Azarrulla reveals itself through its hiking trails and its religious architecture and festival traditions. To plan your visit, you can compare routes with different profiles or focus on the church and local celebrations. The routes range from circular trails with stated distances to paths shaped by their landscape and history.
Hiking: circular routes and different trail profiles
An 11-kilometre loop runs from Azárrulla via Prado MartĂn, Horquillo, ObĂcolla and the Barranco Ortaura back to Azárrulla. A second, 15-kilometre circular route passes through Prado MartĂn and Horquillo, continues to Collado Cobelasa and Oricha Posadas, and returns via the Camino de la Herradura. The two routes differ by four kilometres; their listed sequences of waypoints make it easier to tell them apart.
The Ruta del Cementerio de Azarrulla is a 9.59-kilometre circular mountain trail with an elevation gain of 673 metres. It starts at the old cemetery of Azárrulla, which has historical and ethnographic value. This means that, alongside distance, the starting point and elevation gain are concrete features to compare when choosing a circular route.
Forest, water and historic paths
On the Senda de los Siete Puentes, the route passes through a beech forest with mosses and ferns. It crosses the stream over seven wooden bridges—the sequence of bridges is the hike’s distinctive feature.
The Solana del Usaya starts in Azárrulla on the road to the hamlets, LR-415. The landscape alternates between a dry, deforested, sun-exposed slope and damp beech forest, with vegetation in the gorge carved by the waters of the Usaya as well. The route includes an old mine entrance and a spoil heap. Entering the mine is expressly discouraged because of the danger. One section of the route was once used to transport ore from the Ortaura mines.
“Por las márgenes del Oja” also links place names with older paths: the route follows historic farm and livestock tracks between Azárrulla, Altuzarra and Posadas. The return journey follows the Cañada Real del Oja and the old path to Posadas. This historic route offers a different way to explore the area than the nature-focused experience of the Senda de los Siete Puentes.
Church and festival calendar
The church of Las Candelas is in the centre of Azarrulla. The Parroquia de la Candelaria was built in 1831. It is a single-nave religious building made of ashlar and rubble masonry, with a small bell gable, and is included in La Rioja’s general inventory of monuments.
On 2 February, Azarrulla celebrates the feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria with a Mass. The San Antonio festival takes place on 13 June or the nearest Saturday, also with a Mass and procession. The procession runs between Azarrulla and San AntĂłn, with its direction changing each year. The saint remains at the destination until the following year. The Day of Thanksgiving is also celebrated on 28 August.
The former ironworks are also part of the town’s history: they had a long tradition in the 19th century and were later used as a hydroelectric power station. Together with the churches and festival dates, they offer another perspective on Azarrulla beyond its hiking trails.
Getting there and finding your way
From Ezcaray, you can reach Azarrulla via the road to the hamlets. After the turn-offs for Urdanta and Zaldierna, turn left at the junction for Azárrulla. Check the local road layout before setting off. At the end of the village, there is a car park on the left, where the walk begins; check whether it is available before you leave.
This gives you a choice of circular routes, forest and water trails, historic paths, and local history and festival dates. Compare the hiking distances and different landscape features with the cultural highlights, then decide what you would like to focus on during your stay in Azarrulla.
Discover more destinations: Zaldierna, Igea, Cirueña, Aldeanueva De Ebro, Treviana, Zarratón, Sorzano, Abalos.
For the main travel overview: La Rioja.
