Nafarrola: a sustainable hotel in the midst of nature for balancing body, mind, and spirit
Nafarrola: a sustainable hotel in the midst of nature for balancing body, mind, and spirit
In Bermeo, a path embraced by lush forests overlooking the sea leads guests to the Nafarrola Hotel. This accommodation option is located in a farmhouse proposed as a monument, in an area of archaeological importance dating back to 1285. Able to host up to 16 people in its eight rooms, Nafarrola came to be with a clear vision towards sustainability: the estate where it is located has been recovered from a eucalyptus plantation converted into pastureland, it is equipped with renewable energy sources, it has its own spring for water supply, organic waste is used for compost, the establishment offers amenities of 100% organic origin, and there is a charging station for electric vehicles.
The concept of responsible production is also applied to the hotel’s cuisine: its menu, created by Gaizka Goikoetxea (who previously worked at the prestigious Zuberoa Restaurant), is based on the use of ecological, sustainable, and local products – gourmet preserves, vegetables, meats, and local fish. The roe deer with apple, the seafood cream “in company”, the begihandi (squid) noodles, and the apple pie are among its star dishes.
Some of these delicacies can also be enjoyed outside the restaurant, as the hotel prepares picnic baskets for guests to take to the beach or the mountains; and the fact of the matter is that the lodge is located in a bucolic place, in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, having such emblematic places nearby as the islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe – one of the sets for the series Game of Thrones. Also, the establishment has an honesty bar, a living/dining room where breakfast and dinner are served (in crockery handcrafted in the same neighborhood), and a private dining area with a nineteenth-century oven where they put together private dinners for two people. Those who want to have an outdoor barbecue on their own can also do so since the hotel has a grill and provides those staying there with the meat and vegetables, as well as all the necessary materials to light the fire.
In addition to the authenticity of this experience, clients can participate in other activities linked to nature and the surroundings: private yoga sessions, excursions in a Land Rover through the valley, culinary tours, live cooking workshops, and massages in the forest.
This place undoubtedly invites one to get out there and take walks, although there are many guests who decide not to leave their room – and that is not surprising, because the sleeping quarters are the real highlight of Nafarrola. Measuring between 25 m2 and 45 m2, the rooms, which are all different from one another, have king size beds, whirlpool baths, wood-burning fireplaces, and large terraces with views of a natural place like no other.
Nafarrola Hotel
Barrio Artike 45, Bermeo.
Tel.: +34 613 006 827
