Wine Tour around Plencia’s bodegas
Located half an hour away from Bilbao, Plencia is a nice town surrounded by a river, port and beach. With a rented minibus or coach this tour can take you and your group around some of the bodegas you’ll find in this area. It will also give you the chance of stopping at the touristic attractions and sights you’ll encounter on the mentioned roads.
Starting line:
Bilbao, Santander, Pamplona, San Sebastián
In the morning: Butrón Castle and first wine cellar
Arrange with the bus rental company to pick you up at your respective starting point and to take you to the first stop of this tour: the Butrón Castle
Butrón Castle
Currently guided visits are not available and the interior of the medieval castle remains closed to the public, but it’s really worth seeing its exterior. It’s located at Gatika, close to Plencia following the river and I reckon it will take you a little less than an hour to take pictures and go for a walk along the forest that surrounds it. You can ask your coach chauffeur to pick you up by then, and to take you to the first wine cellar of the tour; the Crusoe Treasure Submarine cellar.
Frontal shot of Butrón Castle
Photo credit: commons.wikimedia
Crusoe Treasure Submarine Cellar
‘Crusoe Treasure Cellar stores its wines under the sea. It is the first artificial reef and cellar of the world’ firmly holds its website. This cellar has long developed specific methods in order to conserve the quality of their wines under the sea, without harming the area’s sea species. The managers of Crusoe Treasure offer tasting sessions and explain the employees’ everyday tasks. It opens every day during the whole year but it is required to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. The tasting session plus the on board visit lasts three hours, the option that I most highly recommend.
Undersea wine cellar
Photo credit: Fabiola de la Fuente
Las Palmeras for a serious lunch
Tell your coach driver to take you to Las Palmeras Restaurant, located at Carretera Urduliz-Plencia 1, a quite hidden corner but definitely worth it. It’s a small family run restaurant with a terrace, in which you’ll find all the representative dishes and snacks of the Basque cuisine. Given it limited capacity and since it’s always packed, it is necessary to make a reservation by cphone via + (34) 946 775 119.
Monkfish at Las Palmeras
Photo credit: israeldlr
In the evening: Plencia and the second winery
Arrange with the bus driver to take you from the restaurant to Plencia, a 10 minute long ride.
Plencia
You can go for a stroll along this nice town and walks, full of bars and squares. Besides, the beach is at the end of the town, a nice place to rest and go for a swim before visiting the second wine cellar: Berroja. The bus ride will take around an hour to drop you there.
Old town of Plencia
Photo Credit: plentzia.org
Berroja Cellar
You’ll have the chance of going on a guided visit among Berroja’s vineyard, providing that the weather is good. You’ll be shown the interior of the cellar and the elaboration process, followed by Txakoli tasting (traditional Basque white wine). The tasting will approximately last an hour and a half. Berroja opens from 4pm to 7pm during the week and from 5pm to 8pm on Saturdays. Sundays and holidays is only open from 10:30am to 14pm. In any case, it is necessary to make a reservation by calling +34 944 106 254. Prices vary depending on the number of the group members; you’ll be able to check when you call. If you have remained hungry after the long trip and wine tasting, there is the possibility of having dinner at the cellar.
Berroja wine cellar
Photo credit: bilbaotourism
The time has come for you to leave this place, and I hope too much wine hasn’t affected you yet. Ask your coach driver to take you to your hotel; if you’re lodged in Bilbao, if will be around half an hour, and if your hotel is in San Sebastián, about an hour and a half.
Easy comparisons for bus, coach and mini bus hires in the area of Bilbao
If you liked this bus tour and plan to organize this or a similar tour in the area of Vizcaya Province than we advise you to view our list of mini bus and coach hire companies in Bilbao . You can also start organizing your Vizcaya Province bus trip by directly requesting multiple Bilbao coach hire quotes so you can compare bus rental options online before booking.