Inland trade routes linking wine country, mountains, and the Bay of Biscay
From the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa to the Atlantic harbours of Bizkaia, the GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route traces an historic inland-to-coast corridor across the Basque Country. For centuries, muleteers travelled this route carrying wine north to the coast and returning inland with fish, shaping a cultural and economic exchange that still defines the character of the journey today.
Walking the GR® 38 is defined by progression through distinct landscapes rather than a single dominant terrain. The route begins among vineyard plains and wine villages before climbing gradually into the Cantabrian foothills. Limestone ridges, woodland slopes, and mountain passes create a more rugged stage as the trail crosses Urkiola Natural Park, where peaks rise sharply above pasture and forest.
Beyond the mountains, the route descends into valleys and rural Bizkaia before reaching the Urdaibai estuary, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where wetlands, tidal flats, and birdlife signal the approach to the sea. The final stages follow shoreline paths to the fishing port of Bermeo, where the Atlantic horizon marks the completion of the journey.
Walking here is shaped by contrast and continuity. Vineyard tracks give way to forest paths, mountain trails to valley lanes, and estuary shorelines to coastal paths. The sense of progress comes not only from distance travelled but from the visible transition between landscapes, climates, and ways of life.
Human presence feels embedded within the route’s purpose. Medieval towns, sanctuaries, farmsteads, and fishing ports appear naturally along the way, reflecting the historic movement of goods and culture between inland communities and the coast.
One of the defining features of the GR® 38 is its environmental and cultural diversity. The route crosses agricultural plains, protected mountain landscapes, and internationally significant wetlands, offering a continuous narrative shaped by geology, ecology, and regional identity.
The appeal of the GR® 38 lies in its sense of journey. It is a route that rewards walkers seeking cultural depth as much as scenery, linking landscapes, heritage, and maritime tradition across one of northern Spain’s most varied regions.
Trail Overview
Distance
Approximately 90 miles / 145 km
Typical time on foot
6–8 days
Start
Oyón-Oion, Rioja Alavesa
Finish
Bermeo, Bizkaia
Terrain
Vineyard tracks, rural lanes, foothill paths, mountain trails, forest tracks, valley roads, estuary paths, and coastal routes