The Sanctuary of Arantzazu
The 2026 ISCHE retreat will be held at the beautiful Sanctuary of Arantzazu, in the municipality of Oñate (Gipuzkoa) in the Basque Country. It is surrounded by astonishing nature and is home to a beautiful modern basilica built by some of the most revered Basque sculptors and architects in the 1950s. Click here to access a short video of Arantzazu and here for an inside view of the basilica. The place is also rich in opportunities for hiking and contacting nature.
Just a short walk away from the basilica is the Gandiaga Conference Venue, which hosts scientific and professional meetings.
Next to the basilica is Iraipe hotel, which will accommodate the retreat participants. If needed, the nearby Sindika hotel can accommodate additional participants.
Getting There
Flights
Arantzazu is 82km away from San Sebastian, the capital city of the Gipuzkoa region, and 73km away from Bilbao, the largest Basque city.
The nearest international gateway is Bilbao International Airport, with frequent connections to major Spanish hubs such as Madrid and Barcelona, as well as to key European cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Rome. Some of these airports also offer flights to San Sebastián Airport, though options are fewer and typically more expensive. Another convenient alternative is Biarritz International Airport.
Trains
Travel to the region is also possible by train from Barcelona, Madrid, and Biarritz.
Bus
It is possible to travel from Bilbao Airport to Arantzazu by public bus, although there is no direct line. The journey requires three separate buses:
- From the Airport to Bilbao (Intermodal Station): Bus 3247 connects Loiu Airport with Bilbao’s main intermodal station, with a travel time of about 20 minutes. You can check the timetable here.
- From Bilbao to Oñati: The DG01 and DG02 lines operated by PESA run from Bilbao to Oñati, taking approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Please note that not all services continue all the way to Oñati, so be sure to check the schedule
- From Oñati to Arantzazu: There is a frequent bus service running throughout the day, with departures from all bus stops in Oñati. The journey takes around 20 minutes. More information is available here.
Taxi
A taxi from Bilbao Airport to Arantzazu is also an option. The trip takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes and costs around 180 euros. You can contact Radio Taxi Femade at (+34) 944 800 909
Group Transportation to Arantzazu
Participants can request group transportation by coach from Bilbao and San Sebastian to the retreat venue and back. Requests can be made at the time of retreat registration. The cost one-way will be $XX. Participants wishing to take advantage of group transportation are asked to plan their flight/train schedules accordingly.
These will be available as follows:
- August 25, 2026 at 17:45 departure from Bilbao International Airport (pick up from Bilbao intermodal Central Station at 17:30)
- Two options will be available in August 26 2026 from Bilbao International Airport:
- 14:45 departure from Bilbao International Airport (departure from Bilbao intermodal Central Station at 14:30)
- 17:45 departure from the Bilbao International Airport (departure from Bilbao intermodal Central Station at 17:30)
- August 26, 2026 at 17:00, departure from San Sebastián, near Palacio Miramar. Exact location available here.
- August 29, 2026 at 13:30, departure from the venue to Bilbao International Airport (arrival at 14:30), followed by travel to Bilbao Intermodal Central Station (arrival at 15:00).
VISA Information
The documents required to travel to Spain depend on each visitor’s nationality. You can check this on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which provides a dedicated section on entry requirements for foreign nationals, explaining who needs a visa, what procedures must be completed, and what documents are necessary. There you will find all the updated information needed to prepare your trip.
Documents accrediting the purpose and conditions of the planned stay may be requested by the authorities; these can include, among others, a round-trip or return ticket, so having a return ticket to clearly justify the stay is highly recommended.
The authorities may also request an invitation from a company or authority to participate in the congress. To request a personalized invitation letter, please send an email to:
Ane Arregi (ane.arregi@ehu.eus)
Plugging In
Power plugs and sockets of Type C & F are used in Spain. More information on what they look like, how to check if your power plug will work, and more can be found here.
Emergency number
Call 112 in the case of any emergencies
From Arantzazu to ISEE in Munich
Participants are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the close timing of the ISCHE retreat and the ISEE conference in Munich. There are several convenient ways to travel from Arantzazu to Munich after the retreat, either by plane or by train.
Option 1: Flights (via Bilbao). Traveling by air via Bilbao is the fastest and most convenient option. This route requires first reaching Bilbao International Airport from Arantzazu.
- Travel by coach or taxi from Arantzazu to Bilbao International Airport (approximately 1 hour).
- Direct and connecting flights operate regularly between Bilbao and Munich, offering a quick and reliable travel option. Flights are also available from Bilbao to major airports such as Frankfurt or Berlin, if more convenient.
Option 2: Flights (via Biarritz). Traveling via Biarritz is another option. This route requires first reaching Biarritz Airport from Arantzazu.
- Take a taxi from Arantzazu to Biarritz Airport (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes).
- Direct and connecting flights operate regularly between Biarritz and Munich, providing a quick and reliable travel option.
Option 3: By Train (via San Sebastián and Hendaye). Traveling by train offers a scenic and comfortable alternative, combining local and international rail connections.
- Travel by taxi from Arantzazu to San Sebastián (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes).
- Take the Euskotren (local train) from San Sebastián to Hendaye, just across the French border (about 35 minutes). More information is available here.
- From Hendaye, international long-distance trains (via Paris or other major hubs) connect to Munich. More information is available here.
Children are essential to our future and the continuation of human life. Children around the world are confronted by multiple environmental threats to health, including toxins, air pollution, psychosocial stress, and climate change. Infants and children are often exquisitely vulnerable to these threats; exposures during critical windows of vulnerability have been associated with a wide range of childhood diseases. Early life exposures can also increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.