Forêt de Chiberta & Lac Chiberta
Most visitors to Bayonne race straight to nearby Biarritz for the beach, but ten minutes north of the city centre lies the Forêt de Chiberta — a 200-hectare maritime pine forest wrapped around a glassy tidal lake, with a cycling path, a nudist beach, flamingos in the reed beds and almost no tourist infrastructure whatsoever.
The Lake and the Forest
Lac Chiberta is a shallow, brackish coastal lake separated from the Atlantic by a thin strip of dunes. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards can be rented in summer from a small seasonal operator on the south bank, and the water is calm enough for beginners.
The surrounding pine forest has a network of well-marked cycling and walking trails that connect through to Anglet's long surf beach (Plage de la Barre) to the north. In spring, the forest floor is carpeted with ferns and the air smells powerfully of resin and salt.
Wildlife and Flamingos
Greater flamingos — genuinely wild birds — feed regularly in the shallow northern end of the lake, particularly in spring and autumn. Bring binoculars and walk the eastern shore path quietly in the early morning for the best chance of a sighting.
The lake also supports little egrets, grey herons and kingfishers year-round, making it a legitimate birdwatching destination that most visitors to the Basque Coast never discover.
Forêt de Chiberta & Lac Chiberta on video
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