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Stage 2: Bera - Elizondo
Alternative - Variant GR11.3: Lesaka - Elizondo


Distance/elevation: 29,6 km / (+1.260 m), (-1.140 m)
Time 7h55min (walking time without stops).
Difficulty: A long stage with a lot of elevation gain and loss. The route is waymarked perfectly.
Water: One kilometre from Bera. On the way to Usateguieta you cross over a small river. The Inn at Lizarrieta.
Route/Itinerary:

(0h0min; 0kms) Bera/Vera de Bidasoa (35m). Once you have reached the road that crosses Bera and joins Pamplona with Irún (NA-8304), you need to take the turning with road NA-1310, signposted as (Francia-Ibardín) and (Francia-Lizuniaga). After about 500m you will come to a small roundabout next to a car park, where there are some GR11 panels, and turn right. Next to the Ikastola Labeaga school building, a tarmac track heads uphill in a southerly direction, among farmhouses (Suspel ttiki neighbourhood). About one kilometre later you come to a drinking fountain. Follow a track on the right as far as another concrete track – by the farmhouses at the top – which leads you up the hill (S). Further on there is a fork (left) and soon afterwards it turns into a very steep grassy path to the top of...

(0h55min; 2.9kms) Santa Barbara (396m). There is a bunker at the summit and a monument in memory of three mountaineers who perished on the north face of the Taillon. Continue along the ridge (E) until you reach a path, which you follow for 250m as far as Meaka col (335m), where you take another one – straight ahead – climbing up among pine trees to Sorokogaña (360m). The path downhill through fields and past Larratenea farmhouse leads you to Idoia col (270m), which is crossed by a track at the very point where it splits. Keep walking (E) along the track (60m), and then to the left – uphill – for another 300m, to a junction where you take another path to the right. After another 250m, turn left along a path that leads you back to the track after about 200m. Keep walking for about 400m, leaving a water deposit on the right, until you turn right at a junction. From now on, you will follow the main path (Usateguieta way) to...

(1h40min; 8.2kms) Liarrieta/Lizaieta pass (440m). Crisscrossed by the road that joins Etxalar and Sara, you come to a bar-Inn (selling basic produce) and what would have been the border post.

Thanks to its location and geographical aspect, Lizarrieta pass is a strategic point for the passing of migratory birds between Europe and Africa (the Atlantic route) and boasts one of the largest populations of birds of prey and other gliding birds. Because of its ideal position for observation and study – along with the more easterly locations of Lindus and Organbideska- Proyecto Lindus came about.

But if this spot is known for anything, it is for the hunting of wood pigeons using nets, a tradition that goes back hundreds of years that bears no relation with the shooting platforms dotted along the border, for which large amounts of money are paid.

Cross the road and follow the track as far as Xorilepo col (472m) where you will come to the variant GR11.3 which comes from Lesaka. Leave the track and take a path (SE) down to "Palomeras Usotegui", a restaurant that is currently closed. Follow the path (E), passing a few farm buildings, and Lakain col (429m) and keep on skirting the hill until you reach a wide path (1km after Lakain col) below Navarlatsa col (boundary stone 50), where in 2014 a number of markings had disappeared due to tree felling. Follow the wide path downhill, taking care to follow a path that veers to the right, after about 100m. Cross over Argarate stream and you will reach Maritonea farmstead (a cluster of farmhouses with a large shed for livestock), where you will find a couple of drinking fountains from which to fill up with water. Carry on along the track, taking a right-hand fork after 600m, and after another 150m leave the track (left) in Orainbetasora (drinking fountain and picnic area). The GR11 rises up (S) through comfortable terrain as far as Elordi col (560m) – where it coincides with a couple of archeological paths that visit the Maiko and Zentiñela megaliths – and drops down to the left (E) to reach Iraza col (535m), where it joins a track leading to...

(4h20min; 16.2kms) Ursumiats/Urtsumiatza col (538m), crisscrossed by an old road that comes from Etxalar. The information panels indicate the archeological route you saw previously. The GR11 climbs along a track (S) that forks (left) just before reaching Gaineko Saroia col (607m). You then drop down to Also col (543m) where several paths converge, cross the col and follow the track downhill (E) for about 250m, where you turn right.

(5h05min; 19,3 kms) Esquisaroi col (525m). From now on the going gets tougher. Cross the road and walk up the "camino de Eskisaroi", turn right after 1.6kms skirting around Atxuela hill along the west face until, some 800m later, you join another path that skirts around Arburu (827m). All along this section of the walk from Esquisaroi col you can make out several bunkers that were erected following the Second World War.

(5h50min; 22,3 kms) Atxuela col (785m). A number of paths reach this point. Take the main one (S) as far as Iñaberri col (795m), between Larrondo (852m) and Urruspil (819m), 25 minutes from Atxuela col. From this point onwards the path descends and at the Maistruzarra farmhouse you will find a drinking fountain.

(7h00min; 25,9 kms) Bagordi (585m). This is a large open space with picnic tables and a drinking fountain. There is a road up to this point coming from Elbete. The GR11 heads downhill, crossing the road a couple of times.

(7h55min; 29,6 kms) Elizondo (190m).

Where to sleep?

In Bera we recommend Hostal Zalain (+34 948 630 967; sainz.amaia@gmail.com).

In Elizondo there is a choice of accommodation. (See options) .

Where to eat?

In Bera, the Zalain Jatetxea (+34 948 630 967; sainz.amaia@gmail.com), offers menu and takeaway.

In Elizondo, the Albergue Kortarixar (//) has a bar and restaurant which serves baguette sandwiches and mixed platters as well as a succulent ciderhouse menu. Situated very close to the centre, on the main road (Calle de Santiago, 43), Eguzkialde Ostatua (//) prepares home-made food, a daily menu, baguette sandwiches, and individual dishes among other things, all for a reasonable price.

Other services:

In Bera and Elizondo you will find all kinds of amenities such as supermarkets, sports shops, etc.

Maps:

- SUA edizioak: Bidasoa Bertiz (Scale: 1/25.000) and Valle de Baztan (Scale: 1/25.000).
- Rando éditions: Pays basque Ouest (Scale: 1/50.000)

Transport:

To get to Bera/Vera de Bidasoa (connections with Pamplona, Irún and San Sebastian by bus), La Baztanesa (/) and La Burundesa (/) bus companies.

To get to Elizondo use La Baztanesa (/) bus company.


Perfil de la etapa

Stages - GR11

- Prologue: Cabo Higuer - Hondarribia - Irun
- Stage 1: Cabo Higuer - Bera
- Stage 1v (GR 11.3): Cabo Higuer - Lesaka
- Stage 2: Bera - Elizondo
- Stage 2v (GR 11.3): Lesaka - Elizondo
- Stage 3: Elizondo - Pto de Urkiaga
- Stage 4: Puerto de Urkiaga - Burguete
- Stage 5: Burguete/Auritz - Villanueva de Aezcoa/Hiriberri
Stage 6: Villanueva de Aezcoa/Hiriberri - Ochagavia
Stage 7: Ochagavia - Isaba
Stage 8: Isaba - Zuriza (via Belabarce)
Stage 8v (GR 11.4): Isaba - Zuriza (via Ezkaurre)
Stage 9: Zuriza - Aguas Tuertas
Stage 10: Aguas Tuertas - Lizara
Stage 10 (discontinued): Aguas Tuertas - Candanchú
Stage 11: Lizara - Candanchú
Stage 12: Candanchú - Sallent de Gallego
Stage 9v (GR 11.1): Zuriza - Puente de Santa Ana
Stage 10v (GR 11.1): Puente de Santa Ana - Lizara
Stage 11v (GR 11.1): Lizara - Canfranc Estación
Stage 12v: Canfranc Estación - Sallent de Gallego (via C.Izas)
Stage 13: Sallent de Gallego - Refugio de Respomuso
Stage 14: Refugio de Respomuso - Balneario de Panticosa
Shortcut: The pipeline path from Bachimaña to Brazato
Stage 15: Balneario de Panticosa - San Nicolas de Bujaruelo
Stage 16: San Nicolas de Bujaruelo - Refugio de Goriz
Stage 17: Refugio de Goriz - Circo de Pineta (Fuenblanca)
Stage 17v (GR11.9): Refugio de Goriz - Circo de Pineta (Faja de las Olas)
Stage 18: Circo de Pineta - Parzán
Stage 19: Parzán - Biadós
Stage 20: Biadós - Puente de San Jaime
Stage 20v (GR 11.2): Biadós - Ref. Ángel Orús
Stage 21v (GR 11.2): Ref. Ángel Orús - Puente de San Jaime
Stage 21: Puente de San Jaime - Refugio de Cap de Llauset
Stage 21v (GR 11.5): Puente de San Jaime - Refugio de la Renclusa
Stage 22v (GR 11.5): Refugio de la Renclusa - Refugio de Cap de Llauset
Stage 22: Ref. Cap de LLauset - Conangles
Stage 23: Conangles - La Restanca
Stage 24v (GR11.18): La Restanca - Colomers
Stage 25: Colomers - Ernest Mallafré
Stage 26: Ernest Mallafré - La Guingueta
Stage 27: La Guingueta - Estaón
Stage 28: Estaón - Tavascán
Stage 29: Tavascán - Areu
Stage 30: Areu - Baiau
Stage 31: Baiau - Arans
Stage 32: Arans - Encamp
Stage 33: Encamp - Ref. l'Illa
Stage 34: Ref. l'Illa - Malniu
Stage 35: Malniu - Puigcerdá
Stage 36: Puigcerdá - Planoles
Stage 37: Planoles - Santuario de Nuria
Stage 38: Santuario de Nuria - Refugio de Ulldeter
Stage 39: Refugio de Ulldeter - Molló
Stage 40: Molló - Talaixà
Stage 41: Talaixà - Albanyà
Stage 42: Albanyà - La Vajol
Stage 43: La Vajol - Requessens
Stage 44: Requessens - Vilamaniscle
Stage 45: Vilamaniscle - El Port de la Selva
Stage 46: El Port de la Selva - Cap de Creus

Selección: GPS de montaña
eTrex Touch 35
eTrex 30x
eTrex 20x


Map of the stage