes from the lighthouse to the fort of Guadalupe, or the route that we took, which is called the route of the towers (ruta de las torres). It begins in the parking lot in front of the lighthouse, 200 meters away from the restaurant. Here you have to cross a gate to take the path that passes by the Mount Jaizquibel.

The views are amazing since you’re all the time next to the sea. Minutes after starting the path you will find a slope, not too hard, that will take you to the first tower of the journey (there are three in total). The towers of Jaizkibel are vigilance towers that belonged to the fort of San Enrique and were built during the Carlist Wars. Today they are in ruins, but they are worth a visit because they are found in an idyllic place in nature and next to the sea.