Guided geowalks in the Geopark of the Basque Coast
in English, Spanish, Dutch and French
(UNESCO Global Geopark, Gipuzkoa, Spain)
"One of the best exposed, most continuous and highly studied outcrops of deep marine sediments in the world"
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)
Learn to read the flysch layers and interpret fossil footprints of marine animals.
Discover what the seabed of the deep ocean is like.
Adapted ♿ activities.
I am a Belgian geologist, Koen Van den Driessche (CV), and would like to be your guide. I am an accredited guide for the Geopark of the Basque Coast.
Personalized activities in English
The range of activities covers the most notable geological elements of the Geopark. The activities will be tailored to your group (duration, level, schedule, language). Activities can be combined.
Some activities depend on low tide.
Prices and categories can be found here.
Programmed activities
Don't forget to consult also the programmed activities, here. Note that reservation is always mandatory.
A 50 million year walk from Deba to Zumaia
(7h)
Early Cretaceous to Early Eocene
This 14 km quite hilly walk through beautiful landscapes offers the best synthesis of the geological history of the Geopark, and ends with the Zumaia section.
From oceans that are opening to oceans that are closing. Faults, folds, large landslides, active geological processes, changes in sea levels, global warming... on this walk, nature offers us a master class on the Earth system.
Flysch and geomorphology of Sakoneta Beach
(4-5h)
Transition from the Lower Cretaceous to the Upper Cretaceous
The coastal landscape and flysch at its best, surrounded by nature. The flysch phenomenon, its evolution over time and animal tracks, a spectacular fault and the geomorphology of the cliffs. A very good opportunity to discover the beauty of geology.
The Zumaia Section
(1-4h)
Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene
This series of deep ocean strata are one of the most studied in the world due to its diversity and continuity. It contains the record of two major catastrophes. It reflects in a very visual way the geological history until the formation of the Pyrenees. We will discover its wealth in every detail. For lovers of geohistory. Also, in ♿ version.
Geology of Deba♿
(3-5h)
Lower Cretaceous to Holocene
Activity within the town Deba, especially developed for people with reduced mobility. Most of the characteristic elements of the 'Black Flysch' of Deba, its evolution, its geological environment and important deformations. Fossils from the surrounding reefs in pavements, and natural stones from the buildings in the historic centre.
With a walk through the Deba River estuary. Possibility of integrating the "Valley of Prehistory".
Mutriku's giant ammonites
(3h)
Lower Cretaceous
The Zazpi Hondartza/Kardala area in Mutriku is home to many very interesting geological phenomena. On this paleo-hight, giant ammonites are found next to fumaroles from about 100 million years ago. We visit the cliffs and then we will see the ammonites and other fossils in the Nautilus museum. Also in version♿
Evidences of a Basque Atlantis in Saturraran Beach
( 2-3h)
Lower Cretaceous
The Saturraran beach in front of Ondarroa, with its flysch dragon, is emblematic, but its geological secret is little known. It preserves evidence of a northern continent that contributed with its sediments to the current Basque coast. In this activity we will look in detail at the evidence of this "Atlantis", and we will learn the history of the opening of the Cantabrian Ocean.
Also in version ♿
Flysch from the sea
Our activities, especially "The Zumaia Sección" and the "50 million year walk from Deba to Zumaia" can be combined with a personalized and private boat trip. Also activities with only a boat trip are available.
Observing the sección from the sea is the best synthesis after a close experience.
Consult timely for availability. Bad weather and peak occupation can make the service unavailable.
The best moment is at high tide, than the captan can come closer to the coast.
A unique experience...
I offer personalized activities in which geology is actively introduced with personal and competent support to understand and experience a landscape interactively, with great attention to personal observation but also to enjoyment and feelings.
I would like to teach you how to read the geological strata - the great diary of geological history - with your nose on the rocks.
Activities marked with ♿ are suitable for people with limited mobility. In the variants of activities specially developed for people with reduced mobility, we will discover most of the characteristic elements of flysch, and we will use binoculars to comfortably observe inaccessible elements.