Trip to the Basque Country after Covid-19.

Travel to the Basque Country after the Covid-19 pandemic, a paradise to be explored.

Travel to the Basque Country after the Covid-19 pandemic will be totally different from what we remember. There is no doubt about it. The landscapes will still be the same or even more beautiful (due to the confinement of the whole society), but the relationships between people will not be the same. Bars and restaurants will reinforce their security, large hotels will give way to small rural houses and the most visited places will no longer monopolize 99% of the visits. Tourist relocation will become a reality. Or at least this is what is expected in the post-confinement era. The streets of the Basque Country will once again be full of travelers, but the Covid-19 pandemic is going to change tourism completely. Here and all over the world. In this sense, we believe that the rural areas, the villages, will be the first to welcome tourists. And is that fear and caution, will make many travelers will opt for the most rural areas of our territory. Tourist destinations, where the population density is very low. It is for this reason that rural tourism will have from now on one more attraction: low probability of crowding. If before the Covid-19 pandemic this characteristic was already a plus, now it may be a double plus.

If everything goes according to experts’ indications, the summer is expected to be calm. Thanks to the measures taken so far and the slow spread of the virus during this time of the year, the summer season seems to mark a turning point. At this time, we recommend you to gather strength in the middle of nature to be able to face a possible second wave of Covid-19. Working day by day with small rural houses and active tourism companies, we are aware of their concerns and their evolution in terms of systems against Covid-19. In this sense, we believe that currently the wildest tourist destinations are the best prepared in the fight against the pandemic. It is the best time to discover the most rural corners of Euskal Herria, it is the time to know the small earthly paradises that hide each of our historical territories.

In the Basque Country, as in the rest of the world, cities have been the worst offenders in the fight against Covid-19. The pandemic has hit the big cities very hard. Too hard. In this respect, small rural towns have been luckier. Many do not even have a single case of Covid-19 among their inhabitants. That said, we have selected 4 areas of Euskal Herria that perfectly meet all the characteristics that the ideal tourist destination should have given the current conditions: great natural value, quiet and with a good dose of culture and history. Destinations, highly coveted in times of Covid-19.

Aiara Valley / Ayala.

The Valley of Aiara or Ayala, in Araba, is one of those destinations that fit perfectly to what people demand at this time. An area of great scenic and natural beauty, where places like the Salto del Nervión, Orduña, Artziniega or the Txakoli wineries invite us to enjoy the small pleasures of life.

We strongly recommend you to visit this area of Euskal Herria. A strategic space, which invites us to know corners of great importance in the provinces of Bizkaia and Araba. A very attractive proposal.

Urdaibai.

Urdaibai, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, is another of those destinations that has everything necessary to welcome travelers after the Covid-19 pandemic. An enclave, which proposes to merge sea and land to enjoy nature in all its splendor.

The maritime routes of Urdaibai perfectly complement the different family routes that we find in the mountains that protect this natural paradise. Boat trips, which allow us to know in an authentic way one of the most beautiful areas of all Euskal Herria.

Rioja Alavesa.

Endless fields of vineyards protect the small villages of Rioja Alavesa. Cozy urban centers with cobbled streets that invite us to stroll and enjoy a striking popular architecture.

The wineries of Rioja Alavesa, the main protagonists of this region, continue to be a fundamental axis of tourism. In this post-Covid-19 era, all the guided tours that take place in these areas are adapting their capacity and conditions to protect their visitors.

Navarre Pyrenees.

The Navarrese Pyrenees is one of the wildest areas in the north of the Peninsula. An authentic and wild space that keeps with great pride its culture and history. Spaces like the cave of Harpea are a clear witness of all that we argue. A magical space.

The Navarre Pyrenees hides thousands of routes to travel. Paths of great charm that encourage us to discover this magnificent environment with family, friends or as a couple. Its proximity to Iparralde (French Basque Country) is another of its great allies. And the fact of being able to enjoy both spaces without wasting a lot of time in displacements is a real pleasure. A great travel plan for when the borders open their barriers.

Goierri.

Goierri, also known as Basque Highlands, is another of those spaces to be taken into account. Located in the heart of Euskadi, less than 1 hour from any of the Basque capitals, this small rural jewel of our land awaits us with open arms. Undoubtedly a place to take into account. A territory of Gipuzkoa that keeps with great strength an important part of our culture and history.

It is here where we find the oldest market in Euskadi and the highest mountain in Euskadi, Ordizia and Aizkorri respectively. The highlands, Goierri in Euskera (Basque language), will captivate us with its landscapes and its gastronomy. And in a trip to Goierri it is essential to visit a cheese factory and enjoy its privileged views. A very complete destination in which we also find one of the best preserved medieval towns, Segura.

This is just a summary of the areas that best show the natural wealth of the Basque Country, there are many more. On the other hand, we also want to make clear that cities have also adapted to Covid-19 to create safe spaces for all of us. Great examples of this are Bilbao, Donostia San Sebastian or Vitoria Gasteiz.

Video of the empty streets of Bilbao.

During the confinement of Covid-19 we asked our friends to send us photos of their streets. The result was as expected, empty, lifeless streets. A very sad picture but necessary to stop the spread of the virus. If you like the video, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are sure you will find videos of destinations and experiences that will catch your attention.

We would like to end this article on travel to the Basque Country after Covid-19 by inviting everyone to travel with respect and caution, leaving aside fear. The sanitary measures implemented so far must continue to be very present. The use of masks, washing hands frequently or keeping a 2 meters safety distance should be a constant. All these measures will continue to be necessary until scientists find a vaccine against Covid-19. We take this opportunity to give our support to all those who have lost a loved one in these difficult times. We wish you all the best. Ez etsi, eutsi.