Formed from the estuary at the mouth of the Basque Country's Oka River, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Urdaibai Reserva de la Biosfera) is an important habitat for migratory and resident birds. Urdaibai also boasts some of the most popular beaches in the region, and several archeological sites—such as Cave Santimamiñe, with its ancient paintings—that are worth visiting.
Visit the Urdaibai Bird Center to learn about the significance of the Urdaibai estuary, and view herons, ducks, wader birds, and more from the center’s observatories. Beachgoers won’t want to miss the picturesque sandbars along Laida Beach, or the scenic cliffs of Peñón de Ogoño from Laga Beach. The hermitage of San Miguel de Ereñozar, the Caves of Santimamiñe, and the Painted Forest of Oma are also popular attractions in the reserve.
The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve is set on the Bay of Biscay between Bilbao and San Sebastián, and comprises a wide range of ecosystems in over 85 square miles (220 square kilometers). Within the reserve, the Urdaibai Bird Center is located in Gautegiz Arteaga on the east bank of the Oka River. The area is most easily explored by car, but is accessible via public bus from Bilbao or San Sebastián.
At the reserve, the Urdaibai Bird Center is open daily in July and August, with limited hours the rest of the year; you can see birds year-round, but spring and fall are the best time for migratory birds. July and August are also the busiest times at the beach, but if you visit in June or September you’ll find fewer crowds while still enjoying pleasant weather.
Just a 10-minute drive from the Urdaibai Bird Center, the Painted Forest of Oma in one of the area’s top family-friendly attractions. A work of art by Basque sculptor and painter, Agustín Ibarrola, the Oma Forest features hundreds of pine trees painted with colors and lines that form figures and animals when viewed from afar. The forest paintings change shape depending on the path you take and whichever way you look.