Camino Highlights: From Sarria via Santiago to the Sea

Arrival by public bus or private transfer to Sarria. Sarria is a small town in Galicia and the last place where you can start your Camino and collect your Compostela. If you arrive early, we strongly recommend taking a taxi to Samos and visiting the Monastery that was founded in the 6th century and has welcomed pilgrims since then.

Setting off for Portomarin, you pass Sarria Castle and start your first walk of the Camino, mainly along small country roads and a few pathways. Most of the roads are tree-lined and will provide good shade in the sun. There are hamlets every kilometre or so. You will not have to worry about water or food, and whenever you sit down and take a short rest, you will hear interesting stories from other pilgrims.



Walking for the day: 22km, 5-6 hours, ↑200 m ↓300 m

Today the Camino crosses the Minho river and then steadily climbs upwards before passing through Gonzar and Castromaior, where the tiny Romanesque Church of Santa Maria is situated. Continue along country roads edged by bright yellow gorse, pine and oak trees to reach the high point of today’s walk at Sierra de Ligonde (750 m), then descend to the old hamlet of Ligonde, once a popular resting point along the Camino. For the last 3km leading into Palas de Rei, you will walk on a dirt track alongside the main road.



Walking for the day: 24km, 6 hours, ↑450 m ↓300 m

Option 1: Start one of the longest but technically very easy sections of the route. Pilgrims consider this section the start of the countdown because shortly after Coto, there are stone markers at the side of the path with the distance to Santiago marked. Much of the day is shaded, and shortly after Melide, you will walk through oak and eucalyptus forests. Melide is where the Camino Primitivo merges with the Camino Frances. You can also ask your hosts to be taken to the Pambre Castle in the morning and take a shortcut to Coto, away from the busy roads. Relax on the river bank at Ribadiso before ascending to Arzua.



Walking for the day: 29km, 7 hours, ↑225 m ↓400 m

Upon leaving Arzua, perhaps pick up some delicious cheese for lunch; then continue through the old quarter of the town as the walk leads past sturdy oak trees, which give way to lush meadows. Visit the medieval shrine at Santa Irene and the Baroque fountain of healing waters. While not as spectacular as on the previous day, today’s walk will enable you to make many new friends among the pilgrims going to Santiago.



Walking for the day: 19.3 km, 4-5 hours, ↑200 m ↓225 m (22 km if you overnight in Amenal)

Your final stage! You will walk mostly through rural settings and eucalyptus groves. At Monte del Gozo, pilgrims historically make one last stop at the spring in Lavacolla to wash face and feet before presenting themselves before the Saint. Enter the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela and relish the end of your journey at the Cathedral.



Walking for the day: 19.4km, 5 hours, ↑175 m ↓175 m (16km if starting in Amenal)

Explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela. Do not miss the midday mass at the Cathedral if you did not manage yesterday. The winding streets of the old city throw so much history at you that it is almost overwhelming. There is a Pilgrim’s museum, a great modern art gallery. In the evening, enjoy the fantastic seafood and white wines that Galicia is so famous for.

Head along the route through the Lost Pilgrims’ gateway, downhill through eucalyptus and pine forests to the river Sar. Continue through the parish of Figueiras, then Villestro, Roxos and Alto do Vento. When you reach Augapesada climb up to the top of Mar de Ovellas, with magnificent views over the valley of Amaía. Go through Carballo, Trasmonte, Reino and Burgueiros, and arrive at the River Tambre over the Ponte Maceira bridge. Then take a wooded footpath next to the river, go up to Chancela and reach Negreira.



Walking for the day: 21km, 5 hours, ↑475 m ↓545 m

Leave Negreira by crossing the Barcala River. The native vegetation and the beauty of the landscape preside over these first kilometres: cornfields, pine trees and eucalyptus, together with a genuine popular architecture evident in granaries like As Maroñas, and Romanesque churches such as Santa Mariña. Leave Santa Mariña heading to the Mount Aro (556 m). From here part of the region of Terra de Xallas can be seen. This territory is well-known for its basketry craft and its original women’s hats made of straw. After Aro, you will pass by Campo Valado, Porteliñas, Abeleiroas and the viewpoint of Corzón. After Mallón, you will reach Ponte Olveira and then the centre of Olveiroa.



Walking for the day: 34km, 8 hours, ↑535 m ↓410 m (an optional taxi transfer is possible for this day to allow you to start in Vilaseiro. By taking the transfer the first 10 km of the walk is eliminated making for a much easier day’s walking; cost is about EUR 20 – ask for it at the hotel and pay on site)

From Olveiroa, the Camino follows Xallas and Hospital rivers to Logoso and takes the pilgrims past the Nosa Señora Chapel (Our Lady). After the chapel, the trail continues downhill through the pine groves of Alto do Cruceiro da Armada. Today’s walk is less hilly and quite scenic, taking you between mountains, windmills and forests for your first sighting of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Finisterre. Reach the peak of San Pedro and make your way slowly down the steep hill to the charming village of Cee with its small sandy cove and colourful fishing boats.

Leave Cee, and very quickly you will arrive at Corcubión with its old quarter declared a historical-artistic site. From Corcubión, tackle a steep hill that leads to Campo de San Roque and the village of Vilar. You will then follow the coastline and the long and beautiful Langosteira beach to arrive at Finisterre (Fisterra). From there then you come to the mythical lighthouse, referred to as ‘kilometre 0’ of the Camino de Santiago. The ocean opens up before us like a wide-angle lens, while all possible sensations come together on this cape at the end of the world.



Walking for the day: 16km, 4 hours, ↑310 m ↓245 m

Departure after breakfast. There are several buses that run every day back to Santiago where you can pick up your onward travel