Aralar Natural Park

Aralar Natural Park, declared in 1994, extends across the Gipuzkoan regions of Goierri and Tolosaldea, in a massif formed around 50 million years ago from an ancient sedimentary seabed. Mount Txindoki, at 1,346 metres, is its most iconic peak, while the park's highest point is Ganbo at 1,412 metres. The landscape is defined by vast meadows that persist even at high altitudes, beech forests covering a quarter of the territory, and a complex karst system of caves and underground rivers.

Aralar holds a cultural and archaeological heritage of considerable significance: dolmens, burial mounds, monoliths, cromlechs and archaeological sites that make it a landmark in the history and culture of Euskal Herria. Mountain pastures have supported centuries of livestock farming closely tied to the production of Idiazabal cheese. The park has two interpretation centres: Parketxe Lizarrusti, at the southern entrance, and the Barandiaran Museum in Ataun.