Camino Frances Short Days: Sarria to Santiago

Make your way to your hotel in Sarria in time to enjoy your first evening meal, and get a good rest before you begin your Camino. If you are feeling energised before your walk, visit the town’s main religious sites, Convento de la Magdalena and Iglesia Santa Marina de Sarria.

We begin this section with a very enjoyable day of leisurely walking. Straight after leaving Sarria, you will head deep into the Galician rural landscapes, walking through numerous typical hamlets and farmland areas. Our destination is the tranquil hamlet of Morgade, which we should arrive in by mid-afternoon (depending on your pace).

This section is similar to yesterday’s walk as we continue our way through rural Galicia, crossing a few typical hamlets and walking through farmlands. The day ends when crossing over the Belesar Dam, nestled in the valley of Portomarin.

Leaving Portomarin, we start the day with a long (but steady) uphill trek through woodlands out of the valley of Portomarin. The Camino meets up several times with the national road, but nonetheless most of the day is spent going through woodlands and briar.

We continue along narrows country trails through a few hamlets, with many gentle up and downhill sections until we reach Palas de Rei. While you are here, visit the town’s Castillo de Pambre and Iglesia de San Salvador de Vilar de Donas and enjoy a nice meal in one of the town’s squares.

Today, the Camino continues slightly downhill, passing the village of Casanova and the charming village of Leboreiro. At Melide (a steady elevation of 454m), stop in one of the many restaurants to try some local specialties such as octopus a la gallega (boiled octopus served with olive oil, paprika, and salt.

This is the perfect start as the stroll quickly leaves Melide and heads off into quiet countryside, along forest track and through a few hamlets. At Boente de Ariba, you will pass by the ancient Church of Santiago before continuing through a forest track and reaching Catanada. You will then cross a few streams, and then you are at the last stretch to Arzua . Once in Arzua, you can then relax in the hotel.

This shaded section of the Camino will pass through woods, along streams, and through sleepy villages. Take your time and visit the chapel of Santa Irena, with its unique statues of Santiago. The rest of the way to Rua-O Pino is on a quiet country road. Rua (at an elevation of 310m) is one of the less crowded stopping points before Santiago de Compostela.

The first few kilometres after Rua are mainly spent travelling through wood and farmlands on forest tracks and quiet country roads. After passing through the hamlet of San Paio, a few steep uphill tracks lead you to Lavacolla, a long established landmark on the Camino.

Lavacolla was once the last village crossed by pilgrims before reaching their ultimate goal in Santiago De Compostela. Leaving it behind you, you continue up and down through the quiet countryside before reaching the famous Monte de Gozo where pilgrims used to see the cathedral for the first time after weeks of walking. Soon after, you will enter the city of Santiago!

After breakfast, we bid you farewell.
If you wish to stay in the area, we recommend that you:
– Take your time and visit the magnificent historic centre of Santiago.
– Continue with us along the wild Camino Fisterra (Finisterre Way), and stay overnight at the hotel in the lighthouse!
– Or take a bus to Fisterra to visit the unspoilt sandy coves and beaches of the west coast. With very few tourists, you are guaranteed a very special experience. Buses depart from Santiago Bus Station at 9am and 10am. Buses return to Santiago at 4:45pm and 7pm. The journey takes 3 hours.