Txindoki

View to the east from Txindoki

The main and most popular access point is from the neighbourhood Larraitz (Basque pronunciation: [la'raits]). From Alegia (N-1) the minor road GI-3670 that switches to the GI-2133 in the last stretch reaches Larraitz in about 15 minutes; alternatively, it can be reached by taking the GI-2133 starting in Ordizia (N-1 E-05 E-80), taking about the same time. Larraitz, lying at 403 m (943 m below the summit), harbours the long picnic area and car park Zamao, with a couple of café-restaurants (former farmhouses) and a hermitage (17th century) all surrounded by gentle fields.

From the southern end of the area, a broad dust track heads south-west, forking shortly afterwards with the left hand track leading to Txindoki. The broad track peters out into a beaten trail that turns east at the lower end of the crest (15 min). Next, it cuts its way straight across the southern side of the mountain along a pine tree plantation on the right till the spring Oria is reached at a sharp bend. After some zigzag and steep slopes heading south-west (1h00), the huts of Zirigarate are reached, which stand on a hollow. From Zirigarate, the trail heads east to the col of Egurral (1,152 m), the last milestone before the final struggle to the summit largely through karst terrain (1h45). On sunny Sundays of Summer and Spring people walk in droves to the top. Breathtaking scenery from the peak all over Gipuzkoa and Aralar on a clear day. The summit is covered with small memorials and a postbox for hikers.

Amezketa at the foot, the Hernio massif to the far left, the Oria valley and Donostia in the distance

Alternatively, the hard way up can be taken at the spring Oria by heading east out of the main trail through a tough grassy slope that ends up at the col of Egurral.

Another option consists of starting off from Larraitz with a view to ascending through the northern wild valley of Muitze, unknown to most hikers. This time the same track may be followed in the beginning for a convenient and gentle stroll, until a winding slope is overcome some minutes before the turning of the crest (milestone Gazteraztegi, 520 m). There a broad track sets off back in the opposite direction, going up until it gets to an aerial at Urtzabal goikoa (610 m). Alternatively, a short-cut heads up cross-country straight on to the aerial from Larraitz, so gaining height in little time but with some effort. Right before the final slope to the aerial, a narrow path bounds south-east on the left into the tough and vertical valley carved by the stream Muitze (waterfalls on the way). The trail snakes out of the forest to the right and crosses the stream at the point where the forest landscape gives way to grassland. After overcoming the rocks, the stream must be crossed again to the right. A trail on the steep slopes on the right leads to the hut Txindoki and an orchard that provided the current name to the mountain. Legend has it, close to this place the mythological character/goddess Mari dwells in a crack on the rock (Marizulo). By clinging to the steep path, the pass of Egurral is reached (1h45).