Any lover of nature desires to walk through green hills and pastures amid the scent of wet earth; explore forests and historic villages; rest beside meandering rivers; climb mountains and relish the sense of satisfaction. If you feel like experiencing all of this, I invite you to immerse yourself in this three-day hike through the province of Guipúzcoa, in the Basque Country region of northern Spain.

The Route of the Three Temples (Ruta de los tres templos) runs along the GR 120, a long-distance trail that follows in the footsteps of Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), a Spanish Catholic priest who founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus.

The route starts at the Sanctuary of Loyola, passes through the hermitage of La Antigua de Zumárraga and ends at the Sanctuary of Arantzazu. Along the way, you’ll encounter rural villages and mystical forests and rivers, as well as the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park.

Although the stages are not excessively long, they do involve considerable elevation gain, so you’ll need a good level of fitness. That said, it’s possible to lengthen or shorten the stages to your preferences.

The best times to undertake this route are spring and summer, as temperatures are more pleasant and the countryside is at its best. While autumn is also possible, there could be a lot of rain. Snowfall isn’t uncommon in winter which can make hiking difficult.

The trail passes through towns with accommodation, restaurants and other facilities. However, you should carry enough water and food for each stage. Trekking poles, a waterproof jacket and warm layers are recommended.

To get to the starting town of Azpeitia, you can take a bus from the cities of Bilbao and Donostia-San Sebastian with the Pesa and Lurraldebus companies. At the end, there’s a bus service from the Sanctuary of Arantzazu. For timetables, visit pesa.net/pesa/en/descarga-horarios.

I hope that every step of this adventure will delight in the unforgettable views.