Lizaso: Forest Trails, Rural Life and Special Discoveries

Lizaso brings together an ancient oak forest, trails with a history of their own, and experiences involving animals, farming and traditional cuajada. There is also a stone Baroque church dating from the 17th century. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Lizaso, you can plan your days around what matters most to you: nature trails, a glimpse of rural life, sport or culture.

Oak forest, salt pond and trails of varying lengths

The Bosque de Orgi stretches between Gerendiain and Lizaso. It is designated as an Área Natural Recreativa, allowing forest protection and public use to coexist. This 80-hectare oak forest, thousands of years old, is a rare surviving example of Navarre’s humid oak forests and is of great ecological importance.

The forest has trails of many different lengths. El Laberinto is an easy, 300-metre path with a winding route. It ends at the Árbol caído: a large oak that was once blown down by the wind and is now covered by other plants. El Camino is 1,400 metres long and connects with La Senda in the Bosque de Orgi. Along El Camino there are areas with wooden benches and boardwalks, as well as a small birdwatching hide.

La Senda is 700 metres long and runs between Gerendiain and Lizaso. Beside the trail is a salt pond, believed to be a remnant of the sea that covered this area 180 or 200 million years ago. Over a short distance, a named trail and a geological interpretation of the landscape come together.

The longer routes are also easy to navigate using their names and distances: the Sendero de Orgi is an 8.5-kilometre circular route through Lizaso, Gorrontz-Olano and Guelbenzu. The Vuelta a Ultzama starts in Lizaso, is 9.86 kilometres long and does not pass through the entire Valle de Ultzama. The Amati Trail is 10.5 kilometres long and runs through Lizaso, Larraintzar, Iraitzotz, Zenotz, Eltso and Gerendiain. Another route, the Robledal de Orgi, starts at the Área Natural Recreativa de Orgi, follows a country road to Lizaso and then passes the golf course on its way uphill to Gorrontz and Olano.

The trails in the Bosque de Orgi are easy, level and accessible; they are also suitable for blind people and people who use a wheelchair. Nevertheless, check current trail conditions before your visit. Route alignments can also change, so it is a good idea to check the route before setting out.

Animals, farming and cuajada

The Granja Escuela Ultzama welcomes families, schools and anyone interested in rural life. A guided visit lasts 60 minutes and includes more than 90 animals, including cows, donkeys, a mare, ponies and miniature ponies, five breeds of sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits and birds. The programme also includes guided visits with the animals, an organic garden and information about sustainable farming.

Another way to explore farming traditions is through cuajada: the Granja Escuela offers a 30-minute workshop on making it traditionally, followed by a tasting. For this kind of visit, current availability and visit details are important; check with the provider in advance. Mikaela offers guided visits and workshops in Lizaso for families and schools on agroecology and sustainable food production. Nearby in Eltso, the beekeeping laboratory at the Ezkurdi Beekeeping Museum can be visited as part of an arranged guided tour; an exhibition provides information about the history of beekeeping. These visits are offered year-round, but must be arranged in advance.

Sport, horse riding and village history

Lizaso Golf Club offers an introductory package with five supervised practice sessions at the driving range and rounds on a full-size golf course. A follow-up package includes eight supervised practice sessions and rounds on the course. As programme formats may change, check the current offer in advance. You can also play golf at the pitch-and-putt centre in Lizaso. FootGolf combines the precision of golf with a passion for football; the activity is offered in a natural setting in the Valle de Ultzama.

Hípica Doble A in Lizaso offers horse and pony rides. Hípica Ulzama is located at C/San Simón 150 in Lizaso, in the Valle de Ultzama; check the current availability of its activities before visiting. The stone Church of Saints Simon and Jude offers another glimpse of the village: it is a Baroque building dating from the 17th century.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Arguedas, Lodosa, Luzaide / Valcarlos, Olazagutía, Arraioz, San Adrián, Cárcar, Donamaria

For the main travel overview: Navarre.