Bisusta Waterfall from Sunbilla: easy Greenway walk and suspension bridge
Bisusta Waterfall is one of the easiest and most rewarding local outings for visitors staying in Sunbilla. Hidden beside the Bidasoa Greenway, it combines woodland, river scenery, former railway infrastructure and one of Malerreka's quieter natural corners.
The main advantage is that you do not need to treat it as a mountain hike. From Sunbilla, follow the Greenway north towards Igantzi and Lesaka and you reach the Bisusta area after roughly 4 to 4.5 kilometres, depending on your exact starting point.
Bisusta Waterfall from Sunbilla: quick facts
• Name: Bisusta Waterfall / Bisustako ur-jauzia.
• Location: municipality of Sunbilla, beside the Bidasoa Greenway.
• Approximate distance from central Sunbilla: 4-4.5 km to the waterfall.
• Difficulty: easy on the main Greenway; the final approach can be wet.
• Route type: simple out-and-back or a longer loop including the suspension bridge.
• Landscape: Bidasoa River, Atlantic woodland, tunnels and the former Tren Txikito railway.
• Cycle connection: this corridor forms part of EuroVelo 1 in Navarra.
1. Leave Sunbilla along the Bidasoa Greenway
The most natural route from El Eco de los Robles is to join the Bidasoa Greenway and head north. It follows the former Tren Txikito railway and keeps a very gentle profile, making it suitable for walking and cycling.
Official Navarra tourism information confirms that EuroVelo 1 enters the region at Endarlatsa, passes close to Bera and Berrizaun, crosses Sunbilla and continues to Doneztebe/Santesteban. Sunbilla is therefore part of a much larger European cycle route.
Tunnel in Sunbilla on the former railway alignment. Photo: Bixintxo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
2. An almost flat route beside the Bidasoa
Most of the route has very little elevation change. The river appears and disappears between trees, fields and traditional houses, while the former railway platform maintains a gentle gradient. That is why the route is especially popular with families, relaxed walkers and cyclists.
The Greenway is not exclusively pedestrian at every point. Some access tracks also serve nearby homes and properties, so stay to one side and remain alert for bicycles or authorised vehicles.
The Bidasoa accompanies much of the route. Photo: Ksarasola / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. The turn-off to the waterfall
Bisusta is not directly visible from the main Greenway. A short access path leaves the route and enters the woodland. You usually hear the water before the cascade comes fully into view.
It is not one of Navarra's tallest waterfalls, but its setting between rock, ferns and dense vegetation gives it a distinctive atmosphere. The appearance changes noticeably with the season and recent rainfall.
Bisusta Waterfall in Sunbilla. Photo: Ksarasola / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
4. Short route or longer route?
If the goal is simply to see the waterfall, the clearest option is to walk from Sunbilla to Bisusta and return along the same Greenway. It is easy to follow and keeps the outing straightforward.
A longer alternative continues towards a suspension bridge over the Bidasoa and links local paths to create a larger circuit. Routes starting in Doneztebe/Santesteban can reach around 17-18 km in total, while starting in Sunbilla allows for a considerably shorter version.
5. The suspension bridge
The suspension bridge is one of the details that turns this walk into more than a simple Greenway outing. It crosses the Bidasoa and allows a connection with the opposite bank and quiet local roads or tracks.
With children, remember that a suspension bridge is not an amusement-park feature: cross calmly, follow any posted instructions and never deliberately swing the bridge.
6. Is it suitable for children?
Yes, especially the simple out-and-back from Sunbilla. The profile is easy and the surface is comfortable along most of the Greenway.
Extra care is needed when leaving the Greenway to approach the waterfall, where mud, roots, wet stones and short slopes may appear. Supervise children closely beside the river and on the suspension bridge.
7. Walking or cycling?
For the waterfall alone, walking makes it easier to enjoy the surroundings and avoids leaving a bicycle at the final access. By bike, however, the route can easily become a longer excursion towards Igantzi, Lesaka or Bera.
A good combination is to cycle the Greenway, stop near Bisusta and then continue along the Bidasoa corridor.
8. When to go
The waterfall is usually more impressive after periods of rain. In summer there may be less water, but the woodland provides shade and the route is pleasant on warm days.
After heavy rain, the same extra water that improves the waterfall can leave mud and slippery sections. Check conditions if the weather has recently been poor.
9. What to bring
The short version requires no technical equipment. Footwear with good grip, water, a light layer or waterproof depending on the season and enough phone battery are usually sufficient.
Cyclists should add lights for tunnels and a basic repair kit. The route is easy, but branches, loose gravel or minor storm damage can still appear.
10. Combine Bisusta with other plans
Bisusta works particularly well as a half-day activity. Combine it with lunch in Sunbilla or Doneztebe/Santesteban, keep the afternoon for relaxing at the house or use another day for Bertiz, Elizondo or the Leurtza reservoirs.
On a four- or five-day stay, this kind of nearby route balances the bigger excursions with slower days.
Where to stay near the Bisusta route
El Eco de los Robles is in Sunbilla, so the waterfall can be approached directly from the village environment. The whole house has a standard capacity of six guests plus two additional places, a garden, seasonal swimming pool, barbecue area and private parking.
Staying in Sunbilla also gives easy access to the Bidasoa Greenway, Bertiz, Malerreka and the Baztan Valley without changing accommodation.
Frequently asked questions about Bisusta Waterfall
Where is Bisusta Waterfall?
Bisusta Waterfall, also known as Bisustako ur-jauzia, is in the municipality of Sunbilla beside the Bidasoa Greenway in Malerreka.
How far is Bisusta Waterfall from Sunbilla?
Following the Bidasoa Greenway north, the waterfall is roughly 4 to 4.5 km from the centre of Sunbilla, depending on the exact starting point.
Is the route suitable for children?
The main Greenway section is flat and easy, but children should be supervised near the river, on the final approach to the waterfall and on any wet or elevated sections.
Can you continue to a suspension bridge?
Yes. One popular longer variant continues beyond the waterfall to a suspension bridge over the Bidasoa before returning via local paths.
Is the route part of EuroVelo 1?
The Bidasoa Greenway forms part of EuroVelo 1's route through Navarra, which enters at Endarlatsa and continues through Bera, Berrizaun, Sunbilla and Doneztebe/Santesteban.
When is the waterfall at its best?
It normally carries more water after rainy periods, although the access path can also be wetter and more slippery at those times.
Where should you stay to do the route?
El Eco de los Robles is in Sunbilla, making it easy to start from the village and combine the walk with Bertiz, Baztan and other nearby excursions.
Sources consulted
Official Navarra tourism information on EuroVelo 1 and the Bidasoa Greenway for the corridor, route characteristics and towns along the itinerary.
Navarra cartography, OpenStreetMap/Wikimedia and recent local walking-route references for the location of Bisusta, approach distance and suspension-bridge variant. Editorial review: September 2026.
Image credits
Cover image: Ksarasola / Wikimedia Commons, Bisusta ur-jauzia 01, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Interior image 1: Bixintxo / Wikimedia Commons, Sunbillako tunela, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Interior image 2: Ksarasola / Wikimedia Commons, Bidasoa Sunbilan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Interior image 3: Ksarasola / Wikimedia Commons, Bisusta ur-jauzia 02, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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