Mundaka, what to see and do.

Mundaka, a small town in Urdaibai that attracts surfers from all over the world.

Mundaka, a small Basque town known internationally for its now famous left wave, has become the surfing mecca of Euskadi. This small and charming town located on the left bank of the Urdaibai estuary has been linked to the sea since its origins. In the past as an urban center of fishermen and maritime traders and today as one of the best spots on the Basque coast for surfing. Mundaka is located in the heart of Urdaibai, a privileged natural environment that was declared a Biosphere Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Undoubtedly one of the most striking areas of the Basque Country. A town that has managed to preserve its culture, language and traditions against all odds. On the other hand, Mundaka’s patron saint festival, San Pedro, is celebrated every June 29th with concerts, gastronomic contests, dances, herri kirolak (Basque sports) and other events typical of Basque festivities.

As a curiosity we should point out that although Mundaka only has just over 1,800 inhabitants, this figure triples during the summer season. This phenomenon can be interpreted in different ways, but we do it as one more argument of the beauty of this Basque town. Do you want to join us to know Mundaka?

What to see in Mundaka.

If you are planning to visit Mundaka we recommend that you pay special attention to this section. Here you will find the most important and outstanding places to see in Mundaka. We hope you like them.

The port: The port represents the nerve center of Mundaka, the heart of the town. A meeting place. The port of Mundaka is one of the smallest in the area but also one of the most charming. In fact, it is the place from where the streets that form the historic center of the town start. During the summer season, in summer, it is common to find groups of young people jumping into the sea from the breakwaters at the entrance of the port. Quite a spectacle.

Hermitage of Santa Catalina: The hermitage of Santa Catalina is undoubtedly one of the icons of Mundaka. A nineteenth century building, located on a peninsula, allows us to enjoy a privileged space at the entrance of the estuary of Urdaibai. Although in the past this building was fortified, today only the walls of that fort remain. The Hermitage of Santa Catalina has been of great importance throughout the history of Mundaka. In addition to serving as a religious temple, Santa Catalina has also hosted meetings of the fishermen’s guild and the sick during the various pandemics that have struck the town.

Church of Santa Maria: This temple located in the watchtower of Mundaka, on the sea, is one of the most important buildings of the town and the region. A church of which there is already evidence in the year 1071. Undoubtedly one of the jewels of the architectural heritage of Urdaibai and Bizkaia. Unfortunately, the original temple was destroyed during the flag fights. The church that we contemplate today is the result of the reconstruction and enlargement carried out during the 16th century.

Left wave of Mundaka: Mundaka is one of the most demanded localities of Euskadi for surfing. Its left wave, one of the best in Europe, attracts surfers from all over the world to this corner of the Basque Country. This wave that is created in the bar of Mundaka and dies on the beach of Laida looks in autumn and winter its best clothes. And it is at this time of the year when the left wave of Mundaka reaches 4 meters high thanks to the winds from the south. A place of worship for all surf lovers.

Portuondo viewpoint: The Portuondo neighborhood of Mundaka offers one of the best views of the town. And it is that from this point we have the opportunity to contemplate an impressive panoramic view of the estuary and its surroundings. In this same neighborhood we find the famous Portuondo campsite and restaurant, an establishment from which we can also appreciate the beauty of this environment while enjoying the Basque gastronomy.

Viewpoint of La Atalaya: The viewpoint of La Atalaya allows us to enjoy the beauty of the sea with the coming and going of the waves that are created at the mouth of the estuary. A space with privileged views, which, located next to the church of the town, encourages us to sit on their benches to enjoy the tranquility that nature transmits. Irresistible.

Mundaka estuary: The Mundaka estuary, or what is the same, the Urdaibai estuary, is born in the Oiz mountain, in the Oka river. A river that shortly after, in the area of Gernika, becomes an estuary forming large marshes. The mouth of the estuary takes place in Mundaka, where a large estuary surrounded by beautiful beaches is created.

Library: The building that houses the current library of Mundaka has a long history behind its walls. In addition to serving as a hospital for pilgrims, it was also used as a fish market and slaughterhouse. A corner of great charm and one of the oldest spaces of the port. A place that attracts the attention of the visitor and that is never missing in the family album of vacations in Mundaka and Urdaibai.

The cross of Calvary: This cross of the year 1611 has an inscription that says: “This cross was made by Rodrigo Abad de Mendecano, you who are a reader, pray to the sovereign”. These words are accompanied by two figures, one on each side of the cross.

Carnivals, Atorras and Lamias: The Atorras and Lamias are 2 of the most emblematic characters of Mundaka. They are the real protagonists of the carnivals of the town. One of the most famous and different of all Euskadi. The atorras (men) go out in procession through the streets of Mundaka in the morning while the lamias (women) do it in the afternoon. A great festive atmosphere that floods the squares and streets of Mundaka annually.

Architectural heritage: Strolling through the narrow streets of the old town of Mundaka we will find buildings that are part of the great architectural heritage of this town. Examples are “El Casino”, Amaia Enea, Ibaialde Palace, the town hall or the Kurutziaga Palace. Buildings of great character that in many cases have heraldic coats of arms on their facades.

Fronton of Mundaka: The old fronton of Mundaka is still located next to the church. It is not one of the most beautiful and important frontons of Euskadi, but it is nice to see how in this town the old customs are still preserved. In the past, it was common for the young people of the villages to use the façades of churches and houses as frontons. A fact that we still appreciate in Mundaka.

Laidatxu beach: Although there are many bathing areas in Mundaka (the port, Hondartzape, Txorrokopunta…) Laidatxu beach is one of the most important in the town. The only beach of Mundaka. The only sandy area catalogued as such. The rest of the bathing areas are ports, coves and piers. Undoubtedly a space to take into account during any summer getaway to Mundaka.

Stela Monolith: In the port of Mundaka, on the breakwater, we find one of the 12 works that the Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola created for the Department of Transport and Public Works of the Basque Government in 1988. One sculpture for each port over which he had jurisdiction. Today these sculptures are still present in the ports of Plentzia, Armintza, Bermeo, Mundaka, Elantxobe, Lekeitio, Ondarroa, Donostia San Sebastian, Mutriku, Getaria, Orio and Hondarribia.

Old town: Getting lost in the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town of Mundaka is a must. For us it is one of the best ways to get to know this area of the town. We are sure you will love it. Every time you turn a corner you will be surprised by colorful houses, small squares and historic buildings.

Izaro: The island of Izaro can be seen from almost anywhere along the coast of Mundaka. A piece of land in the middle of the Bay of Biscay that until the 18th century housed a Franciscan convent. Today the island of Izaro is a protected ecological area along with the Urdaibai estuary.

Gaviota: In the distance, in the middle of the horizon, in the sea, you can contemplate the Gaviota, a platform located 8 kilometers from the coast that since 1994 has been used as a natural gas deposit. We must point out that although it is currently used as a deposit, it was once one of the most important natural gas fields in the peninsula.

Urdaibai Ferry.

The Urdaibai ferry connects Mundaka with Sukarrieta and Laida beach through a regular service throughout the summer. A fast and economical maritime transport that allows us to cross the Urdaibai estuary without the need to use private transport. If you are planning to travel to Urdaibai, we encourage you to take a look at the article we have dedicated to the Urdaibai ferry. You can also check schedules and availability directly in our reservation center.

Guided tours in Mundaka.

If you want to know Mundaka from the proximity that offers us a local guide, we encourage you to read the article that we dedicate to the guided tours of Mundaka. In addition to the usual regular tourist tours, we also offer private tours of all kinds. In this sense, we offer guided tours by sea, land and air. You can also combine all of them. In case you would like to make a personalized visit, we encourage you to contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible. We are waiting for you!

Boat rental in Mundaka.

The port of Mundaka offers several options when it comes to renting a boat. From private boat rentals to fishing trips in Urdaibai. In any case, whatever the type of boat and the route you want to do, we encourage you to get in touch with us. contact us so that we can help you so that we can help you to plan your experience in Mundaka. But in this case, we must make special emphasis on a very original experience, the rental of boats without the need to have a sailing license. If you want to be your own skipper, if you want to sail at your own pace in Urdaibai, we encourage you to book one of these boats from our reservation center, from here.

What to do in Mundaka and surroundings.

As we have already mentioned, Mundaka is one of the best places on the coast of Bizkaia to practice active tourism sports such as surfing or hiking. But the rest of the towns of Bizkaia and Euskadi that surround it complement this offer with unique and unrepeatable experiences. We encourage you to choose any of them and book as soon as possible from here. You will not regret it.

What to see near Mundaka.

Mundaka and its surrounding villages are an ideal destination for those who are looking to enjoy nature on the coast of Biscay. In this section we reveal what for us are the most important places that we find in the vicinity of Mundaka. In case you want more information, we recommend you to read our article about what to see in Urdaibai.

How to get to Mundaka.

To get to Mundaka we can do it either by public or private transport. You choose. Of course, we must mention that Mundaka does not exactly stand out for having the best public transport services. This is attested by the number of bus and train lines that reach the town and the frequency with which they do so. However, we recommend you to take them into account.

Location.

Mundaka is located between Bermeo and Gernika, 2 urban centers of great importance in Bizkaia. But if the geographical location of Mundaka stands out for something, it is for the great natural value that we find in this corner of Euskadi. And we must remember that Urdaibai, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve since 1984, has protected areas throughout its territory.

History.

Although the origin of Mundaka is not entirely clear, although many of the stories we hear and read about Mundaka do not have a solid argumentation based on writings and archaeological studies, it is clear that it was one of the first urban centers of Bizkaia. Or at least this is what is indicated by different experts, who, taking as a reference the number one seat that Mundaka had in the General Meetings of the Lordship of Bizkaia, point out that it could be one of the oldest parishes in the province. The original name of this parish, Munaca, evolved to Mundaka, the current name of this Basque town. Mundaka was originally a fishing village with great importance in maritime trade but since the twentieth century was transformed into the tourist town it is today. A tourism based on surfing, nature and gastronomy.

Legends.

The figure of Jaun Zuria, Señor blanco in Basque, is still in question. Even today it is still unknown whether it is myth or reality. It is said that a daughter of the King of Scotland arrived by boat to Laidatxu beach in Mundaka, where she disembarked. The pregnant woman gave birth to a child. Both lived in this area until the child was 22 years old, when the people of Bizkaia chose him as captain of their troops to face the army of the King of Leon who had invaded Bizkaia. The reason for his election was due to the condition imposed by the King of León: he would only fight in formal battle if the Biscayan army was led by a man of royal blood. Thus, the army of León was defeated in Arrigorriaga (area of red stones in Basque) leaving a great trail of blood in the place of the battle. As a result of this event, the Bizkainos chose the son of the princess of Scotland as Lord of Bizkaia and named him Jaun Zuria (White Lord in Basque) because of his features (white skin and hair). In fact, many believe that the name of the town, Mundaka, comes from the Danish words “mund” and “haka”. Mouth and cape respectively. Thus indicating the location of Mundaka at the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary.

Where to sleep in Mundaka.

The rural environment in which the municipality of Mundaka is located makes the rural houses the best place to stay. A type of accommodation that abound in the vicinity of Mundaka. We recommend that you value the possibility of reserving one of these rural houses of Urdaibai, we are sure that you will love them.

When to visit Mundaka.

Mundaka can be visited all year round, but summer and autumn are especially important. The first, summer, because of the bustle and vitality that the town breathes due to the thousands of people who visit Mundaka during this time. The second, autumn, for being the best time of the year to surf one of the best left waves in Europe. In any case, regardless of the time of year you visit Mundaka, we are sure you will be surprised.

Where to park in Mundaka.

The center of Mundaka does not have many parking spaces. So the best option for parking in Mundaka is to leave the car in one of the parking lots that we find near its two access roads. In any case, you should know that Mundaka has areas regulated by OTA (Traffic and Parking Ordinance). An ordinance that makes us have to pay for parking our vehicles in several areas of Mundaka during the summer season.

Video of Mundaka.

As usual in our articles, we wanted to accompany the words and photographs with a short video. An audiovisual that we hope will be helpful to visualize everything that awaits you in Mundaka. In case you like this kind of videos we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are sure you will find destinations and experiences of Euskadi that catch your attention.

As you have been able to see Mundaka has spaces of great beauty in its interior. A town of great charm that we recommend you to visit on any trip to Euskadi. In case you have any questions about what to see in Mundaka we remind you that you can use the comment system that you will find below these lines to let us know. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pass!