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Zumaia » Location » Description

Zumaia is situated in a privileged location on the Guipuzcoan coast, on the shores of the sea and the bay where the rivers Urola and Narrondo meet.

To the north it is bordered by the Bay of Biscay, to the south by the two Arroas, Ibañarrieta and Zestoa; the latter is a village known for both its baths of hot springs as well as its famous Ekain caves, whose cave paintings have enriched the artistic legacy of man since the dawn of humanity. To the east we have the district of Askizu, where the high point of the hills watches over the entrance to Zumaia and Getaria, a fishing port and birthplace of Juan Sebastián Elcano.

Changing direction, to the west we find Elorriaga, Itziar and Deba, which almost every day witnesses the last rays of the setting sun on the coast of Biscay.

As regards the population, Zumaia is neither very large nor very small: with around 8,700 inhabitants. But it is equipped with all the services to make this corner of the world a pleasant and, at the same time, a peaceful place where you can live far away from the stress and noise of the cities. Also, you only need to go for a stroll in the streets to see the number of children who cheer up the daily hustle and bustle by their presence.

Most of its inhabitants are concentrated within the centre, but both inside as well as outside the centre there are isolated areas.

Zumaia seen from Santa Clara

Among the notable areas on the outskirts are San Miguel de Artadi and Oikia. San Miguel rises on a hill between beautiful holm oak trees and from its church, one of whose side walls protects the steep bank, a beautiful panoramic view can be seen towards Zumaia, the Urola river and the sea to the north. From the same place, but this time looking towards the south, we can see the district of Oikia, with its Saint Bartholomew's church and Kondekua house.

But there is a third region on the road from San Sebastián (Donostia) towards Bilbao, called Narrondo, after the river that runs through it, and whose lands are divided between Zumaia and Zestoa.