What you can see on the Saturraran webcam
The camera looks north-west across the dunes and the beach. On the left, the long breakwater of Ondarroa reaches out to sea below the houses of the town; on the right rise the rocks that make Saturraran recognisable from miles away. In between is the open sea, so you can judge the swell, see how much sand the tide has left and tell whether the sky over the Bay of Biscay is clearing. The picture is refreshed through the day, and the 24-hour time-lapse lets you wind back to the morning.
Saturraran beach webcam
Set behind the beach, above the dunes and a sandy track, this camera looks north-west across Saturraran. On the left, a grassy rock juts into the sand and, beyond it, the harbour wall of Ondarroa runs out to sea below the town's apartment blocks; on the right, the jagged sea stacks of Eskilantxarri stand at the edge of the water. The open Bay of Biscay fills the middle of the picture.
The image is a still picture renewed through the day, with the date and time in the corner. It shows the state of the tide well: at low water a wide, flat beach and rock platforms around the stacks; at high water the sea reaches the foot of the dunes. The colour of the sky over the sea tells you whether the weather is coming in.
Rocks, flysch and a hard history
The stacks are the rocks of Eskilantxarri. Beyond them lies a wide platform of rock uncovered at low tide, known as Siete Playas, the seven beaches, where nudism is allowed. The whole coast here belongs to the Basque Coast Geopark, famous for its flysch: layer upon layer of rock tipped on end and worn into ribs by the sea. Saturraran also has a darker past. The bathing establishment that stood behind the beach in the early 20th century was turned into a women's prison after the Spanish Civil War, and later into a seminary.
When to watch Saturraran
Saturraran is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland. Low tide uncovers the rock platforms and the best rock pools; high tide on a big swell sends spray over the stacks. Summer brings long, mild days, and winter storms make the cove dramatic to watch from home.
Around Saturraran
Mutriku's steep old town and little harbour are just over a mile (2 km) east. Ondarroa, a busy fishing port on the estuary of the Artibai, lies across the bay. Eastwards, the flysch cliffs continue to Deba and Zumaia.
Visiting Saturraran
The coast road between Ondarroa and Mutriku runs just behind the beach. Swim only when the lifeguards are on duty, and keep away from the foot of the stacks on a rising tide.
