Over the previous week, under drizzle and burst of sunshine, I’ve been exploring the Basque Country: Zumaia, Getaria, Donostia-San Sebastian & beyond (scroll down to see the photos).

Photography by Jonathan McCallum & Jason Coon

Zumaia Sea Caves, Photo by Jason Coon

In Zumaia, a sweet chapel overlooks the fossil-filled flysch and the wedge-shaped wave that has produced professional body boarders. From the town, a great surf spot and an up-close encounter with the flysch are only a two-minute boat ride or a short drive and a kilometer walk away.

A friend and I headed down to Zumaia at low tide last week to explore the coast below the tranquil green hills.  Pushing through the waves, we photographed the flysch rock that slices the coastline and the caves that hide between the layers and the tides.

Geologists, surfers and foodies will all find a reason to love this little port town, as well as those passing through on the paths of St. James and “Ocho Apellidos Vascos”.

Surfing The Basque Country, See more photos by clicking & following the image to Jonathan McCallum.com

Zumaia, Photo by Jonathan McCallum

Driving from Zumaia eastward, we made a stop in Getaria, where a happy surfer pulled into a nice tube.  The charming old town of Getaria is sandwiched between two beaches–one for surfing and the other a calm bay behind the port.

In the afternoon I got to capture some of Donostia’s culinary action through the lens with friends going “Pintxo Hunting” and taking the “Pintxo Cooking Class” tour offered at San Sebastián Food.  See my previous post about San Sebastián Food’s cooking adventures or visit their website directly here.

Really, you can’t go wrong visiting any part of the Basque Country’s varied coast.  From the natural treasures to the fun-filled activities to the delicious food, there is always more to discover of the Basque Country.

San Sebastian Food