Mater Museoa

At Mater Museoa we work as a non-profit organization to spread the relationship with the sea in the town of Pasaia, thus reactivating the town from a point of view of conservation of both cultural and natural heritage.

As a result of these efforts, today we have various areas for dissemination:

- The museum and the ship : we show you the Mater, a wooden boat that served fishermen for a long time and that the association has recovered as an emblem of the fishing tradition of these coasts. There are several types of visits, with and without activities, with special options for children.

- Leisure services : we went sailing and walking to show you areas like Jaizkibel as well as the great geological richness that converges in the area. While we walk we will remain active listening to the explanations of the guides and participating in the activities of knowledge of the environment that you propose.

- Ecoactivities : seeking active collaboration with visitors, we schedule workshops in which we learn about the environmental characteristics of the Basque coast and learn how to contribute to its conservation and that of the natural environment in general.

Mater Museoa is made up of the organization that deals with Mater Museoa with which we intend to contribute to the dissemination of everything related to the culture of the sea from Pasaia in Guipúzcoa.

One of the areas most closely linked to this is navigation, for that reason, in addition to exposing concepts and images, we put the historic ship Mater at the service of itineraries along these coasts. This is how we take you along the Cantabrian Sea with:

- Cliffs : starting from San Pedro, we will go out to admire the Jaizkibel cliffs in the direction of Punta Turrulla with explanations to learn about the environment and its high environmental value. Accompanied by a 'pintxo', it takes an hour and a half.

- Cliffs towards San Sebastián : we also leave from San Pedro and we will go through Ulía towards San Sebastián while we learn the characteristics of these natural spaces. It also includes a pintxo and is a 90 minute itinerary.

- Zodiak ride: departure from San Pedro to San Sebastián in a semi-rigid boat. We will enter the refuge port and return.

To be with us on the boat, it is advisable to wear closed shoes and a windbreaker to keep warm.

At Mater Museoa one of the ways to make visitors aware of the importance of our environment is to program walks and trekking routes through Pasaia and its surroundings.

We are at a crossroads of areas of high ecological value that begins in the bay of San Sebastián and reaches the vicinity of Hondarribia. To enter Jaizkibel we can take different paths:

- The Valley of Colors route : such is the name Labetxu receives where geology reaches its maximum expression among caves and surprising changes of tones.

- Las Paramoudras : it will require that we wait for the moment to coincide with low tide to be able to reach Erentzin on foot and its characteristic formations that we can learn about as we go.

In the Ulia area we can choose to walk with views of the seashore while we feel the contrast between our quiet walk and the vertical cuts that the rocks form on the Cantabrian.

To accompany us on these excursions there are dates available all year round with specific times that are agreed with each group.

Fishing surrounded by the environment that can only be provided by a true Cantabrian fishing boat by going up to the Mater Museoa. We offer you a comprehensive experience based on sport fishing, from a perspective that does not harm the environment, also participating in the navigation tasks and in the customs of the fishermen who over the years have fished on the Basque Coast .

The species with which we manage to get will go depending on the date chosen for the departure. For example, between the months of June and October we can try to catch the magnificent northern bonito . In spring, during May and June, the hake is the most common specimen while others such as the 'arraintxikis' are available in any season. We give the option that you keep your catch or that you leave them back in the sea but in all cases you will have to attend to the minimum size of the fish so as not to alter the ecosystem.

We have fishing equipment of all modalities with all their tackle although you can also use yours if you feel more comfortable. We will sail to the fishing grounds and you will have the guide at your disposal to teach you and give you all the directions.

With Mater Museoa you will navigate to discover the biological richness of the Basque coast with our excursions to see cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay . We will go out on board our boat traditionally used for the art of fishing in the Cantabrian Sea.

We will head to the Capbreton Trench in the company of experts in oceanography and marine biology. These professionals will be in charge of explaining to the crew the qualities of the species that inhabit this area using scientific animations.

It is an experience of a total of 8 hours reserved for groups of 35 people maximum. The capacity of the boat allows each visitor to comfortably enjoy a wide space without stress throughout the day. The tour is interpreted in both Spanish and Basque, French or English so that passengers of any nationality can take advantage of the adventure without missing any detail.

Those of you who are going to come with us must do so with shoes that do not slip to be on the boat, always closed. You should bring a hat or raincoat if the weather is not good, and it is advisable that you do not leave your camera at home.