These are the best water activities to do on the Basque coast
These are the best water activities to do on the Basque coast
The Basque coast has a length of 246 km and is comprised of 40 beaches, 50 waves to surf, and more than 100 water tourism companies offering the best activities at sea. Among the many possibilities is the rental of yachts, motorboats, and sailboats with or without a crew for custom outings. There are also organized trips in small boats, motorboats, traditional tuna boats, catamarans, and by ferry, among others, to spot whales, tour the flysch formations of the geopark, and sail around the island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Beginners can learn to sail at one of the dinghy sailing schools, and for those who travel to the Basque Country in their own boat, the Basque coast has 20 marinas.
Discovering the seabed is another of the favorite activities of tourists, and there are 10 agencies dedicated to organizing underwater dives in Bermeo, Getaria, Getxo, Hondarribia, Mutriku, and Pasaia. For those who prefer not to go underwater but would like to have fun driving and even “flying” across the sea, there are three companies that rent jet skis in Zumaia and Hondarribia, and another four that offer flyboards and jetboards.
Sporty travelers can try their hand at stand-up paddle surfing and canoeing, or they can even take up a very local sport: rowing. There are currently four agencies, which make it possible to row a traditional trainera boat, in Pasaia, Orio, San Sebastián and Lekeitio. Another discipline in vogue is coasteering, consisting of the use of the coastal orography to combine different water sports and activities. Even so, the star sport is still surfing: the first surfers appeared on the beaches of the Basque Country in the 1950s –pioneers in Europe– and, today, the Basque coast is one of the main surf destinations on the continent. The Surfing Euskadi club is made up of authorized schools that offer classes with the best materials, and which organize surf camps.
The relationship between the Basque people and the sea has been clear for centuries; in fact, the first yacht clubs at the ports of Bilbao, San Sebastián, and Hondarribia date back to the end of the nineteenth century and, today, thanks to the proliferation of water activity companies, visitors and locals alike have multiple ways of enjoying the deep blue sea.
Water Activities
