To start the day, we will head to Gerendiain and park between the church and the inn. You may feel like having something sweet for breakfast; our recommendation is to try one of the inn’s delicious homemade sponge cakes.
Afterwards, we can go to Orgi Forest.
The parking area is very large. As soon as you enter, there is a booth where you must pay a small fee per vehicle—just a couple of euros that help maintain the forest.
On the right there are toilets. Then we follow the main path and reach a small square with an information booth. Take a look at the panels, especially the forest map. Leaving the booth behind us, we reach the Labyrinth.
At the start there is a map so you do not get lost. After a short walk, on the right you will see the labyrinth circuit: it is 300 metres long and adapted for blind visitors, with a rope along the entire route so they can do it independently. At the end of the labyrinth, we return to the main path.
Some leaves stand out: they belong to the Red Oak (Quercus rubra), the American oak. Unlike European oaks, its leaf lobes are pointed rather than rounded. The path is in perfect condition and can be used by wheelchair users. In some stretches, ferns form “walls” on both sides of the path.
We arrive at Bideska / The Trail. The path becomes a little more uneven and we have to cross two bridges to pass the section of the Ultzama River that runs through Orgi Forest. We then continue and arrive at Aguasalada, a small saline spring formed when rainwater filters into the ground and dissolves fossilised salt from an ancient sea that existed in parts of the Ebro basin millions of years ago. We cross one of the bridges to avoid the Ultzama River.
Another turn to the right brings us to Tomaszelaieta, a hut from which we can observe local amphibians.
Now we go to the Behatokia / Observatory. A sign warns us before arriving that we must keep quiet if we want to see anything.
We then head to the Ofita Harrobia / Ofita Quarry. This is the only part of the route not adapted for wheelchair users. From here it is not far to leave the forest: the route is coming to an end.
A short and easy excursion, with no difficulty. It is best enjoyed in cooler seasons and after rainfall.