Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa – Hill Town and Vineyards on the GR® 38 Route

Walled streets, vineyard landscapes, and the approach to the Cantabrian foothills

Laguardia stands on a low hill in Rioja Alavesa along the GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route, rising above a patchwork of vineyards that define one of northern Spain’s most distinctive agricultural landscapes. Walking into the town, the route leaves the open plains near Oyón-Oion and begins a gradual transition toward the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, where cultivated terrain gives way to upland routes further north.

The town is enclosed by medieval walls and narrow stone streets that reflect its strategic and agricultural past. Beneath the historic centre lies a network of underground wine cellars carved into the rock, while surrounding slopes are planted with vineyards stretching toward the horizon. From the hilltop, wide views extend across Rioja Alavesa to the Sierra de Toloño ridge rising to the north.

Approaching Laguardia, the GR® 38 follows vineyard tracks and quiet rural roads, creating steady and scenic walking through productive countryside. The combination of open skies, cultivated land, and distant mountain backdrops gives this section of the route a strong sense of scale and continuity.

Laguardia provides a full range of services for walkers. Accommodation, cafés, food shops, and visitor facilities make it a practical overnight stop before the route climbs toward the Cantabrian foothills and the quieter landscapes beyond.

Leaving Laguardia, the route continues north toward the Sierra de Toloño and the Treviño enclave, where the landscape begins to rise and the character of the journey shifts from vineyard country to upland terrain.