Igantzi combines a rural resort and adventure park with a nature reserve and a village centre where sacred architecture and historic houses each make their mark. When planning your trip, the key question is not so much which single attraction to visit, but which aspect interests you most: activities at IrriSarri Land, a hike to San Juan Xar or the local history of the village centre. The Vía Verde del Bidasoa is another option, with a route designed mainly for cycling, but also suitable for walks and family hikes.

Adventure activities at IrriSarri Land

IrriSarri Land is a rural resort and adventure park in Igantzi. It has three zip lines; one is 900 metres long and is described as the longest in Navarre. If the zip lines are important to your plans, check the operating conditions before your trip. The park also offers six themed routes: a landscape route, an adventure route, a sensory route, a mythology route, the Natura Route and the “In Search of Baxi” route.

San Juan Xar: Nature, Hiking and Tradition

San Juan Xar brings together nature, hiking and local tradition. The nature reserve is one of the few places on the Iberian Peninsula where the European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) grows naturally. The hiking route to San Juan Xar is 5.03 kilometres long, rated easy and laid out as a circular trail. The path from Igantzi to San Juan Xar is also considered short and wide, with little elevation gain. As the surface and trail conditions can change with the seasons, check local information before setting out.

Inside the cave at San Juan Xar is a sculpture of a shepherd. The water from the spring is traditionally believed to have healing properties. The annual pilgrimage to San Juan Xar takes place on 24 June and includes a Mass and a spring-water ritual. If you plan your trip around this date, check the details of the event schedule.

Architecture and History in Igantzi

The Church of San Miguel has a Latin cross floor plan and ribbed vaults; its interior was extensively remodelled during the Baroque period. The Baroque high altar features a depiction of Saint Michael dating from the 18th century. The church also houses a late-17th-century altarpiece dedicated to John the Baptist, with Solomonic columns decorated with bunches of grapes.

Elizatea stands beside the church in Igantzi’s village square and is one of the oldest houses in the village centre. The earliest written references to the house date back to the 16th century. The Ermita de la Piedad is 500 metres from the village centre, at the highest point of the village. Its façade dates from 1555.

Cycling and Hiking on the Vía Verde

The Vía Verde del Bidasoa passes through Igantzi’s Berrizaun district and was designed primarily for cycling. It is considered an easy route with no steep climbs, suitable for walks and family hikes. You can therefore choose between different types of activity: a route designed mainly for cycling that is also suitable for walks and family hikes, or the adventure activities, zip lines and themed routes at IrriSarri Land. Check current local trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Villanueva de Arce, Estella, Aizpún, Ochagavía, Ibero, Villanueva De Aezkoa, Barillas, Fitero.

For the wider travel overview: Navarre.