Aiako Harria Natural Park

Aiako Harria Natural Park

Gipuzkoa

The Basque massif

The Aiako Harria Natural Park is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the easternmost part of the province of Guipúzcoa. It covers the municipalities of Irún, Oiartzun, Rentería, Hernani and Donostia.

Aiako Harria has a complex terrain made up of a mosaic of mountains and ravines, through which numerous streams flow. Due to their proximity to the sea, these streams must overcome a significant height difference over a short distance. The reserve's vegetation is typical of the Atlantic region. However, there are some Mediterranean elements in the lower, sunny areas. The forest that occupies the largest area is the oak forest, which is found on most of the slopes. Also important are the concentrations of beech, chestnut and pine trees. Regarding the park’s wildlife, the presence of 170 vertebrate species is especially noteworthy, including birds that are only found in the area during the winter or along their migratory routes.

The Camino de Santiago

Aiako Harria Natural Park

Arditurri Visitor Centre

Arditurri Bidea, 3

20180  Ergoien, Oiartzun, Gipuzkoa  (Basque Country)

Type of area:Natural Park Area:6,913 hectares Email:arditurri@gipuzkoantura.eus Email:turismoa@oarsoaldea.eus Tel.:+34 943 495 069 (centro de interpretación) Tel.:+34 943 494 521 (oficina de turismo Oarsoaldea) Website:Aiako Harria Natural Park Website:Aiako Harria Natural Park

Gipuzkoa (Basque Country):

Useful information

What you need to know

  • Cultural information

    Of the municipalities that form part of the Aiako Harria territory, the one that is most integrated with the landscape is Oiartzun.

  • Environmental information

    The predominant vegetation consists of beech and oak forests. Meadows and pastures are also abundant. As for the wildlife, the main species found are the booted eagle, honey buzzard, vulture, red-billed chough, grosbeak, Pyrenean desman, European mink, wild cat and salmon.

  • Information for visits

    Several provincial and local roads connect to various points in the park. Visitors can get to the Parketxe (park house) in Arditurri from the town of Oiartzun, where the natural and heritage attractions of the protected area are explained. The centre is located in what was once the Arditurri mine laboratory, where various minerals were extracted for two millennia (until it was closed in 1984) and which can also be visited.