Immerse yourself in the seafaring essence of Bermeo with a unique guided tour of the Ortube tuna boat, the last wooden fishing boat in the town. This original experience will allow you to explore the interior of a historic vessel and understand the Basque fishermen’s way of life. Along with visits to fish canneries and other guided tours of Bermeo, the Ortube tour offers a comprehensive insight into the local fishing tradition.
Tour Details
The guided tour of the Ortube tuna boat is offered once a week during the high season and is a highly sought-after experience. The tour begins in front of the Bermeo train station, where the fascinating history of the fishing boat is introduced. Visitors then explore the ship’s various rooms, exploring the engine room, bridge, refrigerators, cabins, and galley, discovering all the vessel’s unique features.
The experience culminates with a small snack based on local Urdaibai products served on the ship’s deck, a perfect way to immerse yourself in maritime culture.
- Location: Bermeo, Urdaibai, Bizkaia.
- Duration: 1 hour (approximate).
- Price: €15 (adults and teenagers), €12 (children under 12), and €0 (children under 5). Group rates for groups of 15 or more people (€12/person).
- Price includes: a visit to the tuna boat, both in the shipyard and inside, and product tasting.
- Languages available: Spanish, English, and Basque.
- Schedule: Saturdays, from late June to late September. At 1:00 p.m.
- Reservations: You can reserve your place quickly and practically through this link: guided tour of the tuna boat Ortube Bermeo
- Contact: 649 002 301 / reserva@urdailife.com
The History of the Ortube
The fishing boat Ortube is a treasure of Bermeo’s maritime heritage. Built in 1979, this 36-meter-long tuna boat was designed for anchovy and tuna fishing in the Cantabrian Sea, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. During its useful life, until its decommissioning in 1999, it was operated by a crew of 12 men and owned by the Ortube brothers and Juan Ramón Egaña. Years later, it was replaced by the Ortube Berria, which is still in operation today.
In 2003, the Bermeo City Council acquired the tuna boat Ortube with the aim of preserving its legacy. After years of being used only for the traditional excursion to Izaro and Elantxobe during the Magdalena festival, and facing the risk of sinking in 2016, the boat was pulled from the water and beached in the port.
Fortunately, a group of volunteers came together to rescue this valuable fishing boat, creating the non-profit association “Ortube Ontziaren Lagun Elkartea.” Today, this association continues to work passionately on the restoration of the boat, with the ambitious goal of returning the Ortube to sea and, in doing so, keeping alive an essential part of Bermeo’s history and identity.
