Where is Puerto de Ibañeta?
Spain, europe
16.4 km
1,063 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Puerto de Ibañeta! This epic mountain pass sits way up high in the Spanish Pyrenees, at 1,063m (3,487ft), practically kissing the French border. Known by a bunch of different names (Paso de Roncesvalles, anyone?), this spot has been a crucial crossing since Roman times, so you're basically driving through history.
You'll find it nestled in Navarra, dividing the Nive and Irati valleys. The road itself, the N135, is a smooth, paved dream, stretching for 16.4 km (10.19 miles) from Roncesvalles in the south to Luzaide/Valcarlos in the north.
Heads up, though, some of those ramps are seriously steep, maxing out at a lung-busting 15%! But the views? Totally worth it. Plus, at the summit, you can check out the Ermita de San Salvador de Ibañeta, a cool modern church.
And if you're feeling extra adventurous, there's a narrow, paved mountain road (NA-2033) leading to even higher ground — Ortzanzurieta, at 1,570m (5,150ft). It's only 6km, but promises even wilder scenery. Generally, you can tackle this pass year-round, so add it to your bucket list!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 16.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,063 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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