Markina-Xemein
Camino de Santiago stage town on Camino del Norte
Markina-Xemein ends one of the hardest days on the Camino del Norte: the 24 km mountain stage from Deba, which leaves the coast behind, climbs past Olatz (the last bar of the day) and the Arnoate hills into Bizkaia, and finishes with a steep, often slippery descent into the Artibai valley. The arrows bring you in through the Arretxinaga quarter, past the Barroeta tower, to the hexagonal chapel of San Miguel de Arretxinaga, rebuilt in 1741 around three huge boulders that lean together to form a shrine for the archangel; local lore says a young man who crawls under them three times will marry within the year. Across the bridges over the Urko, the compact old town — founded as a villa in the 14th century — has the Gothic-Renaissance church of Santa María de la Asunción, the Baroque Solartekua (Mugartegui) palace that now houses the town hall, the Antxia tower and the Carmelite convent. Markina is also famous for its fronton, nicknamed the 'University of Pelota' for the generations of cesta punta (jai alai) players it has produced. The pilgrim albergue sits behind the Carmelite convent next to the town hall: about 40 bunks in dorms of 12 and 16, run by volunteer hospitaleros of the Bizkaia association, donation-based with a minimum contribution, no reservations, credential required, open from 15:00 with checkout before 8:00, and open roughly spring to mid-October. There is no kitchen, only a microwave and fridge. Next day's stage to Gernika is gentler, but have breakfast in Markina: the bars in Iruzubieta may still be closed, and the next sure stop is Bolibar, ancestral home of Simón Bolívar, before the climb to the Zenarruza collegiate monastery.
- 87 kmfrom route start
- 94 mElevation
- 2 · 1albergues · hotels
- 21.9 kmfrom Deba
- 23.5 kmto Gernika
Highlights
- End of the tough 24 km mountain stage from Deba — carry water and food, few services en route
- San Miguel de Arretxinaga: a hexagonal 1741 chapel built around three giant leaning boulders
- The 'University of Pelota' fronton, cradle of cesta punta (jai alai) players
- Donation albergue behind the Carmelite convent (about 40 bunks, no reservations, credential required)
- Breakfast here before leaving — next reliable stop is Bolibar, on the way to Zenarruza and Gernika
Albergues in Markina-Xemein
Hotels & guesthouses in Markina-Xemein
- Albergue Augusto & Daughter guesthouse
Lodging names from OpenStreetMap; check availability before you walk.
Stages through Markina-Xemein
Nearby towns
Nearby stages
Frequently asked questions
Where can I stay in Markina-Xemein?
2 albergues and 1 hotel in Markina-Xemein.
How far is Markina-Xemein from Deba?
21.9 km from Deba, 23.5 km to Gernika on the Camino del Norte.