Discover Elgorriaga from several perspectives: through the thermal area by the Ezkurra, the Ruta del Agua and cultural and historical sites. This will help you decide whether mineral water, a cycling route, or a museum and historic buildings matter most to your trip. Balneario Elgorriaga is in a green valley on the Ezkurra River; the combination of river landscape and thermal area defines the place.

Thermal Area by the Ezkurra

The thermal area at the Balneario includes pools with waterfalls, contrast areas, massage jets, a sauna and two floatation pools. The mineral healing waters have a salt content of 336 g/l and are described as the saltiest in Europe. 336 g/l means 336 grams of salt per litre; this specific figure conveys the exceptional concentration. In 1919, the waters were officially recognised as being of public benefit. The Balneario thus brings together distinctive water properties and a clearly dated historical recognition.

Ruta del Agua: Linear and Cyclable

The Ruta del Agua, also known as Uraren Bidea, is a linear route eight kilometres long. It connects Doneztebe/Santesteban, Elgorriaga, Ituren and Zubieta, and can be cycled. As a linear route, it differs from a loop: the named places form its connection, and the route can be started in Doneztebe/Santesteban or Zubieta.

Along the Ruta del Agua, you can observe the biodiversity of Malerreka and the landscape of Baztan-Bidasoa. This offers a different focus from a stay in the thermal area: the route connects Elgorriaga with other places and can be cycled. As trail conditions can vary by season, check them before setting out.

Museum and Historic Buildings

The “Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan Museoa” (Museum of Basque Shepherds in America) documents the distinctive relationship between Basque emigrants and the western United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. A description from 2021 mentions tools, photographs and objects that help convey the living conditions and way of life of Basque shepherds in North America. If you plan to visit the museum, check visiting arrangements in advance. Elgorriaga also has a Corpus Christi procession.

Elgorriaga is also home to a 16th-century church with a sturdy portico supported by stone pillars and a barrel vault. A barrel vault is a long, arched ceiling. The stone pillars and vaulted covering are therefore both important features to note when looking at the building.

A stone bridge with a semicircular arch spans the Ezkurra River in Elgorriaga. While the church stands out for its portico and vault, the bridge can be described by its arch shape. The two structures give the town different architectural accents: the church is a building from the 16th century, while the bridge is a stone river crossing.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

Discover more destinations: Armañanzas, Goñi, San Martín De Unx, Zubieta, Villamayor, Ayegui, Mutilva Baja, Artariáin.

For the main travel overview: Navarra.