Pintxos: bites with soul. Folk art and Basque flavor on the Camino.

Bertsolaris, Dantzaris, Tamborradas… and much more

Traveling the Camino del Norte is like entering a dreamy landscape.
Between the sea and the mountains, every town in the Basque Country breathes rhythm, song, and community.
Here music is not a spectacle: it is memory, resistance and pride .
Sing together, play together, dance together.
Basque music is a language of its own, made of wood, stone and voices.

For centuries, when Basque was persecuted, song and dance kept the language alive .
Today they remain a way of saying: we are still here .
It is no coincidence that the Basques humorously say: “Three Basques, one choir.”

Bertsolaritza: sung poetry and improvised soul

Bertsolaris are poets who improvise verses sung in Basque.
In front of an audience, and based on a theme or challenge, they immediately compose their verses: wit, emotion and rhythm.
There's no script or trickery, just talent and connection with people.

The origins of bertsolaritza date back to the countryside, when stories were told through singing at fairs or taverns.
During the dictatorship, it was a refuge and cultural resistance.
Today, it is a symbol of identity and living art: championships fill squares and theaters, and the bars of Gipuzkoa continue to be its natural setting.

Where to experience it:
Donostia, Zarautz, Getaria, Hondarribia—during summer festivals or local championships.
Every four years, the National Bertsolaris Championship is held, a true tribute to the Basque language.

Dantzaris: the body that speaks in rhythm

Basque dances are not decoration, they are ceremony.
The dantzaris keep alive choreographies that have been danced for centuries: the Aurresku , the Dantzari Dantza , the sword dances.
Every step, every jump, has its story.

The sound of the txistu (flute) and the drum guide the movements; white costumes, red sashes, and colored ribbons complete the scene.
Once rituals of fertility or protection, today they are a form of unity and local pride.

Where to experience it:

During the patron saint festivals of almost all the towns in the Basque Country: Bilbao , Durango , Abadiño , Zarautz or during the Aste Nagusia (Big Week) in Donostia, in August.
In the squares, amidst cider, music, and applause, the tradition continues to dance.

Tamborrada: the roar of a united people

On January 20 , Donostia is transformed.
At midnight, the beating of drums marks the beginning of 24 hours of noise, rhythm, and collective joy.
The Tamborrada is the most intense festival in the Basque Country: more than 15,000 San Sebastian residents , dressed as cooks and soldiers, march through the streets playing the San Sebastian Anthem in unison.

What began as a mockery of Napoleon's armies became a celebration of identity and resilience .
On that day, no one is a spectator: everyone is part of the same drum.

Where to experience it:

• Donostia / San Sebastián , January 20.
  Constitution Square is the heart of the festival, where the flag is raised and everything begins.
• In summer, smaller versions resonate in Bilbao , Zarautz , Hondarribia and Getaria .
  

Many sounds, one song

The Basque Country has one of the richest musical traditions in Europe.
Singing and playing is a way of being in community:

• Ochotes (male choirs in Bilbao)
• Trikitixa (diatonic accordion that livens up every pilgrimage)
• Txalaparta (wooden instrument played by two people)
• Txistu and Alboka , flutes that have been playing for centuries

The nights of Santa Águeda are pure folklore: the neighbors sing door to door, wearing costumes and carrying lanterns.
At Christmas, children follow Olentzero singing old songs.
And in bars, choirs emerge from nowhere, without a stage, without microphones.
Here music is not consumed: it is shared.

From traditional to contemporary

The Basque musical tradition did not stop in the past.
Artists such as Mikel Laboa , Benito Lertxundi and Oskorri mixed poetry, folk and protest, creating a sound that remains profoundly Basque.

Festivals such as Heineken Jazzaldia (Donostia) or BBK Live (Bilbao) demonstrate that Basque music evolves without losing its roots.

The trikitixa , the txalaparta and the voices of the choirs coexist with electric guitars and synthesizers.
It's all part of the same sonic DNA: emotion, collectivity, truth.

Where and when to experience Basque music on the Camino del Norte

One soul

Bertsolaris, dantzaris, tamborreros... three different ways of saying the same thing:
Music is the heart of the Basque Country. It is resistance and celebration, memory and the present. And if you walk the Northern Way , you won't just see it: it will captivate you . Because here, between sea and mountains, the rhythm doesn't come from a stage, but from something deeper: the people, their language, their land.

When you walk the Northern Way along the Basque coast, there's one tradition that never goes unnoticed. It's pure life, pure folklore in motion: Herri Kirolak , the "people's sports." Competitions of strength, skill, and community pride are a living reflection of the Basque countryside, its people, and our unique way of understanding work and life.

Origin and history

The Herri Kirolak were born from real work, from everyday life in the farms and at sea: chopping wood, lifting stones, mowing grass, pulling loads, pulling ropes. At the end of the work or during village festivals, what was once labor became a challenge: who cuts the fastest? Who lifts the most weight? Who can endure the longest? Thus, amid laughter, sweat, and txakoli, local heroes were born, along with a tradition that still beats strong today.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these challenges were already a fixture of fairs and pilgrimages. Industrialization didn't erase them; on the contrary, it turned them into symbols of identity and resilience. Today, the Herri Kirolak are still present, with championships, festivals, and exhibitions that connect new generations with the irrepressible spirit of the Basque Country .

The main disciplines

• Aizkolaritza (log cutting): The aizkolaris use axe in hand to cut through enormous logs with force and precision.
• Stone lifting: true titans lift blocks weighing more than 200 kilos in the shape of a cube, sphere, or cylinder.
• Txinga eramatea (weight carrying): walk as far as possible carrying a weight in each hand.
• Lasto altxatzea (lifting bales): repeatedly lifting bales of straw with a pulley to the sky.
• Tug-of-war: a team sport with ancient roots; it remains a staple at almost every festival.
• Idi probak (oxen trials): the animals drag large stones, demonstrating strength, understanding and patience.

And although it's sometimes forgotten, Basque pelota and rowing regattas are also part of this sporting landscape of sea and mountains. They all share the same values: effort, tenacity, collective pride, and respect for the land.

The best villages on the Northern Way to see Herri Kirolak

These villages aren't chosen at random. They're the ones that keep tradition alive, where the times are etched in the festival calendar and the sound of the axe or the rope is part of summer. Here's your direct and verified guide on where and when to experience them properly:

Donostia / San Sebastián

The beating heart of the Herri Kirolak. During Semana Grande (Big Week) (mid-August), the squares and beaches become a brutal stage: log-cutting, stone-lifting, bales in the air, and rope-pulling that thrill the audience.
It's not limited to summer: there are professional exhibitions and open competitions throughout the year.

Getaria

Here, the Herri Kirolak are sacred. During the San Salvador Festival (the first week of August), the town square and the port fill with aizkolaris (bullfighters), harrijasotzailes (bullfighters), and oxen at work. Also on San Pedro (June 29) and San Antón (January 17), the town once again beats to the rhythm of exertion.

Zarautz

Sand, sea, and strength. In summer and during the patron saint festivals (June to August), the beaches and central square are filled with open-air exhibitions. Zarautz is a pure coastal spectacle: sport, tradition, and a crowd that cheers like it's the Champions League final.

Bilbao (Old Town and Basque Fest)

The Bilbao Basque Fest (April) is a must-see: several days of workshops, competitions, and demonstrations that blend strength and culture.
During the summer, the neighborhoods of the Old Town celebrate their own festivals, and there's always room for rural sports.

Markina-Xemein

Land of Basque pelota (jai alai), but also of brute force. At its fairs and festivals, stones fly and aizkolaris fight like they did in the old days. Pure tradition.

Hondarribia

In September, the Hondarribia Festival combines the spirit of the sea with rural strength. The Herri Kirolak events are interspersed with regattas and fishing celebrations. The setting: a beautiful village where the scent of the sea and freshly cut wood fills the air.

Deba and Gernika

Both represent the essence of the most authentic rural sport. In Deba, the summer festivals feature classic events: cutting, lifting, and dragging.
In Gernika, the Monday Market and other local festivities are the best showcase for the champions of the effort.

Of all the stops, Donostia, Getaria, Zarautz, Bilbao, and Hondarribia are the most reliable and vibrant places to immerse yourself in this unique Basque tradition.

Tips from the Camino

• When: Between June and October , coinciding with the patron saint's day festivities; August and April are the peak months in the cities.
• Where: in squares , ports , beaches , and fairs. Ask at the tourist office about the “ Herri Kirolak ” program.
• How to: Most are free and open to the public , but arrive early if you want to see more than just the shoulders of the people in front of you. Some towns even offer workshops so you can try your hand at wood splitting or rock lifting (with supervision, of course).
  

Why the Herri Kirolak matter

Because they're not just sports. They're a celebration of who we are: of effort, of community, of the pride of a people who learned to live off their land and sea. Seeing them, hearing the sharp blow of the axe on the tree trunk, or the shout of encouragement during a tug-of-war, is to understand something essential about the Basque Country .

So if you do the Camino del Norte, set aside a day to experience it. You don't need to understand the rules. Just look, listen, and feel. It's powerful, it's exciting, and it's, without a doubt, the most Basque thing you'll see on the entire Camino .

Castro Urdiales, July 5, 2025 – WAYS, the pioneering digital platform for regenerative tourism on the Camino de Santiago, officially presents the new Northern Coastal Way module within its WAYS Journeys app.

This launch represents a decisive step toward improving the pilgrim experience on one of the most spectacular and challenging routes of the Camino, while also boosting the local economy and cultural cohesion in the communities that travel it.

The project has had the strategic support of the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago , as well as the active collaboration of the Association of Pilgrims for Cantabria and the Group of Associations of the Northern Routes , ensuring a shared vision and strong territorial roots.

WAYS had already demonstrated the potential of its application on the French Way, and is now scaling its technology to meet the specific needs of travelers on the Northern Coastal Way, integrating innovations such as:

• Advanced planning and navigation system with customizable routes, the ability to choose between alternatives and forks.
• Geolocalized and multilingual cultural content (Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian) to enrich the international traveler's experience.
• E-commerce platform for local products and experiences that connects pilgrims with producers and artisans from the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia.
• Blockchain-based Pilgrim Tokens , which are earned by walking and connecting with culture and communities and reward hospitality and sustainable practices.
• Crowdfunding of local projects , which allows pilgrims to directly support accessibility, heritage conservation, and living culture initiatives.
  

This launch also coincides with a symbolic year: the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Northern Routes as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO , a milestone that reinforces the importance of preserving and revitalizing this historic and cultural route.

“The Northern Coastal Way is a cultural and natural gem that deserved a specific effort to digitize and promote it,” said María Parga , WAYS spokesperson. “With this module, we are not only making the route more accessible and contributing to its international promotion, but we are also demonstrating the scalability of WAYS to other Cultural Routes around the world.”

For his part, Valeriano Teja Oruña , president of the Northern Ways Associations Group , emphasized: “This new WAYS module helps us show the world the richness of our territories and ensure that pilgrims have an authentic, sustainable experience that is deeply connected to our communities.”

WAYS invites pilgrims, associations, and lovers of the Camino de Santiago to discover the new module by downloading the WAYS Journeys app and joining a conscious, inclusive, and regenerative tourism model.

Those who walk the Northern Coastal Route experience a constant dialogue between two titanic forces: the Cantabrian Sea and the challenging mountains of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de Europa. Nowhere else on the peninsula do the blue of the Atlantic and the gray of the limestone embrace with such closeness and drama. From San Vicente de la Barquera, the horizon changes, and the traveler begins to perceive how the peaks rise, marking the pace and identity of the route.

The Picos de Europa dominate the Asturian-Cantabrian landscape like a fortress of stone and greenery. They are the mineral heart of the mountain range and offer pilgrims breathtaking views, vertiginous canyons, and trails that challenge both body and soul. The Northern Way always advances guided by their distant profile, forging a path that seems to seek the exact balance between the salty breeze and the mountain freshness.

But those who walk through the North discover that the journey has beautiful and legendary detours that lead into the mountainous interior. One of them, steeped in symbolism and beauty, is the pilgrimage to Covadonga , a sacred enclave in the heart of the Picos de Europa. The Holy Cave and the Royal Basilica of Covadonga not only offer contemplation and legend: they are a destination for pilgrims seeking the spiritual center of Asturias, the origin of the Jacobean faith, and the gateway to the deepest mountain landscapes.

From the coastal route, ancient paths branch out, such as the Camino Lebaniego , which winds through gorges and valleys to cross the very Cantabrian Hermida and reach the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana. There, the pilgrim encounters the history and solitude of the heights; the meadows of Tudanca goats and cows, the blue cheeses, and the livestock fairs, all under the influence of the sacred mountain. The Camino Primitivo , meanwhile, heads inland from Oviedo, crossing rock passes, hidden villages, and solitary landscapes, following in the footsteps of the first true pilgrim in search of Santiago.

The Cantabrian Mountains , the source of climate and culture, define the character of the route, the flavor of the products, the strength of the travelers, and the topography of each stage. Here, the mountains are not just landscapes: they are living cultures, shaping agricultural and livestock life, rural festivals, and traditional cuisine for millennia. They teach hikers the importance of observing the weather, respecting the terrain, and allowing themselves to be surprised by the local hospitality.

Thus, the Northern Coastal Route, in constant dialogue with other mountain routes, is a path between the sea and the mountains: it unites the sound of the waves with the mystery of the peaks and legendary destinations, invites you to stray and lose yourself among canyons and hills, and reveals the profound fusion that magnifies the soul of the North.

Here, every detour is an adventure and a learning experience; every arrival is a pause and amazement.