Camino de Santiago – The Northern Way | 11 Days

DAY 1:                                                  RIBADEO

Make your own way to Ribadeo, a seaside town where you will get lost in the streets of the old town, but you will also visit its marina. The Moreno Tower and its lighthouse, located on Pancha Island, will leave you impressed. Hotel accommodation.

DAY 2:                                                   RIBADEO – VILLAMARTÍN GRANDE | 17 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. You will first walk through the historic centre and gradually leave the town centre to enter a natural environment. You will ascend until you reach the Ermita del Carmen in Vilela. You will continue walking without big slopes and then descend to the small village of A Ponte de Arante. After this small village you will find a steep ascent that will lead you to an asphalted track that will take you to the village of Villamartín Pequeño. From the latter you will ascend until you reach the Chapel of the Virgen del Carmen in Villamartín Grande. From here, you will go to Ribadeo, where you will spend the night. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 3:                                                  VILLAMARTÍN GRANDE – MONDOÑEDO | 18 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. We will take you from Ribadeo to Villamartín Grande to start the stage descending and flat, but soon you will begin to climb to reach the church of San Xusto de Cabarcos. From San Xusto you will descend to Lourenzá. You enter Lourenzá by crossing a bridge over the Batán river. After a steep climb at the end of Lourenzá, the Way will gradually become less steep and you will descend to reach Arroxo. You will pass the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Carballal. From the parish church of San Pedro, you descend to the national road. Once on the flat, you will walk through the first streets of Mondoñedo, to its historic centre, declared a World Heritage Historic-Artistic Site, where you will find its splendid Cathedral, and you will taste the authentic Mondoñedo Cake! Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 4:                                                  MONDOÑEDO – ABADÍN | 17 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. You will start from the Cathedral of Mondoñedo and gradually start to climb up a tarmac road, which will give you wonderful views of Mondoñedo. Ascend for about a kilometre and you will begin to enjoy magnificent views of the Valiñadares Valley. Continue along this road through the woods, flattening out, until you reach the small village of Lousada at the bottom of the valley. Further on you will cross the Arroyo de Carballo stream. You will pass the hermitage of San Cosme da Montaña. Descend to Gontán and after a short ascent you will enter Abadín. You will travel from Abadín to Mondoñedo. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 5:                                                  ABADÍN – VILALBA | 22 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. We will take you from Mondoñedo to Abadín to start the stage that will take you to Vilalba through the Terra Chá region. You will cross the Abadín stream and pass through the parishes of Ponterroxal, O Rei and Candia. After crossing the river Arnela, a few steps further on, you will reach the village of Castromaior. Continue on to the hamlet of Martiñán. Cross the river Batán over the bridge Ponte Vella de Martinán. Continue to Goririz and once on the national road, you will pass the Pilgrims’ Hostel of Vilalba and from there you will only have 2 kilometres left to reach the centre of Vilalba. This town is the capital of Terra Chá (Flat Land) and is dominated by the Tower of the Counts of Andrade, today the Parador Nacional de Vilalba. Very close to the tower is a tree with a name of its own, the Pravia, which is a white maple. You will have time to wander around and get to know this beautiful town. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 6:                                                  VILALBA – SEIXÓN | 32 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. You will leave Vilalba downhill, but soon you will cross a bridge over the Magdalena River next to the Rañego Mill, and shortly after you will reach the medieval Rodriguez Bridge, through which you will cross the Trimaz River. You will pass through the villages of Seara, Gabín and As Turbelas and a few kilometres further on you will reach San Xoan de Alba. Continue along the flat route until you reach the national road at Baamonde, passing Pedrouzos and Pígara. Continue along the national road parallel to the railway line and the river Parga, which you will cross a little further on at the San Alberte Bridge. A few metres further on you will find the San Alberte Chapel and its Cruceiro. You will continue past Santa Leocadia (Carballedo) until you reach Seixón. We will take you to Regüela, where you will spend the night. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 7:                                                  SEIXÓN – SOBRADO DOS MONXES | 29 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. From Seixón you will start walking along a secondary road that will take you to A Lagoa. You will pass through the small villages of Miraz, A Roxica, A Cabana, A Marcela, Corteporcos and O Mesón. Shortly after the parish of A Anuqueira you will follow the road that will take you to the lake of Sobrado dos Monxes and continue along it until you reach the centre of Sobrado dos Monxes, a small village with a large monastery, Monasterio de Santa María de Sobrado. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 8:                                                  SOBRADO DOS MONXES – ARZÚA | 26 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. You will walk along the main road until you reach the village of Vilarchao. You will climb up to the parish of Castro. Further on you will pass through the villages of Froxa and Madelos. You continue through a beautiful forest until you reach the village of Corredoiras. Shortly after, you will find the village of Boimorto, cross it, and continue your walk passing through the villages of Sendelle, Piñeiro and Vilar. Arrival at Arzúa, the “Land of Cheese”, where

the Northern Way joins the French Way. In this town, you will be able to taste its famous and delicious cheese with the Arzúa-Ulloa Designation of Origin. You will have the opportunity to visit the Honey and Cheese Interpretation Centre. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 9:                                                  ARZÚA – RÚA | 20 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. You will start the stage at the Church of Santiago de Arzúa, already on the French Way. Gradually through its streets you will reach a dirt track. First you will ascend to Preguntoño and then descend to A Calzada. From this small village you will continue your walk, flat, until you reach Salceda. You will continue passing O Empalme and Santa Irene, where the Chapel of Santa Irene is located. After a forest of eucalyptus trees, you will reach the small village of Rúa, a very rural place. Just one kilometre from Rúa is Pedrouzo, where you will find souvenir shops, restaurants, etc. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 10:                                                RÚA – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA | 20 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. You will ascend to O Pedrouzo. Once on the plain, you will border this village through a eucalyptus forest that will take you to Amenal. From here, you gradually start to climb, bordering one of the runways of Santiago de Compostela Airport until you reach San Paio, where you can stamp your Pilgrim’s Credential in its small church. You will leave this small village on the ascent, and then flatten out until you reach Lavacolla. A little further on you will leave on your right the river where all the pilgrims washed themselves to arrive purified to the tomb of the Apostle Santiago. Then, you will begin to climb up to Monte do Gozo, passing the facilities of the Galician Television and Spanish Radio and Television. You will reach San Marcos and a few metres further on you will find the Chapel and the Monte do Gozo Monument. You will only have four kilometres left to reach Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, located in the Plaza del Obradoiro. You will be able to visit the countless tourist attractions that this marvellous city has to offer. You will lose yourself in the streets of its historic centre and, no doubt, you will buy some typical product such as the Tarta de Santiago or the Piedras de Santiago. Hotel accommodation. (B)

DAY 11:                                                SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Breakfast at the hotel. End of our services. (B)

Includes:

–          10 nights’ accommodation in 1, 2, 3 or 4-star hotels and rural tourism establishments

–          Private ensuite rooms

–          Daily breakfast

–          Luggage transportation during the different stages (one bag per person, 20 kg max)

–          Pilgrim’s Credential

Things to Note/Supplier Support:

–          With the assistance of the operator, you will be able to live this experience: The Northern Way on your own and with complete independence.

–          We will organize all the details so you can enjoy your way with no worries at all.

–          We will be at your entire disposal to assist you before and during the Way.

–          At your arrival you will receive all the necessary information and the pilgrim´s kit