Plazaola-Sakana-Ultzamaldea

Here, where the Aralar and Urbasa mountain ranges stand sentinel, the mist seems to freeze time and the remains of the old ‘tren txiki’ pulse with tales of passengers and goods. Every path, every meadow and every beech forest retains a breath of the past, whilst the daily life of the mountains intertwines with the flow of water and the dampness that caresses the stones. It is a land where calm and movement coexist, a place where the silence of the forests and the murmur of the valleys reveal secrets that can only be discovered by walking at a leisurely pace.

What to see in Plazaola-Sakana-Ultzamaldea?

This corner of Navarre allows you to read history in the iron of the bridges, in the stone of the sanctuaries and in the green of the valleys.

• Plazaola Greenway: The old railway line that connected Pamplona and San Sebastián has been transformed into a trail that runs through Larraun and Leitzaran. The 2,700-metre-long Uitzi tunnel marks the imaginary line between the Cantabrian and Mediterranean slopes, uniting geography and memory.
• Leitza and Lekunberri stations: Restored with respect for the past, they retain their railway essence. Lekunberri is home to the visitor centre, whil Leitza offers accommodation and services for cyclists and walkers.
• Sanctuary of San Miguel de Aralar and Zamartze Monastery: Guardians of spiritual heritage, witnesses to devotion and the passage of pilgrims and travellers through the valleys of Sakana.
• Mendukilo Cave: An underground world where rock and time reveal the secret geology that underpins the valleys.
• The surroundings of Ultzamaldea: Here, the River Ultzama weaves a mosaic of meadows, forests and villages with traditional architecture, reflecting the harmony between nature and human life.
• Medieval chapels: Buildings such as Santiago Itxasperri or the Trinidad de Erga are silent sentinels nestled into the hillsides, offering refuge and contemplation.