Harpea Cave, the cave of the Pyrenees.

Harpea Cave, a magical place next to Orbaitzeta and the Irati Forest.

The Harpea Cave is one of the most beautiful places in the Pyrenees. A magical, unique space. A cave, which, protected by mountains, rivers and valleys, offers an idyllic landscape. Located 950 meters above sea level, between Lower and Upper Navarre, between Ezterenzubi and Aezkoa, this geological formation is one of the must-see places on any trip to the Navarrese Pyrenees. It is here, next to the Harpea cave, where nature stole our hearts. Mountains covered by a dense and intense green accompany us during the route. Truly breathtaking. Surrounded by animals, legends and a great silence, the landscape is engraved in our retina. It is impossible to do justice to the beauty of the Harpea cave. In fact, we dare say that our photos do not do it justice either.

This natural cave located in the muga, on the border, invites us to know some of the most impressive corners of the Pyrenean mountain range. Its proximity to places such as the Orbaitzeta Arms Factory, the Irati Forest or the charming and historic town of Donibane Garazi (San Juan Pie de Puerto), make this destination even more attractive.

Cave of Arpea or Harpea?

As you have seen, there are many articles about this cave. Most of them refer to this space as“Cueva de Arpea“(Arpea Cave) while a few refer to it as“Cueva de Harpea” (Harpea Cave). In this sense, we wanted to investigate the origin and meaning of the name of this cave. After reading several articles on research and toponymy, we found that there were indications that its name should be Cueva de Harpea and not Arpea. An example of this is the work “Hondarribiko Toponimia”, Toponymy of Hondarribia in Basque, a publication of 2002 where, among other things, the use of the word “Harpea” throughout history is collected. This book mentions the use of Harpea as a shelter formed by crags to keep livestock. The Harpea cave is still used today. On the other hand, if we stop to analyze its morphology, we can see that the word Harpea has its origin in the fusion of 2 words in Basque: Harria (stone) and aterpe (shelter). So, we decided to turn to Euskaltzaindia (Royal Academy of the Basque Language) and to Xabier Euzkitze (Bertsolari, presenter and one of the greatest lovers of our language) in order to confirm our theory. Reliable, quality sources. It was the latter who confirmed that, in his opinion, there was no doubt, Harpea. We take this opportunity to publicly thank him for his help. Eskerrik asko Xabier!

How to get to Harpea Cave from Orbaitzeta.

To reach the Harpea cave from Orbaitzeta, we must head towards the old arms factory of the town. Once at this point, we must cross the small town that we find next to the factory until we reach a fork in the road. We will turn right. Leaving the houses behind, we begin to climb, we enter the mountain. From this point, the path is not lost. We continue until we reach a new crossroads. We are in the pass of Organbide, about 3 km from the cave of Harpea. Turn right again. At this point, the road narrows and a large ravine appears on our left. Caution. We begin to appreciate the incredible beauty of the valley in which the cave is located. We follow the road until we reach the end of it. We have arrived. From here, we must continue on foot. We must say that, although our recommendation is to go from Orbaitzeta, there is the option of arriving at this same point from Iparralde, from Donibane Garazi. In this sense, know that the cave of Harpea is 25 minutes from Orbaitzeta and 40 minutes from San Juan Pie de Puerto, Donibane Garazi.

Harpea Cave Route.

There are multiple routes to reach the Harpea Cave, but due to the difficulty of some of them, we believe that they are not suitable for everyone. In this sense, if you are not looking for mountaineering, if you just want to visit the Harpea Cave, we recommend that you leave your car at the end of the paved road, about 1 km from the entrance to the cave, next to a small animal shelter. We should mention that the path that leads to the cave of Harpea is very simple but also narrow and with a certain slope. Be careful. If you go with your family, if you go with children, it may be best to go hand in hand. The walk is short, in about 15 minutes we are in the cave. The route we must take and the entrance to the cave can be seen from the first meters of the route. A generic view that makes clear the profile of the route. The path gradually loses altitude until it reaches the interior of the ravine. There, we find a small stream and a borda, 2 elements that accompany the Harpea cave in this idyllic place, photo. The route is linear. Round trip by the same path.

Geology in Harpea Cave.

In addition to its beauty, the Harpea cave has another quality that attracts the attention of everyone who visits it: its nature, its geological formation. A characteristic that can be appreciated just by contemplating the walls that form it. Hundreds of sheets are stacked one on top of the other in the shape of an inverted “V” creating this impressive rock formation. A phenomenon known to experts as deformation of the geological layers. This is how rocks yield to tectonic pressure, creating undulating forms that respond to the concept of folds. In this case, anticlinal fold. A singular and striking formation. These layers formed over the years with the sediments of what was once the seabed, tell the story of the passage of time in an extraordinary way. Specifically, we can say that Harpea Cave is formed by sedimentary rocks of marine origin (of Cretaceous and Paleogene ages) in which we can find marls, marl limestones and limestones; calcareous breccias; shales and sandstones. In addition, we can find some fossil remains, such as corals, echinids and bivalves, among others. This is how these rock formations show our geologists the history of the earth as if it were an open book. The technical data to which we refer have been provided by our friends of Ekobideak, responsible for conducting thematic routes on Geology throughout the Basque Country. If you like this kind of geological phenomena, we recommend you to read our articles about Geoparkea or the Flysch of Getxo, we are sure they will catch your attention.

Interior of the Harpea Cave.

The interior of the Harpea cave does not have much to offer. As we have already mentioned, its usual use is to keep small livestock. In this aspect, we must say that there are hundreds of more beautiful and striking caves. The charm of Harpea Cave lies in its surroundings, its legends and its very nature.

Legends of the Harpea Cave.

The legends that have arisen around the Harpea Cave are another aspect that should be mentioned. As we have already mentioned, this cave has a great mythological charge. A lot of magic. Inhabited since prehistoric times by both people and animals, Harpea has been home to many. Also of our beloved “Lamiak”. A being half woman half animal, which is very present in the mythology of Euskal Herria. Legends say that thanks to their long hair and great beauty, these mythological beings dazzle locals and strangers alike. Among them, the shepherds of the Pyrenees. The “lamiak” have traditionally been related to spaces such as rivers, fountains or other spaces where water is very present. In this case, one of the streams that delivers its waters to the river Nive (Errobi in Basque), is born in the depths of this environment. A riverbed, surrounded by dolmens and cromlechs, gives this cave a mystery and charm never seen before.

Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees and the intense green that we find next to the Cave of Harpea, make this one of the most beautiful and impressive places in the Basque Country. A landscape that invites us to leave our cell phones and other distractions aside to contemplate everything that surrounds us. In our opinion, if you have the time, it is well worth the effort to visit this area by taking another route.

Location.

Although the Harpea Cave is only a few minutes away from places like Orbaitzeta or the Irati Forest, we must mention that this space belongs to Ezterenzubi (Estérençuby), Behe Nafarroa (Lower Navarre). A municipality of about 300 inhabitants that is only 8 km from Donibane Garazi (San Juan de Pie de Puerto). Although the cave is located just a few meters from the muga (border in Basque), the Cueva de Harpea does not belong to Navarra. In any case, its location makes it perfect for getting to know many of the attractions of the Pyrenees.

Rural houses near the Harpea Cave.

The Navarrese Pyrenees is a perfect destination from which to discover the Harpea Cave. This is why we suggest that you choose one of the many rural houses in the Navarrese Pyrenees to stay in during your trip to the Harpea Cave. In this regard, our recommendation for both families and couples is clear: Agroturismo Mari Cruz. We encourage you to discover their latest proposal: Tree houses in the Navarrese Pyrenees. A real delight. A marvel. We remind you that you can make your reservation at the best price, easy and safe in our reservation center.

What to see near Harpea Cave.

The strategic location of the Harpea Cave offers a wide range of places to visit and enjoy. We leave you a long list in which you will find places in Navarra, Gipuzkoa or Iparralde. In any case, close to the Harpea Cave. We hope you like them.

If you like this kind of spaces, we encourage you to follow our social media profiles(Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube). We are sure that our publications will encourage you to visit some of our most striking and special places.

Questions and tips.

After visiting the Harpea Cave, we thought it necessary to create a section with tips and frequently asked questions about this magical place. We hope it will be of help during the planning of your trip.

In case you do not find an answer to your questions, we recommend that you use the comments system at the end of this article to send them to us. We will try to respond as soon as possible.

Other caves in the Basque Country.

Throughout the length and breadth of our land there are numerous caves that can be visited. Spaces of great renown and history that we encourage you to know through our different articles. Here is a small sample:

As you have been able to see, the Harpea Cave and its surroundings are one of those places that surprise travelers from all over the world. A magical place, where nature and history come together to offer us a dream getaway. We highly recommend a visit to the Harpea Cave. A magical space that can be reached both from the Navarrese Pyrenees and from Iparralde (French Basque Country). Ondo pasa!