Mundaka (Bizkaia)

Mundaka is a small fishing village in Bizkaia, on the left (west) bank of the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary, 2.4 km in a straight line from Bermeo. It is best known for its surf: a long, hollow left-hand wave off the river mouth that the Basque tourism board ranks among the ten best in the world. You get there by Euskotren train (line E4 Bilbao – Bermeo) or Bizkaibus from Bilbao and Gernika, or by car. Come for the harbour, the Santa Catalina headland and, if you surf well, the wave; skip it if you want a big sandy town beach, or a beginner wave.

Quick facts

• Names: Mundaka is the official Basque name; in Spanish it is traditionally Mundaca (English Wikipedia). People from the village are mundakarras in Basque.
• Where: 48360 Mundaka, Bizkaia (Basque Country), inside the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
• Coordinates: 43.4080, -2.6985 (the harbour, OpenStreetMap).
• Size: 4.20 km², 1,878 residents (Basque tourism board). English Wikipedia says the population rises five-fold in summer.
• The wave: a left-hand river-mouth wave that can hold up to 4 m, for advanced surfers only (Basque tourism board).
• Village beach: Laidatxu, small, fine golden sand, about 350 m south of the harbour.
• Entry: free.

Access and parking

By train: Mundaka station is on the Euskotren E4 line between Bilbao and Bermeo, about 300 m from the harbour (OpenStreetMap).

By bus: OpenStreetMap shows Bizkaibus stops on Goiko kalea and on the bypass, served by line A3515 Bilbao – Amorebieta – Gernika – Bermeo. We could not open the Bizkaibus timetable, so check frequencies before you travel.

By car: Mundaka borders Bermeo to the west and Sukarrieta (Pedernales) to the south (English Wikipedia); follow the signs from Gernika or Bermeo. OpenStreetMap maps several small car parks around the old village, near the station and above Laidatxu beach, one of them tagged free; a multi-storey car park in the centre is marked private. We found no official parking information. The old centre has narrow streets, and in summer and on good surf days spaces are hard to find, so the train is the easier choice.

By boat: in summer a ferry crosses the estuary from Mundaka to the Laida beach on the other bank (Basque tourism board). OpenStreetMap places the boat stop near Laidatxu beach. We could not confirm the 2026 timetable or fare.

What to expect

The Basque tourism board describes a picturesque fishing village whose harbour is the centre of town. Around it are the municipal library, a former pilgrims’ hospital on the Camino de Santiago, the town hall, the Renaissance-style church of Santa María and the Larrinaga palace. English Wikipedia notes that fishing has almost disappeared and the economy now runs on summer tourism, with about two dozen bars, eight restaurants, three hotels and a campsite.

About 330 m north of the harbour is the Santa Catalina chapel, on a small headland by the sea. From here you look across the mouth of the estuary to Cabo Ogoño and the island of Izaro. The estuary itself is part of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, with wide salt marshes and about 12 km of sandbanks that shelter thousands of migrating birds.

The wave. The Basque tourism board calls Mundaka one of the ten best waves in the world: a very tubular, very long left that needs special conditions and is suitable only for highly skilled surfers. Because it sits at the mouth of the Gernika estuary, the sandy bottom shifts during the year. English Wikipedia explains that the estuary builds a sandbar that shapes the wave, that you can watch it from the harbour wall, and that Mundaka used to host a stop of the world surfing championship tour. On a small or flat day there may be no wave at all, so check a surf forecast before you make the trip for it.

Practical details

• Laidatxu beach: lifeguards from 11:00 to 20:00 in summer; public toilets, showers, drinking fountains, a beach bar, surf lessons, a campsite and parking nearby (Basque tourism board, checked November 2026). The board rates the water quality as very good and recommends it for families with children.
• Tourist office: Joseba Deuna s/n, tel. +34 946 177 201, open all year. Easter and 1 July to 31 August: daily 10:00–15:00 and 16:00–19:00. May, June, September and October: Monday to Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–18:00, Sundays and holidays 10:00–15:00. November to April: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–14:00 (Basque tourism board, checked November 2026). Dogs are allowed.
• Fiestas: San Pedro at the end of June; the Euskal Jaia, a Basque folk festival, on the last weekend of August; and the carnival, when locals dress as atorrak (men) and lamiak (women).

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

For a beach day, come in summer, when Laidatxu has lifeguards and the ferry to Laida runs. For surf, English Wikipedia says the season extends into autumn, when surfers arrive after the summer crowds. Carnival Sunday and the last weekend of August are the busiest festival days.

Nearby alternatives

• Bermeo, 2.4 km away: the larger fishing port next door, at the end of the E4 line.
• Isla de Izaro, 2.2 km away: the island you see from the Santa Catalina headland.
• San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, 8.3 km away: the hermitage on a rock island reached by a long stairway.
• Bilbao, 24.6 km away: the city at the other end of the train line.

Distances are in a straight line from Mundaka harbour.

FAQ

How do I get to Mundaka from Bilbao?

Take the Euskotren E4 train towards Bermeo and get off at Mundaka, or the Bizkaibus A3515, which runs via Gernika to Bermeo. By car, follow the signs from Gernika or Bermeo.

Is Mundaka good for beginner surfers?

Not the famous wave: the Basque tourism board says it is suitable only for highly skilled surfers. Surf lessons are offered at Laidatxu beach.

Is there parking in Mundaka?

There are several small car parks around the village and near the station, but no official information. In summer and on good surf days, the train is easier.

Can you swim in Mundaka?

Yes, at Laidatxu, a small beach of fine sand with lifeguards from 11:00 to 20:00 in summer. In summer a ferry also crosses to the larger Laida beach.

What is there to see in Mundaka?

The harbour, the Renaissance-style church of Santa María, the Larrinaga palace and the Santa Catalina chapel on the headland, with views over the estuary to Izaro.

Sources and freshness