Itzurun beach is an urban beach of fine sand, open to the Bay of Biscay and wedged between cliffs, on the coast of Zumaia. Its length is around 270 meters and, due to its northwest orientation, it frequently receives waves and swell, which reinforces its Atlantic character. The beach is also known as San Telmo, and is associated with the coastal stretch of the Basque Coast Geopark, one of the best known sectors for the flysch. From the sandy area, the cliff front and the succession of rocky strata that outcrop on the coast can be clearly seen, a very recognizable geological landscape of this part of Gipuzkoa. The hermitage of San Telmo, located on the edge of the cliff, visually dominates the beach and adds a very photographed landmark. It is a particularly interesting place to observe the relationship between beach, rock and tides, and to understand why this coastal sector has gained so much presence in guides and geological dissemination. The beach appears in the official bathing information of Gipuzkoa and in the documentation of the coast of Zumaia as a semi-urban space with services and exposure to waves. It is also a common reference in routes and tourist materials of the Geopark for the reading of the flysch and the panoramic view over the tidal rasa. It is advisable to visit it at low or medium-low tide to get a better view of the rocky front, and at sunset if you are looking for lateral light on the strata. In days of strong sea, the landscape gains dramatism, but the bathing can be conditioned by the state of the swell. The best time to enjoy it calmly is usually spring and early autumn, when there is less affluence and there are still good conditions of light and walk.
