Anboto Loop Trail

Route from Urkiola passing through: - Urkiolamendi (1.8 km) - Asuntze Refuge (3.6 km) - Pagazabal Mendebaldea trikuharria (3.9 km) - Pagazelaiburu (4.4 km) - Fuente Atxondo (5.5 km) - Izpizte (6.4 km) - Cueva del Cura de Santa Cruz (6.9 km) - Zabalandi (7.6 km) - Urtegi Zaharra (10.2 km) - Collado de Asuntze (10.7 km) Normal route from Urkiola to Zabalandi passing through the top of Urkiolaguirre, from that hill I follow a path that leaves from the refuge and crosses a beech forest through a fairly stony area, so after just 400 m I reach the difficult area of today, a steep slope that in case of rain can become very complicated, in Today's case is quite dry and the climb is easy (be careful when you come back and have to go down here). It's only 100 m along a path where you have to look carefully for the few milestones there are to reach the anteroom of the Izpiste, then I go back about 50 m and take the path that will take me to the cave where the priest of Santi Kurutz hid. This small descent can be very slippery in case of rain. Once I enter the hiding place through a small crack in the rock, where for more comfort I take off my backpack and go in backwards since it's easier this way. I take some photos of the balcony that is offered to me and take the way back practically retracing my steps distance 14 km difference in altitude 900 m

Semicircular Beautiful tour through the Urkiola natural park I start at the Urkiola Sanctuary, which I recommend that you go visit because I think it is a very beautiful and mountainous area, here I leave the car in one of the many parking lots that there are. From the beginning I begin to climb through some green meadows that are nice to walk on because it looks like a big carpet. The slope is not complicated but everyone has to climb at their own pace. Always through meadows I reach the top of Urkiolagirre, a green hill with a height of 1011m, we will have left about 700m so that is the difference in altitude until there, about 300m At this point I have to give my point of view of this peak, I sincerely believe that justice is not done to this mountain, it is clear that the reason is that it has next to the colossi of its brothers, of which Anboto stands out, but I recommend climbing this peak at least once in your life, it is a climb that even many young children do, that is, it is not difficult at all, you just have to climb at your own pace, but the views that From there I am sure they will dazzle you, they are truly impressive, you have right in front of you the impressive mountain range that goes from Alluitz to Anboto, with Alluitz, the Devil's Pass, Larrano, Kurutzeta Elgoin among others, in short, you see a number of impressive mountains which I will not name one by one because it would leave me too many, but I recommend that if you can you make a getaway one day and climb this mountain, that alone is worth it Once we have been amazed by the views from here, we begin the short descent, continuing through meadows, to the Pol-Pol hill. If the weather is good, this hill is always very busy with families enjoying a good sandwich and drinking water from its cool fountain. By the way, this water shows that it has a lot of iron due to the color of the land that surrounds it. Once at the hill we take the gravel track, which we follow until we reach the top of Pagazelai, at this point is where the busiest path deviates to go up to Anboto, from here we continue straight ahead and go down a narrow path until we return. to take a track that takes us to Zabalandi, where there is a private refuge, from here there is also the possibility of going up to Anboto From this hill comes the most complicated part of today's route, the climb to Ipizte, it is about 700m but although it is not difficult, you have to be careful because the terrain is slippery as it is quite uneven, the path can barely be seen through the leaves except by some other milestone, although there is no problem of getting lost since there is no alternative to climb, once you reach the top there is a 150m descent to the so-called priest's cave, which must also be done with great care for the same reason, land loose and many leaves, the cave is difficult to find, it is quite hidden, and it is also somewhat difficult to access it, as I consider myself a rather small person, it was difficult for me to enter it, I had to take off my backpack to pass more comfortably, once inside you have a spectacular view of the Aramaio area I do not recommend doing the ascent to Ipizte and the descent to the cave with water or high humidity. Once I leave the cave I retrace my steps to the Zabalandi shelter where this time I prefer to always return along the track to the junction at Pagazelai, here instead of the track I decide to take a path through the meadow that leads to the Pol-Pol fountain. Shortly before reaching the source, I leave the path and turn left to climb the top of Arlusiaga, an easy climb and also through meadows. Once I have reached the top and taken the required photo, I begin the descent through the same place I climbed to the same Pol-Pol fountain where I refresh myself with its cool waters. After crossing between the numerous families who are spending the day there, this time I take the gravel track that has not been left until I comfortably reach the Urkiola Sanctuary.