You are planning your next vacation on the South Atlantic coast and you do not know or where to camp in the Basque Country nor how to find the best campsite in the Basque Country by the sea.
Le Pays Basque which is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees offers varied and magnificent landscapes, a rich terroir, a great cultural and identity heritage and of course magnificent beaches bordering the ocean with spots renowned for the practice of surfing.
As much to say to you that in a region as rich as it is beautiful, the choice of a campsite depends on your desires and your style of vacation. Indeed, you will not choose the same campsite if you are a surfer or if you are a hiker or if you have young children ...
Well, if like me you like:
- go sightseeing,
- go on beautiful hikes,
- taste the terroir, the gastronomy and the wines,
- but also spend time doing nothing on the beach,
- and take care of yourself (spa, massages, balneotherapy ...),
here are all the steps that allowed me to find the best campsite in the Basque Country by the sea which corresponded exactly to my desires and expectations.
To be honest with you, as I don't like to follow with closed eyes the recommendations of the famous “special camping” guides and other rankings on the Internet which are sometimes the result of hidden remunerations, I took the time to do my own research and comparisons. This is all that I am sharing in this article.
Campsite Basque Country by the sea - Why?
Why did I choose to stay in the Basque Country in a seaside campsite rather than in a waterfront hotel ?
Well, as in this 1st period of good weather, I wanted to enjoy a great sun, to be in the heart of nature, to be able to have lunch outside with the singing birds and above all to have the " feet in the water ”… there was no question of locking me in an apartment or in a hotel!
It was not the question of the budget that guided me towards this choice because I had been able to find promotions in hotels rather attractive (apart from Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz) ... but I had felt that I definitely wanted an outdoor vacation and therefore camping.
2 or 1 campsite in the Basque Country?
Should you choose 1 single campsite for your holidays on the Basque coast or choose 2 to be able to better explore the region? The question does not arise when making a tourist circuit in the Basque Country or when you have 2 weeks of leave and you can thus share the stay between the south of the Basque coast next to Spain and the North to get closer to the Landes coast...
But for my short week's vacation, as I wanted to explore the Basque Country while enjoying a "lazy" stay, I didn't want to spend 3 days here and 4 days there at all!
So I preferred to look for a place where I could settle down for the whole week and from where we can shine to easily visit for the day and have the most beautiful beaches of the Basque Coast.
Where to choose your Basque Country campsite by the sea?
Here is the most delicate question: to choose between North part ou South of the Basque Coast for its seaside campsite.
In fact, it is difficult to choose compared to the beaches. Indeed, whatever the place chosen on the 35 kilometers of the Basque Coast, there are bound to be magnificent beaches (long golden sand beaches, rocky coves, surf spots…).
So I have the location of my campsite in relation to the beauty of the site (typical Basque villages, unspoiled nature, beautiful beaches) but also in relation to the possibilities for hiking and tourist discoveries all around.
Basque Country campsite in Bidart
In the end, it's up to Bidard that I decided to choose my campsite by the sea.
Charming little seaside resort, Bidart has been labeled by the French Surf Federation as Surf City. But with its 6 beaches stretching over 5 km, there are magnificent beaches for all tastes and not just for surfers ...
Its typical village has kept all its authenticity and can be proud to display its Basque cultural identity.
In addition, a hike on the Coastal Path which starts from Bidart and goes to San Sebastian, allows you to discover the most beautiful panorama of the Atlantic Ocean, mountains, cliffs and small villages of the Basque coast. Starting from Erretegia beach in Bidart, this trail passes through wild beaches, small coves, the corniche and the superb port of Guéthary via the large Basque corniche ...
Basque Country campsite by the sea - How to choose it?
To avoid too much crowding and noise, to choose my campsite in Bidart, so I looked for "small village" style campsites and unearthed on the Booking platform a very good plan which would allow me to be very calm while being right next to the beach.
For that, I had to choose between all the offers of outdoor hostels on Bidart, only those that corresponded to my critères de sélection below:
The comfort of the mobile home
And yes, if I make concessions on a road trip since we arrive late
in the evening and that we leave very early in the morning, on the other hand when I am on vacation, there I favor above all comfort because I know that I will enjoy it for several days ...
And when I speak of comfort, it is always a nice setting, excellent equipment, a charming terrace with lounge chair to enjoy long naps, good bedding with quality mattresses, air conditioning (essential in summer) and a good WIRELESS !!! This is precisely what I was able to find in the Sunissim Erreka campsite which I will describe to you later.
Good services and facilities
In terms of campsite services, I attach particular importance to campsite restaurant ! This one must offer fresh products with also varied dishes. Suffice to say that I rule out all the campsites that only have a pizzeria or a fast food! Without asking for the gourmet restaurant, I appreciate the good restaurant which allows to end (or start) an evening in style.
Secondly, come all the activities related to well-being (Jacuzzi, balneotherapy, aquagym, yoga ...) which are for me really the little extras of a good camping.
The activities of the campsite
For those who have children, this point is very important quite simply because the pool games, sports facilities, water parks, competitions and foam parties will contribute to the success of their holidays.
Personally, this is really not a priority criterion. However, I prefer that there be enough entertainment and places provided for children because, in fact, they do not play between the alleys of the campsite which preserves the tranquility of the "childless" !!!
The safety of the campsite
Ah, here I imagine that you have a mocking smile and you are surely thinking: “oh another coward who sees danger everywhere…”.
Well no, I don't have psychosis (I did Colombia in backpack !!!) but when I want to relax and let go, I don't want to think about closing the windows just in case, checking if the trunk of the car is properly closed or collecting the towels before going to bed ... Therefore for me, the fact that I can relax with peace of mind is also one of my conditions for selecting a good campsite in the Basque Country.
Which Basque Country campsite by the sea?
A little away from the multitude of tourists from big cities like Biarritz, Bayonne or Saint Jean de Luz, the site of Bidart that I have selected for my campsite is ideal for a relaxing holiday with beautiful beaches and numerous hiking possibilities. Its proximity to all tourist sites in the hinterland and on the Basque coast allow you to combine a seaside stay with a tourist stay.
Le Campsite Sunissim Erreka is 800 meters from the beach and 3 km from Biarritz. Between sea and mountains, this campsite allows you to spend holidays in a wooded and green setting and in modern and comfortable mobile homes. Swimming pool with whirlpool, lagoon and paddling pool, children's play area, bar, restaurant, grocery store, pétanque area… this campsite offered everything I was looking for!
Cheap camping in the Basque Country
This campsite is one of the cheapest in the Basque Country by the sea. At 667 Euros per week, it was able to meet all my criteria, namely:
- Exceptional setting and close to the beach;
- Luxury accommodation in a mobile home;
- Good restaurant;
- Calm atmosphere conducive to rest;
- Security and tranquility.
It is therefore, completely satisfied, that I recommend this campsite if you have the same style of vacation as me.
More information on this campsite
Want to explore the Landes coast?
here is my 1 week tour in the Landes
Or why not a trip to Arcachon Bay - Cap Ferret