Prologue stage 1: Cape Higuer - Hondarribia - Irún
Once we have arrived at the beach of Hondarribia (see below the section on "transport" on how to get to Hondarribia) follow the Ramón Iribarren promenade in a westerly direction, pass the port docks and continue along the road that climbs towards the lighthouse, leaving the Castle of San Telmo on the right. Just after the castle, before a horseshoe bend, we leave the road to continue along a path marked GR-121. In a few minutes we reach the Higuer lighthouse, a place we can consider as the start of the route.
The other option is to take a taxi to Cabo de Higuer directly from the train or bus station in Irún (7kms; 1h45min walk).
This prologue -urban- stage has no signposting, the markings start at the end of Irún. From then on, the signposting will be excellent.
📌 Erdiko Punta (0 kms). We return to Hondarribia along the route described above. We propose to go through the old town instead of following the walk along the bay as is usually indicated in most publications. This route through the centre is not longer and is well worth it. So, on our return to Hondarribia, we will continue along the route, leaving the...
📌 Hondarribia Beach / Hondarribiko Hondartza (2kms) (fonts 💧) and the marina until we reach the mouth of the river Bidasoa. Turn right (S) and continue alongside the bay of Txingudi, leaving a sports area on the right (football pitches and athletics tracks), until you reach the start of the Butrón promenade. We head towards the fishermen's quarter in search of the typical houses of the...
📌 San Pedro Street (3,5 kms)The fourth street runs parallel to Paseo Butrón. We follow it to the end, until we reach a roundabout (Plaza San Kristobal). We continue straight on to the right at the second exit, Calle Javier Ugarte, and further on we turn right -uphill- onto Calle Santiago de Compostela. We continue along the tourist route, crossing the...
📌 Plaza Guipúzcoa (4.1 kms), then Harategi street and then turn left along San Nicolás street until you reach the Plaza de Armas (Parador). From here, go down Calle Mayor and leave the old town along Calle...
📌 Santa Maria Gate (4.5 kms). To continue towards Irún, turn right after crossing the gate and continue along Minasoreta street until you reach a large roundabout next to an Eroski supermarket. Leave the roundabout at the south exit, GI-3440 road, and leave it immediately to continue along Santa Engracia street, which we follow until we reach the N-638 road, next to the airport. Follow it in a southerly direction until just after passing a bridge over a river (Amuteko canal), where we leave it to continue to the left and straight on along the GI-2134, which will take us to Irún.
📌 Zubi Muxu Square (6.7 kms), a large roundabout with a fountain in the centre. We continue straight on along Calle Fuenterrabia, cross a bridge over the railway tracks and continue along Paseo Colón until we come to the end of the street on the right-hand side of the...
📌 Plaza de San Juan (8.2 kms), where the town hall of Irún stands. Turn left down Calle de San Marcial and then continue along Calle Pellegrin de Uranzu until you come to the Estebenea watercourse. Just after crossing the regatta, turn right and walk along it for about 100 metres until you see a roundabout on the left with a palm tree in the centre. Go straight ahead along Alzukaitz street, pass another roundabout and continue in the same direction until you come to a small stream -do not cross it-, just before it on the right there is a walkway and a cycle path where you will find the first markings of the GR11 path.
📌 End of urban section (9.2 kms)
At Hondarribia there is a variety of accommodation (See accommodation).
At Irun We will find all kinds of accommodation. We recommend the Pension Gema (+34 666 172 552; eigualdeixa@hotmail.es), inexpensive and close to the train station and the GR11; the Hotel Alcazar (Tel: (+34) 943 620 490 / (+34) 943 620 900; info@hotelalcazar.com), comfortable, with a bar and just a stone's throw from the GR11, and the Hotel ETH Irun (+34 943 634 100; irun@eth-hotels.com), comfortable and with a restaurant where you can eat very well and at a good price; it is located on the banks of the river Bidasoa, next to the border and the motorway. Although you have to turn off one kilometre from the GR11, it is not necessary to go back, as you join it in San Marcial following a pretty path. See map.
Hondarribia can be reached by city bus from Irún (lines E22 and E25) and San Sebastián (E20 and E23). From San Sebastian, the E20 takes you quite close to Cape Higuer, but the best option is to take the E24 or E26 line and change at the Colón 42-43 stop (Irún), and then take the E25 towards Lurgorri.
Hondarribia and Irún:
City buses from San Sebastian:
ekialdebus.net
To get there by bus from anywhere:
www.donostiasansebastian.com/autobuses
To arrive by train, consult routes and timetables at:
Renfe, Renfe commuter trains, euskotren o SNCF (from France).
By plane, regular flights from Madrid and Barcelona to Hondarribia airport and from Biarritz (28kms), many international flights.
Quick guide
GR 11
with everything you need to know before undertaking the Pyrenean Path
