...And Hike Off Some of Those Calories

...And Hike Off Some of Those Calories

Maintaining an appetite (and some semblance of a waistline) can become a problem on a food safari—and hiking is the answer: walking the well-marked hiking trails of the Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja, and Cantabria is the best way to succeed in wolfing down a significant portion of the terrific cuisine and surviving to tell the tale. Bring good walking shoes and check with local tourist offices for classic hikes such as the full-day walk over the Pyrenees from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to upper Navarra's Roncesvalles, a unique way to get a never-to-be-forgotten feel for the Pyrenean portal. The network of trails and ancient cobblestone Roman roads up the Basque coast from Zumaya to Guetaria and Zarauz and on to San Sebastián and all the way to France will offer a look at corners of the Basque Country not seen from the freeways. From San Sebastián, the red and white GR (Gran Recorrido) markings at the end of the Zurriola beach will start you on a gorgeous three-hour hike to Pasajes de San Pedro, where a two-minute boat ride will whisk you across the Rentería shipping passage to Pasajes de San Juan (Pasaia Donibane in Euskera) and the town's several first-rate dining opportunities.