Faro de Higuer: Hondarribia Lighthouse in Basque Country Spain

There are not many ‘sights’ in Hondarribia, Spain, but one landmark that is a must-see is the Hondarribia Lighthouse: Faro de Higuer. The historic lighthouse marks the most northeastern point of Spain on the Atlantic coast.

Built in the late 1800s, Faro de Higuer (or Cape Higuer Lighthouse) stands 69-feet on the Bay of Biscay. Through the years, the light inside has been fueled by oil, petroleum and electricity and can be seen more than 25 miles away. 

 

Getting to Hondarribia Lighthouse: Faro de Higuer

Although there was limited information about getting to Faro de Higuer, we surmised that it was possible to walk to the lighthouse from the center of Hondarribia. The free map from the TI that we picked up had a picture of a lighthouse on it with an arrow indicating the general direction, but since the location was cut off the map, we couldn’t tell how far it was from the center of town.

We decided to make an adventure out of finding Faro de Higuer. After having lunch at the Marina, which is already on the north end of town, we decided to set out in search of the Hondarribia Lighthouse.

We walked around the sandy beach and then past the fishing port. The road split: the road to the right kept going straight out to sea, the one to the left started a steep incline that seemed to curve back around. We took a guess that Faro de Higuer was not at the end of the road to the right, we opted to take the one on the left. 

The sidewalk quickly disappeared and we were left to walk on the side of the road, but the cars were few and far between. The hairpin curves took us past homes and barking dogs, where we were surrounded by trees and cooled by the shade. Between the tree branches, we caught glimpses of the blue water of the ocean below.

We finally came to a clearing and – ta-da! – there was the Hondarribia Faro de Higuer Lighthouse! We started to walk up to it, but quickly realized it was not open to the public and, it seemed, it was actually a private residence complete with a garden. 

However, a path to the left of the lighthouse led us past two restaurants and then continued down closer to the water where the views were simply outstanding.

Before we headed back down to town, we had a celebratory We-found-the-Hondarribia-Lighthouse!! drink at the second, more rustic restaurant, La Cabaña. The walk back to town seemed to be much quicker than getting there (it usually does if you know where you are going). The short jaunt to Faro de Higuer was remarkably beautiful and a pleasurable walk outside of the main town of Hondarribia.

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Map of Hondarribia Lighthouse Walk

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Planning a Trip to Hondarribia, Spain

We have some more advice and a few additional travel tips as you plan your trip to Hondarribia, in the Basque Country of Spain.

 

Where To Stay in Hondarribia

During our visit to Hondarribia, we stayed at the Hotel San Nikolas. However, there are several Hondarribia hotels to choose from in – or close to – the city center. We share heaps of tips for finding affordable accommodations in our article, Best Hotels for Cheap. 

For longer stays in Hondarribia, we suggest staying in a vacation rental. We have found that short-term apartments are often less expensive than hotel rooms – with the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space. But, always check the total price, as those pesky fees can really add up! Hondarribia holiday apartments can be found on Airbnb or Booking.com.

 

What To Pack for Hondarribia

Travelers planning on navigating to sights in Hondarribia on foot will want to pack a pair of lightweight and comfortable Travel Shoes for the trip.

Rather than relying on your phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for high quality photos. We travel with a Canon Rebel,which takes amazing photos and is a great budget camera.

Of course, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and hat – as well as a great day bag to organize all of your essential everyday travel items!

Lastly, if you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip to Spain, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.

Need a packing checklist? Get your FREE downloadable checklist!

 

Hondarribia and Spain Travel Tips

Hondarribia and the Basque Region are superb Spain Destinations – and there is so much more to see, do and eat! 

We share our top advice for what to eat in our article, Best Pintxos in Hondarribia. 

Looking for more regional travel tips? Use our 3-Day Basque Itinerary for ideas on where to go and what to see. Our outlined itinerary includes San Sebastian (and features where to eat San Sebastian Pintxos – as well as the hiking route to Mount Urgull. 

Visiting other prime places on your Itinerary for Spain? We’ve got you covered with our detailed guides to Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville!

 

Organize Your Hondarribia Trip

When planning a trip to Hondarribia and Basque Country, organization is key! Use our Printable Travel Planner to keep track of the details as you make your plans!

 

Looking for more Travel Planning Tips? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for our complete packing list and other travel resources!

 

 

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