Route 6:

ARALAR AND LARRUNARRI OR TXINDOKI

LARRAITZ. Abaltzisketa district. Height 403 m. Towards the south a track leads to the foot of the impressive Larrunarri wall. A few metres on...
The magnificient Larrunarri summit.
ZAMUAKO ITURRI AND ZAMUAKO LANGA. We pass through the gate (langa), and turn left, following a path that goes up the slope towards an aerial, which is visible further up in Urzabal-Goikoa. Half way up the slope, we pass by the crag of...
NESKARRI. Accordin to leyend, there was a fountain in that place, which was visited by people from the nearby farmsteads. One day, while a young local girl was filling her jug, the stone we know today fell on top of her, crushing her, and causing both the fountain and the girl to disappear. Hence, the crag's place-name. Going up the slope, the track Ieads to
URZABAL-GOIKOA. Some years ago, an aerial was placed in that pretty spot, where there is a small woodland with graceful beech trees. The path turns east to avoid the rocky foothills of...
ARLEPO. On the right, a long, steep slope up Larrunarri summit. On that side, and close to the summit in Txindoki, we find Marizulo's cave (Mari's habitat), the goddess of Basque mythology. The well indicated path continues its way through...
Aralar range.
MALLAKI. Muitze or Punteango Erreka watercourse grows deeper. Opposite, on the left, the steep Larraone rocks. The ruins of a hut by the wayside. It is...
ELUSKAKO BORDA ZAHARRA. Ruins of an old hut (borda) that used to be used as shelter for shepherds and sheep from the area. A little further up, in a crook in the path, we can see two small caves. They are...
SALIZE-AIZPETA. It is near Muitze pass. When it is in spate, the murmur of Muitze waterfall can be heard. A little further up there are the ruins of another hut. This time it is...
ALBITZURIKO BORDA ZAHARRA. Beside the path there is a tombstone in memory of Juan Bautista Artola. The path zigzags its way across the Muitze watercourse in...
MUITZEKO LANGA. An old wooden gate (langa) to bar the way to cattle. Strategically located, nowadays it does not have the same use as before. The path goes up a rocky projection to reach further up Muitze waterfall and Muitze pass. The panoramic view of Larrunarri is breathtaking. The Muitze Valle is now less rough, and the green fields attract one's gaze. A few metres further on and we arrive at...
MUITZEKO BORDA AND MUITZEKO ITURRI. At a turn in the path, we find an old sheepfold. At that point we have to walk off the path we have been following so far, and climb the steep slope towards the south-west. Half-way up the slope, on the right, we come across the pass of...
ARRATE-GORRI. It is the best passable path to Marizulo's cave. A path passes by the ruins of Txindokiko Txabola, which gives its name to Larrunarri or Nañarri summit. A few metres on, we reach a small sheltered landing under the Iime mass of the summit, in one of which extremes the mouth of Marizulo's cave opens. According to leyend, a young girl from Irabi farmstead in Amezketa was requested by her mother to look for a red heifer they had lost, and while doing so, the mother was cursing her daughter saying: "The devil take you if you don't find it". The young girl set off to look for the heifer. When she saw a red cow in the field, she thought it was theirs, and caught its tail. The cow dragged her to Txindoki cave (Marizulo's). This cave is another of Mari's habitat, like Murumendi, Udalaits, Aizkorri and Anboto caves, when she crosses the sky on stormy days. Almost at the ring formed by Larrunarri and Auntzizegi summits, the path leads to...
EGURRAL. A sheltered shepherd's hut, and a nearby fountain on a small hill of that limestone area. On the left is Zaldiarrate pass, and on the right Egurral pass. Following the pass on the right, we change our direction again, now towards the north, to cross the last high ground. The path goes through Oalar and Segaleku up to the breathtaking vantage point of Larrunarri summit...
Aereal view of Larrunarri.
LARRUNARRI or TXINDOKIKO PUNTE. (1,346 m). A wonderful vantage point over the Goiherri in Gipuzkoa. From here, we can see many towns with the coast in the background. At the bottom Amezketa, Gaintza, Orendain, Abaltzisketa, etc., with their white farmsteads spread around the wide, green fields of the Ibaur and Amezketa watercourses. The first part of the descent takes place along the last slope towards Egurral. Now we walk south-west following a well marked path up to the place where we find the hut of...
BELTZULEGIKO TXABOLA. There is a fresh water spring nearby. It is a quick descent in an area of smooth pasture. A little further down there is another hut...
Larrunarri seen from San Sebastián hermitage. Orendain.
ZIATE GOIKOAKO TXABOLA (ZIRIGARATE). There is also a nearby fountain. On the right, the lime wall face of Larrunarri with several climbing routes. A little further down the path turns suddenly to the right, crossing a small outcrop and arriving at...
ORIAKO ITURRI. A fountain under the thick line walls. Looking upwards, it can be seen a cutting made by lightning in the grassy land. The path goes down through Labain, and then goes round the rocky spurs of Amiztiko Arkaitza to take us to...
GAZTEXUIKO LANGA. We go through this gate. A few metres further on there is a track that leads to Larraitz, our departure point. Gaztexuito Iturri is left behind. A few more metres of smooth descent along the track, and we arrive in Larraitz going through Zamuako Langa.

Approximately four hours are needed to cover this trip, always depending on the speed, and the weather conditions. In bad weather and with fog, snow or ice, the ascent to Marizulo's cave, and to the last part to Larrunarri summit can prove difficult.