Salt Valley
Salt Valley
4.5
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The Salt Valley is one of the most spectacular and best preserved inland saltworks in the world. Its value not only lies in its particular architecture or on its almost 6.500 years of history, or even in its geological features, biodiversity or landscape values, but in the union in perfect harmony of all of it in a privileged context. This Cultural Landscape is candidate to World Heritage List of the UNESCO and is listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland site of international importance
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
431 reviews
Excellent
268
Very good
137
Average
18
Poor
4
Terrible
4
audreyferndown
Ferndown, UK266 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Añana could do with better parking facilities for the visitors to its salt valley.
We booked a tour in English and had Noella as our guide. At this time of year and with rain forecast, I was surprised that as many as eight people had booked so perhaps best to book ahead for any tour there. A choice of this morning or later this afternoon was given for an English speaking guide today.
Noella gave us a lot of details, was happy to answer every question. It was really interesting and we enjoyed it very much. Everything has to be constructed in wood or ceramics because any metals used would just rust. The infrastructure is being rebuilt to show the history of the Valley, so don’t expect a lovely underfoot experience and wear sensible shoes.
Shop was good for souvenir salt.
We booked a tour in English and had Noella as our guide. At this time of year and with rain forecast, I was surprised that as many as eight people had booked so perhaps best to book ahead for any tour there. A choice of this morning or later this afternoon was given for an English speaking guide today.
Noella gave us a lot of details, was happy to answer every question. It was really interesting and we enjoyed it very much. Everything has to be constructed in wood or ceramics because any metals used would just rust. The infrastructure is being rebuilt to show the history of the Valley, so don’t expect a lovely underfoot experience and wear sensible shoes.
Shop was good for souvenir salt.
Written 17 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hyoga83
Bordeaux, France703 contributions
July 2020
Fascinating site, it feels like a totally different country when you are there looking at the terraces and the salt flats. The visit is really interesting, the hour flies by and the guide was friendly and knowledgeable. It costs 8€ and you can use the spa at the end.
The site has 7000 years of continual use, until this century when salt was no longer so important for preserving food.
Best moment to visit is within May and October, although if possible avoid the midday heat.
The site has 7000 years of continual use, until this century when salt was no longer so important for preserving food.
Best moment to visit is within May and October, although if possible avoid the midday heat.
Written 7 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philippe V
Asse, Belgium68 contributions
July 2013 • Friends
Salt comes from the sea, or from mines. Unless... a couple of helpful little streams of water take salt that has been left, deep down, millions of years ago, with them, thus transforming themselves in the "salmuera" that flows into the valley, giving it its name of "Salado", "salted". Top notch, pure and tasty salt... that, quantitywise and pricewise, couldn't compete anymore with other types of salt winning from halfway the twentieth century on... Those magnificent, impressive but maintenance asking constructions of wood and clay (metal would corrode very quickly) were crumbling, when the recuperation was started, along two main axes: paid visits to a monument, and high quality of the salt, produced the traditional way. A bunch of top chiefs have been associated to the project as well, and a big chunk of work has been done already! Coupled to the drive of a passionate guide, the visit was one of those that make you come back, or at least plan to do so. Near Vitoria-Gasteiz, it's quite easy to find, especially when driving on the AP-68 that goes from Logroño to Bilbao: the exit for Pobes brings you at the door of the valley.
Written 4 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel C
Waterford, Ireland1,436 contributions
Oct 2014 • Business
Unless you had read a little bit about this place in advance, you would probably drive right past it without realising exactly what it was or what was going on there as it look a bit of an eyesore to be honest. This is largely due to the ill-advised building of concrete-based evaporation pans/pits that were constructed some years ago to replace their original wooden predecessors but little did they know about the corrosive effects of high salinity on concrete. It has unfortunately left a bit of a mess in its wake but if you can get over that fact and the visual consequence of it, then this is an excursion well worth undertaking. Most of the best gourmet restaurants in San Sebastian — and thus, by extension, the world — get their salt from this place and you can see where each restaurant has its own individual salt pan so that their own supply gets set aside for them. You can also buy the finished product on site. Worth a detour!
Written 28 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FernandaAsh
Bath, UK24 contributions
July 2013 • Couples
This place is fantastic! Such an interesting project that deserves a visit!
We had the tour that lasted for about 1 hours which was very interesting to hear and understand how the salt in that region is made and how this project is trying to keep alive the importance of this area.
It is really cheap to go and see only about 5 euros/person and you get to immerse you feet and hands in the mini salt spa they have there too.
The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly!
Parking facilities is inexistent so you will have to find a place in the village to park - although is not very hard to find a parking spot. There is practically no shade so... in a hot day a hat and loads of sun cream is welcomed.
And if you're looking for food afterwards - avoid the swimming pool club as it is place where the waitress will turn your business down as she can't be bothered to serve more than a certain number of people.
The project is still in developing stage but it is still worth a visit and we will definitely go back when it is finalised!
We had the tour that lasted for about 1 hours which was very interesting to hear and understand how the salt in that region is made and how this project is trying to keep alive the importance of this area.
It is really cheap to go and see only about 5 euros/person and you get to immerse you feet and hands in the mini salt spa they have there too.
The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly!
Parking facilities is inexistent so you will have to find a place in the village to park - although is not very hard to find a parking spot. There is practically no shade so... in a hot day a hat and loads of sun cream is welcomed.
And if you're looking for food afterwards - avoid the swimming pool club as it is place where the waitress will turn your business down as she can't be bothered to serve more than a certain number of people.
The project is still in developing stage but it is still worth a visit and we will definitely go back when it is finalised!
Written 12 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vincent M
6 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
Interesting and educative guided tour. There is a small shop selling this artisanal salt and salt flower.
Written 8 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David van Driessche
Ghent, Belgium183 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
People made salt here for a very long time and this valley looks absolutely interesting. Not beautiful because of what they have done to it, but really interesting.
We booked the normal tour - when booking it on the Internet you can see when the tours go and which language they are in. Some are fixed in Spanish (castellano), others you can tell them which language you would like when you make the booking. We had a tour with ourselves (family of four) and two other people. Language of the tour was English, but our guide spoke good English and French.
The tour itself takes you through the valley and explains how they make the salt, where the salty water comes from and what the history has been over the years (in terms of different production methods). At the end, you can enjoy the "spa", basically a way to have your feet or hands in the salty water for a while because that has wonderful effects on your skin. Though I have to admit I didn't really notice that too much :)
Tour take about an hour, of course you can buy salt products at the end, but everyone was very nice and I would definitely advise you to do this when you're in the area.
Tip: they have umbrellas you can use during the tour. Use them if it's sunny, really! Also, bring water :)
We booked the normal tour - when booking it on the Internet you can see when the tours go and which language they are in. Some are fixed in Spanish (castellano), others you can tell them which language you would like when you make the booking. We had a tour with ourselves (family of four) and two other people. Language of the tour was English, but our guide spoke good English and French.
The tour itself takes you through the valley and explains how they make the salt, where the salty water comes from and what the history has been over the years (in terms of different production methods). At the end, you can enjoy the "spa", basically a way to have your feet or hands in the salty water for a while because that has wonderful effects on your skin. Though I have to admit I didn't really notice that too much :)
Tour take about an hour, of course you can buy salt products at the end, but everyone was very nice and I would definitely advise you to do this when you're in the area.
Tip: they have umbrellas you can use during the tour. Use them if it's sunny, really! Also, bring water :)
Written 27 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brixtonbelle
London, UK129 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We were very lucky to have a guided tour in English for just the two of us.
Salt has been produced here for 7,000 years, and using the current method for 2,000 years.
We learnt a lot and it was fascinating to compare this to the sea-shore salt pans in Aveiro in Portugal.
Very well laid out. Very instructive.
Well worth the 40min drive from Bilbao.
Salt has been produced here for 7,000 years, and using the current method for 2,000 years.
We learnt a lot and it was fascinating to compare this to the sea-shore salt pans in Aveiro in Portugal.
Very well laid out. Very instructive.
Well worth the 40min drive from Bilbao.
Written 13 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ilze K
34 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
Before coming to the place I already knew there are only a few places on earth people since ancient times have been using this unique technology of salt mining. The concentrated salty spring water makes very high quality salt for the top restaurants. We came in a lovely, sunny October morning and had a great tour of the valley with the guide Kristina. We were truly impressed. Hope to come back some time not so late in the season - just to have the salt spa, as well. We were very happy with the good entry price offer of a combined ticket with the de Santa Maria Cathedral in Vitoria-Gasteiz that we visited on previous day. Salinas de Anana is a place definitely worth visiting. Wish it will be included in the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites, as it has been proposed.
Written 19 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hans C
Brussels, Belgium234 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
This is an unique location worth a visit when you're in the region. It's near to Vitoria-Gasteiz, a short drive from Bilbao. The view is nice. We walked around the site. We didn't visit the site itself. It's only accessible via guided tours and there were no English spoken tour available. There's a walk up the hill offering a nice view, accessible near to the church down the village.
Written 6 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where did you find your tour guide?
Thanks.
Craig
Written 3 June 2018
In fact, we were travelling "wild" by public transport, on our own, without any tourguides. But we bought a combined ticket for a better price at the central cathedral of Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the receptionist lady was kind enough to call Salinas de Anana visitor centre and booked us there for the next day. So, the local tourguide, Kristina, was meeting us at the entrance upon our arrival. Enjoy this wonderful tour!
Written 4 June 2018
Hi, is there a big difference (both picture and interest wise) between visiting in Summer versus the rest of the year?
Written 20 March 2018
Yes it makes a big difference if you go in summer because you will be able to enjoy the thermal water. I visited te place in winter and it was beautiful, but wished it was in another time to enjoy the healing power of the water. Enjoy tour trip!
Written 16 April 2018
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