Stage 8: Isaba - Zuriza (via Belabarze)
Difficulty: Easy stage. Recommended in winter, in bad weather conditions or if you are considering a double stage in conjunction with the next one.
(0h0min; 0kms) Isaba (790m). On the NA-137 road that crosses Isaba, walk down a cobbled street on the right, at the end of a kind of park/viewing platform with benches and a phone booth. The Pyrenees trail leaves the last houses behind and drops down towards Belabarze ravine before coming to a track coming from Isaba. The landscape is overshadowed by the rocky outcrop of Ezkaurre Txikia. Keep walking ahead along the track.
(0h35min; 2.4kms) Ateas de Belabarze Pass (860m). The track divides, as does the GR. To the right is the variant GR11.4 via Ezkaurre , but you go straight on through the ravine. You cross the Ateas pass and follow the uphill track for a little more than a kilometre until, on a bend, the GR11 forks left then heads on through dense woodland as it winds its way up the ravine.
(1h35min; 4.6kms) Belabarze Valley (1.000m). The terrain is much gentler here, and the whole of the valley floor is dotted with farm cottages and fields for grazing herds. Parallel to the path, on the left, runs the NA-2000 road that joins Isaba and Zuriza. The GR crosses the stream - you leave it on your left – and steadily heads up the valley almost to the end where you tackle a short climb that leads you to...
(2h40min; 9.6kms) Argibiela col or Navarros Pass (1.290m), where you rejoin the road and the variant GR11.4 via Ezkaurre. You are leaving Navarra and entering Aragón. A gentle downhill walk with your eyes on the road leads you effortlessly to the end of your stage at...
(3h00min; 11,2 kms) Zuriza Campsite (1.220m).
In Isaba there is a choice of accommodation. We recommend SNO Isaba (+34 948 37 00 77; reservas@snoisaba.com) and for groups Albergue Oxanea (+34 948 893 153 / 609 447 726; info@albergueoxanea.com;), (5-9 rooms, restaurant and kitchen).
In Zuriza there is the Zuriza Campsite-Auberge (/). Below the campsite there is an open shelter (2 floors, reasonable condition).
Other services:In Isaba you will find a supermarket, an ATM machine and several bars and restaurants.
Zuriza Campsite has a bar-restaurant as well as a store.
Maps:
- Alpina:
Valles de Belagua y Roncal
(Scale: 1/25.000).
- SUA edizioak:
Belagua y Zuriza
(Scale: 1/25.000).
There are buses running from Pamplona to Isaba, with La Tafallesa () bus company.
To get to Zuriza from Ansó you can get a taxi, based centrally in Jaca ().
To get to Ansó, there are buses from Jaca, via Hecho and Siresa ().
