Visit Navarre in a sustainable way, leaving hardly any trace

There are many reasons to visit Navarre, a community that knows how to captivate its visitors with its excellent gastronomy, the history of its cities and towns, the lunar landscape of Las Bardenas Reales, the Irati Forest, the Foces de Lumbier and Arbaiun, and, of course, the Camino de Santiago, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, among other experiences to discover little by little.

Tourism should be considered one of the main elements to achieve progress in sustainability. From the Floral Community of Navarre, efforts are being made to make this territory a benchmark in sustainability, both nationally and in Europe. By promoting “Other tourism,” the aim is to find a balance between respecting the nature, culture, and society of Navarre for travelers who want to experience it in a different and responsible way.

Here are some recommendations to enjoy different plans:

1- Immersion in the Irati Forest with a biologist

With its dense forest mass, Irati is one of the most beautiful places in Navarre, The best way is to be guided by a biologist, where you will delve into the flora, climatology, and geology of the largest beech-fir forest in Spain. You will also learn to observe birds, mammals, and insects with binoculars and telescopes.

• Irati Barnean, panoramic igloos in the Irati Forest

Discover the Irati Forest from the inside, connect with nature. The rooms at the Irati Barnean hotel are private igloos for 2 or 4 people. Spending the night immersed in nature, away from urban areas, with panoramic views of the Aezkoa Valley… an exclusive accommodation where you can listen, smell, touch, feel everything that the Irati Forest offers you. Full moon nights, bird watching, leaf fall, deer rutting season, and everything else you can imagine awaits you at Irati Barnean. Impressive sunsets and skies with millions of stars at night, accompanied by a tasting of local products from Navarre.

The Irati Barnean hotel is located in Barrio Larrau, 31670, Orbaizeta (Navarre).

For dining in the area, try Bar Restaurante Berrendi Ostatu Jatetxea in Villanueva de Aezkoa, and Errotaberri Taberna Asador in Garralda, where you can enjoy homemade meals and exquisite Navarrese beef burgers.

Bar Restaurante Berrendi Ostatu Jatetxea is located at C. San Salvador, 53, 31671 Villanueva de Aezkoa (Navarre), and Errotaberri Taberna Asador at C. Antonio Aróstegui, s/n, 31693 Garralda (Navarre).

2-Navarre Gorges by river, land, and air

If there is one place in Navarre where it is possible to cool off and enjoy vertigo-inducing experiences, it is the Pre-Pyrenees. The star plan in these cliffs carved by the water of the rivers is rafting down the Lumbier gorge, run by the Nattura activities company. Enjoy the beauty of the Nature Reserve by following the Irati Greenway by bike or on horseback.

For the hottest days, the plan should include a visit to the natural pools of the Foz de Benasa. And for the more adventurous, zip lines, suspension bridges and swings at the Artamendia Aventura Park in Aibar.

The Artamendia Aventura Park is located at Cam. del Monte, S/N, 31460 Aibar (Navarre).

3-Nature and gastro-experiences in Tierra Estella

A visit to the source of the river Urederra is one of the must-see places in Navarre. In the heart of the forest is an ecosystem of crystal-clear pools of intense turquoise blue. Navarre has spots of crystal-clear water surrounded by elm and beech trees. This is a specially protected area, and you should book in advance to avoid disturbing its fragile ecosystem.

• A winery with organic wines seen from above.

One of the gastronomic experiences we found is at Quaderna Vía, a winery where wines are produced organically throughout the process. You can visit the winery and vineyards, with an informal tasting of 3 wines and an aperitif with local products. You can also enjoy a hot air balloon flight to visit the vineyards.

The Quaderna Vía winery is located at Carretera Estella-Logroño, Km 4 31208 Igúzquiza (Navarre).

• The truffle, the ‘black diamond’ of gastronomy

Another experience not to be missed in Tierra Estella is a visit to the MetautenTruffle Museum, located at the foot of the Lokiz mountain range. It is the ideal place to discover the secrets of this fungus, known as the “black diamond” of cuisine. They also offer a gastronomic experience where you can taste local gastronomy, with traditional recipes and a gourmet touch of truffle, accompanied by local wines and beers.

The Truffle Museum is located at Carretera de Ganuza, 1 Metauten 31241 (Navarre).

4-Live the adventure in Las Bárdenas Reales with a final route of “pintxos”.

Enjoy a guided route in Bardenas Reales, with family or friends, with the 4×4 buggies of Activa Experience. Combine off-road vehicle driving with spectacular landscapes. Bardenas Reales is one of the most amazing desert landscapes in Navarre. In addition, the guide service allows you to get to know the particular history of Bardenas through experiences and explanations.

The routes can be adapted to all types of groups: individuals, couples, people with reduced mobility… The most complete and impressive route is the 5-hour Bardenas Reales route. It follows the typical paths of the Ribera Navarre until you reach a hidden spot where you can enjoy a panoramic view. Once in Bardenas Reales, you will go through Bardena Blanca, a landscape of abrupt relief and full of ravines, plains and hills with original shapes. The prices for this route range from 330€ to 550€ depending on the number of people and the vehicle.

• Long live the pinchos of Tudela!

After your visit to Bardenas Reales, recover your strength with a gastronomic route of “pintxos” in Tudela. Navarre is known for its pinchos, because “going out for pintxos” is more than just having an aperitif; it is a gastronomic ritual in a relaxed atmosphere that becomes a social event.

Activa Experience offers a guided tour of the old quarter of Tudela in which history and gastronomy come together. Taste a careful selection of the best pinchos (tapas) accompanied by a good wine with the designation of origin of Navarre.

Activa Experience is located at Ctra. N121C Tudela/Tarazona Km 7,7 31520 Cascante (Navarre).

For those who prefer to leave the pinchos for another day, Restaurante 33, located in Tudela, offers traditional and signature cuisine. They are pioneers in Spain in creating the first Tasting Menu of vegetables, with recognisable flavours and aromas of Navarrese cuisine.

Restaurant 33 is located at Calle Capuchinos, 7 31500 Tudela, (Navarre).

• Hotel Aire de Bardenas, architecture and design

The starry sky, the changing landscape, the full moon and the absence of light pollution come as standard at Hotel Aire de Bardenas. A unique and different stay where you can choose between eight types of rooms to spend your days. Some combine a private patio and bathtub, others are cubes with views of the imposing semi-desert landscape of Bardenas, or even bubbles to discover one of the most starry skies in Europe. In addition to these curious facilities, the hotel is located in Bardenas, one of the largest deserts in Europe, with spectacular lunar landscapes, peculiar flora and fauna and its own microclimate.

The Aire de Bardenas Hotel is located in Carretera de Ejea, NA-125, km. 1,5, Tudela (Navarre).

5-Pamplona, a thousand-year-old capital city

Pamplona is a city with history, culture and much to offer. Beautiful parks such as the Taconera park with viewpoints overlooking the river, city walls that embrace the Old Quarter and lively streets thanks to the local commerce. To discover the capital’s best-kept secrets first-hand, there is nothing better than joining one of Destino Navarre ‘s guided tours . The most recommended tour is the one that takes in the emblematic streets of the Old Quarter, the Camino de Santiago and the Cathedral of Santa María la Real.

The offices of Destino Navarre are located at Av. de Barañain, 2. Bajo 5. 31011 Pamplona-Iruña (Navarre).

In Pamplona you can also enjoy a wide range of pinchos in the city centre. Taste from the most traditional pinchos such as chistorra, potato omelette or bocadillicos to the most avant-garde ones with slow preparation and surprising ingredients.

• Alma, Gastronomy and Wine at the Hotel Alma Pamplona

Located just a few minutes from the city centre, the Hotel Alma Pamplona seeks to surprise its visitors with new experiences. Nominated 5 consecutive years among the 10 best hotels in Spain, it tries to renew the concept of urban hotel by opening its doors to lovers of the best gastronomic culture of Pamplona and its surroundings. It is a gastronomic hotel with the haute cuisine restaurant La Biblioteca, the traditional Navarrese Alma Restaurant and the AlmaPamplona breakfasts. It also offers unique experiences such as Gourmet Wellness or Re-Connect where you can enjoy cuisine, wine and nature at Alma Alive.

Terrace of the Hotel Alma Pamplona

The Alma Pamplona Hotel is located at Calle Beloso Bajo, 11, 31006 Pamplona (Navarre).

6- Km 0 products, quality and proximity

Navarre is a region with more than 16 products with quality certification, and most of the restaurants in the region have opted for local and seasonal products. In Pamplona, VerduArte, the restaurant run by chef Nacho Gómara, stands out for its cuisine from the market garden and innovative recipes using kilometre 0 products.

The VerduArte restaurant is in Plaza del Baluarte s/n, 2nd floor. 31002 Pamplona (Navarre).

In the Molino de Urdániz, 15 minutes from the capital, chef David Yárnoz is committed to combining haute cuisine with environmental awareness. He works only with local suppliers and seasonal ingredients. His restaurant has proven to be successful and has been awarded a second Michelin Star.

The Molino de Urdániz restaurant is located at Crta. Nacional 135, km.16,5, 31698 Urdániz (Navarre).

• Basoa Suites, stay on the trunks of hundred-year-old oak trees.

Just 30 minutes from Pamplona and 50 minutes from San Sebastián, Basoa Suites is the perfect accommodation for those who want to enjoy a peaceful stay and blend in with nature. Located in the Robledal de Amati, in the heart of the Ultzama Valley, a small protected environment where this charming hotel is located. The beautiful valley is characterised by green meadows and lush forests. Basoa Suites has six double cabins, with terrace, dry bathroom and heating. Breakfasts and dinners are prepared with natural products from the area and you can also configure your stay to your liking: a few drinks, a good wine, a bottle of cava…

Basoa Suites is located in Diseminado, s/n, 31799 Larraintzar (Navarre).

Visit Navarre this holiday and discover incredible landscapes, unforgettable stays and first-class gastronomy.