Mañaritik Atxetara

Mañaritik Atxetara

Mañaritik Atxetara (“from Mañaria to the peaks,” in Basque) is one of the most vertical events on the Basque mountain running calendar. Only three editions old, it has quickly earned a reputation among skyrunning athletes for its difficulty: the flagship 43-kilometer course packs in 3,900 meters of elevation gain, nearly 91 meters per kilometer, crossing the most iconic summits of Urkiola Natural Park. The start and finish sit in the town hall square of Mañaria, a small municipality in the Duranguesado area of Vizcaya.

A route across the summits of Urkiola

The 43K route strings together peaks such as Mugarrikolanda, Artatxaga (996 m), Leungaga (1,008 m), Astxikiri (785 m), Larranoa (981 m), Anboto and Urkiolamendi (1,011 m), with an especially demanding technical section on the diagonal near Untzillaitz. Along the way, runners pass landmarks with their own history: an old marble quarry, the Inungane shelter, the Gatzaieta farmhouse, the Anboto meadow, the Miren cave and the Urkiola sanctuary with its three crosses. Those looking for a more manageable challenge can choose the 22K (2,000m gain) or the 13K (1,100m gain), while climbing specialists can take on the Untzillaitz Zuzen vertical (2.9 km, 750m gain). For those who’d rather enjoy the scenery without racing, the non-competitive mountain walk covers 19 km with 1,150m of gain.

Scoring for ITRA and UTMB

The race counts toward the ITRA and UTMB index circuits, drawing more runners each year who are looking to score points on a technical, demanding course. Urkiola’s limestone terrain, with sharp ridgelines and loose-rock descents, calls for mountain experience and confident footwork on technical ground, especially on the section that circles Anboto.

Mañaria and the Duranguesado beyond the race

Mañaria is the gateway to one of Vizcaya’s most beloved natural parks, with the Urkiola sanctuary serving as both a pilgrimage site and a natural viewpoint over the valley. Nearby Durango offers the best lodging and dining options in the area, and Bilbao is barely half an hour away by car for those wanting to combine the race with a city getaway. Looking for more options nearby? Discover other Basque Country races or add Mañaritik Atxetara to your calendar with the season planner.