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Monforte de Lemos to Santiago

From Monforte to Santiago: A Journey with History

From Monforte to Santiago: A Journey with History

Starting from

726

Welcome to the remarkable Last 100km of the Camino de Invierno, leading pilgrims from the picturesque town of Monforte de Lemos, known as the capital of the Ribeira Sacra wine-making region, to the sacred destination of Santiago de Compostela.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Ribeira Sacra region, where natural landscapes harmonise with a rich tapestry of archaeological wonders.

Here, pilgrims can marvel at an extraordinary collection of Romanesque religious buildings, making it the epitome of Europe’s Romanesque heritage.
Upon completing the Last 100km of the Camino de Invierno, you will be eligible to receive your Camino Pilgrim Certificate at the prestigious Pilgrim Office in Santiago.

Welcome to the remarkable Last 100km of the Camino de Invierno, leading pilgrims from the picturesque town of Monforte de Lemos, known as the capital of the Ribeira Sacra wine-making region, to the sacred destination of Santiago de Compostela.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Ribeira Sacra region, where natural landscapes harmonise with a rich tapestry of archaeological wonders.

Here, pilgrims can marvel at an extraordinary collection of Romanesque religious buildings, making it the epitome of Europe’s Romanesque heritage.
Upon completing the Last 100km of the Camino de Invierno, you will be eligible to receive your Camino Pilgrim Certificate at the prestigious Pilgrim Office in Santiago.

Stage 2 of 2

136.3km

8 days

Comfort

Popular time

april

Starting from

726

Starting from

726

Route Summary

Stage 2 of 2

136.3km

8 days

Comfort

Popular time

april

Best time to go:

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Popular Time
Good Time
Off/Low Season
Not Possible

Overall

Distance:

15.4 min | 22.7km average | 29.7 max

Ascent:

269.4 min | 569.9m average | 874.2 max

Cardio:

2   3.2   4

Follow the Camino Preview Map Trip 971
Services Availability Advice advice
Food Food
Water Water
Toilet Toilets
Enough Enough

Facilities are sufficient but with some noticeable gaps

Minimal recommended carry per person (keep well hydrated and energy coming in between services places):

  • 1L of water (more depending on the weather)
  • 2-3 snacks, or a light lunch / sandwich to cover longer stretches.
Marking Marking
Enough Enough

Markings are present, but not consistent along the full trip

Have the provided notes/map with you + Use our mobile app with the navigation feature

View the popular times to visit this route

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Popular Time
Good Time
Off/Low Season
Not Possible

Overall

Distance:

15.4 min | 22.7km average | 29.7 max

Ascent:

269.4 min | 569.9m average | 874.2 max

Cardio:

2   3.2   4

Follow the Camino Preview Map Trip 971
Services Availability Advice advice
Food Food
Water Water
Toilet Toilets
Enough Enough

Facilities are sufficient but with some noticeable gaps

Minimal recommended carry per person (keep well hydrated and energy coming in between services places):

  • 1L of water (more depending on the weather)
  • 2-3 snacks, or a light lunch / sandwich to cover longer stretches.
Marking Marking
Enough Enough

Markings are present, but not consistent along the full trip

Have the provided notes/map with you + Use our mobile app with the navigation feature

Highlights

footsteps on camino

Peace

For pilgrims seeking a more contemplative journey with the chance of solitude and fewer crowds on their way to Santiago, this route provides an ideal setting to find inner peace and tranquillity. Discover the Camino less travelled and experience something few pilgrims do.

Cross covered in snow on camino de invierno

Cultural Heritage

Along the Camino de Invierno, walkers will encounter a rich cultural heritage, with historic towns and villages showcasing centuries-old churches, monasteries, and bridges. The route’s historical significance is palpable, and pilgrims have the chance to immerse themselves in the fascinating history and traditions of the Galician and Leonese regions.

Octopus dish

Gastronomic Delights

The Camino de Invierno offers a chance to savour the delicious cuisine of the Galicia and Leon. Along the way, pilgrims can indulge in traditional dishes such as pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus), empanadas (savoury pastries), caldo gallego (Galician broth), and regional wines. Exploring the local culinary scene is an integral part of the Camino journey.

footsteps on camino

Peace

For pilgrims seeking a more contemplative journey with the chance of solitude and fewer crowds on their way to Santiago, this route provides an ideal setting to find inner peace and tranquillity. Discover the Camino less travelled and experience something few pilgrims do.

Cross covered in snow on camino de invierno

Cultural Heritage

Along the Camino de Invierno, walkers will encounter a rich cultural heritage, with historic towns and villages showcasing centuries-old churches, monasteries, and bridges. The route’s historical significance is palpable, and pilgrims have the chance to immerse themselves in the fascinating history and traditions of the Galician and Leonese regions.

Octopus dish

Gastronomic Delights

The Camino de Invierno offers a chance to savour the delicious cuisine of the Galicia and Leon. Along the way, pilgrims can indulge in traditional dishes such as pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus), empanadas (savoury pastries), caldo gallego (Galician broth), and regional wines. Exploring the local culinary scene is an integral part of the Camino journey.

Start Planning Now !

MONFORTE

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Starting from € 726
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Services

Included in this package

Bed & Breakfast

Specially Hand-Picked Accommodation

Our Holiday or Pilgrim Pack

24/7 On-Call Support

Virtual Face-to-Face Pre-Departure Briefing

Add-On

Premium Accommodation

Airport Pick-Up

Additional Nights

Dinners

Luggage Transfers from Hotel to Hotel

Day Tours to Local Sites of Interest

Not included: Flights/trains, Insurance, Drinks/Lunch

Itinerary

Day

1

km miles

MONFORTE

You will be pre-booked into a traditional hotel in the heart of the town. Take the time to to stroll through this historic town and see its castle, many churches, mediaeval city walls, and the complex housing Monforte’s Nosa Señora da Antiga’s School.

Day

2

29.7 km18.5 miles

MONFORTE CHANTADA

Starting from Monforte de Lemos, pilgrims cross the mediaeval bridge and venture towards Campo de San Antonio, passing the historic Clarisas convent and a traditional Galician stone cross. Along the way, encounter charming hamlets and beautiful chapels, traversing forest tracks that lead to the town of Chantada.

Enroute, the picturesque village of Belesar offers stunning vistas of the River Miño, adorned with breathtaking canyons and terraced vineyards. Notably, the village features the renowned ‘Codos de Belesar’, an ancient Roman road.

Day

3

27.6 km17.1 miles

CHANTADA RODEIRO

Leaving Chantada, the Camino de Invierno presents one of its most challenging stretches as it ascends towards Monte Faro and its picturesque chapel. The rewarding climb offers panoramic views where, it is said, one can behold all four provinces of Galicia. Along today’s path, you will encounter numerous ‘cruceiros’ (stone crosses) and ‘petos de animas’ (monuments honouring the souls of the departed), traditionally erected at crossroads to safeguard travellers and pay homage to those who have passed.

Day

4

21.4 km13.3 miles

RODEIRO LALIN

Embark on the final stretch of the Camino de Invierno before it merges with the Via de la Plata in the charming town of Lalin. Today’s stage offers a tranquil and effortless journey, characterised by gentle terrain across serene forests and picturesque farmland nestled on low hills. It’s important to note that there are no services along the way, so be sure to pack ample snacks and water to sustain you throughout the day.

Day

5

15.4 km9.6 miles

LALIN SILLEDA

As the Camino de Invierno merges with the Via de la Plata route, your journey continues from Lalin. Today’s stage is a delightful and relatively short one, a pleasant stroll through rolling hills, serene woodlands, and charming farmlands. Along the way, you will encounter idyllic small hamlets that add a touch of rustic charm to your path. Your destination for the day is Silleda, renowned for its vibrant cattle and country fairs, including the internationally recognised Green Week (Semana Verde).

Day

6

21.1 km13.1 miles

SILLEDA PONTE ULLA

This day first starts with an easy stroll towards Bandeira, a town well-known for its empanadas (Galician pasties). As the day goes on, the Camino continues downhill through farmlands and villages. Just before descending to Ponte Ulla, the old castle is worth a visit. In Ponte Ulla, have a closer look at the Iglesia de Santa Maria de Magdalena and its very detailed Romanesque facade.

Day

7

21 km13.0 miles

PONTE ULLA SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Today is special, not only because it is the last day of this section, but also because it is the finishing line of the whole Camino Mozárabe route! As you leave Ponte Ulla, we first walk up towards Pico Sacro with its Ermita de San Sebastian and wonderful scenic views. The last kilometres to Santiago reflect the rural atmosphere of Galicia and it is sometimes difficult to believe you are so close to such an attractive city. Finally you reach Santiago De Compostela and its world-famous cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day

8

km miles

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

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.

Day

1

km miles

MONFORTE

You will be pre-booked into a traditional hotel in the heart of the town. Take the time to to stroll through this historic town and see its castle, many churches, mediaeval city walls, and the complex housing Monforte’s Nosa Señora da Antiga’s School.

Day

2

29.7 km18.5 miles

MONFORTE CHANTADA

Starting from Monforte de Lemos, pilgrims cross the mediaeval bridge and venture towards Campo de San Antonio, passing the historic Clarisas convent and a traditional Galician stone cross. Along the way, encounter charming hamlets and beautiful chapels, traversing forest tracks that lead to the town of Chantada.

Enroute, the picturesque village of Belesar offers stunning vistas of the River Miño, adorned with breathtaking canyons and terraced vineyards. Notably, the village features the renowned ‘Codos de Belesar’, an ancient Roman road.

Day

3

27.6 km17.1 miles

CHANTADA RODEIRO

Leaving Chantada, the Camino de Invierno presents one of its most challenging stretches as it ascends towards Monte Faro and its picturesque chapel. The rewarding climb offers panoramic views where, it is said, one can behold all four provinces of Galicia. Along today’s path, you will encounter numerous ‘cruceiros’ (stone crosses) and ‘petos de animas’ (monuments honouring the souls of the departed), traditionally erected at crossroads to safeguard travellers and pay homage to those who have passed.

Day

4

21.4 km13.3 miles

RODEIRO LALIN

Embark on the final stretch of the Camino de Invierno before it merges with the Via de la Plata in the charming town of Lalin. Today’s stage offers a tranquil and effortless journey, characterised by gentle terrain across serene forests and picturesque farmland nestled on low hills. It’s important to note that there are no services along the way, so be sure to pack ample snacks and water to sustain you throughout the day.

Day

5

15.4 km9.6 miles

LALIN SILLEDA

As the Camino de Invierno merges with the Via de la Plata route, your journey continues from Lalin. Today’s stage is a delightful and relatively short one, a pleasant stroll through rolling hills, serene woodlands, and charming farmlands. Along the way, you will encounter idyllic small hamlets that add a touch of rustic charm to your path. Your destination for the day is Silleda, renowned for its vibrant cattle and country fairs, including the internationally recognised Green Week (Semana Verde).

Day

6

21.1 km13.1 miles

SILLEDA PONTE ULLA

This day first starts with an easy stroll towards Bandeira, a town well-known for its empanadas (Galician pasties). As the day goes on, the Camino continues downhill through farmlands and villages. Just before descending to Ponte Ulla, the old castle is worth a visit. In Ponte Ulla, have a closer look at the Iglesia de Santa Maria de Magdalena and its very detailed Romanesque facade.

Day

7

21 km13.0 miles

PONTE ULLA SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Today is special, not only because it is the last day of this section, but also because it is the finishing line of the whole Camino Mozárabe route! As you leave Ponte Ulla, we first walk up towards Pico Sacro with its Ermita de San Sebastian and wonderful scenic views. The last kilometres to Santiago reflect the rural atmosphere of Galicia and it is sometimes difficult to believe you are so close to such an attractive city. Finally you reach Santiago De Compostela and its world-famous cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day

8

km miles

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

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.

How to Get There

Getting to Monforte de Lemos, Spain

To get to Monforte, it is best to fly to Madrid or to Santiago de Compostela. You will need to travel to Monforte from Santiago.

Fly into Madrid

Virtually every airline flies to Madrid, from locations all over Europe. Once you arrive in Madrid Airport, you can catch the train to Atocha Station, or get a taxi. The train from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela takes 5 hours and 30 minutes.

    Fly into Santiago de Compostela

    Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Iberia/BA fly direct to Santiago de Compostela from the UK and Ireland. Ryanair flies from Stansted, Iberia/BA operates from Gatwick and Aer Lingus operates from Dublin. Santiago de Compostela can also be reached by a number of locations around Spain and Portugal, as well as major European cities. Iberia offers the best selection of flights and you can fly to and from Santiago De Compostela returning to Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Bilbao, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma, Seville, Tenerife and Valencia. To get to Monforte, you will need to get 2 public transport links from the Santiago Airport or we can organise a private airport transfer. First you take a shuttle bus from the airport (departing every 30 minutes) to the city centre. Then, you can either head for the bus station and get a direct bus to Monforte (a 4 hour journey) or go to the train station and go on to Monforte (a 2-hour journey which includes a transfer at Ourense). For the train schedule and ticket information, please visit Renfe.

      Starting Point

      1 – From Madrid, train 5h30, several per day. 2 – From Santiago de Compostela. Bus 4h, several per day or Train 6h, several per day.

        Getting home from Santiago de Compostela, Spain

        Fly from Santiago de Compostela

        Shuttle buses from Santiago city centre to the airport depart every 20 minutes.

          Getting to Monforte de Lemos, Spain

          To get to Monforte, it is best to fly to Madrid or to Santiago de Compostela. You will need to travel to Monforte from Santiago.

          Fly into Madrid

          Virtually every airline flies to Madrid, from locations all over Europe. Once you arrive in Madrid Airport, you can catch the train to Atocha Station, or get a taxi. The train from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela takes 5 hours and 30 minutes.

            Fly into Santiago de Compostela

            Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Iberia/BA fly direct to Santiago de Compostela from the UK and Ireland. Ryanair flies from Stansted, Iberia/BA operates from Gatwick and Aer Lingus operates from Dublin. Santiago de Compostela can also be reached by a number of locations around Spain and Portugal, as well as major European cities. Iberia offers the best selection of flights and you can fly to and from Santiago De Compostela returning to Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Bilbao, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma, Seville, Tenerife and Valencia. To get to Monforte, you will need to get 2 public transport links from the Santiago Airport or we can organise a private airport transfer. First you take a shuttle bus from the airport (departing every 30 minutes) to the city centre. Then, you can either head for the bus station and get a direct bus to Monforte (a 4 hour journey) or go to the train station and go on to Monforte (a 2-hour journey which includes a transfer at Ourense). For the train schedule and ticket information, please visit Renfe.

              Starting Point

              1 – From Madrid, train 5h30, several per day. 2 – From Santiago de Compostela. Bus 4h, several per day or Train 6h, several per day.

                Getting home from Santiago de Compostela, Spain

                Fly from Santiago de Compostela

                Shuttle buses from Santiago city centre to the airport depart every 20 minutes.

                  Frequently Asked Questions

                  What is the distance and how many days does the Camino de Invierno take from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago?
                  The route from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago covers about 136.3 km and is typically completed in 8 days. This stretch corresponds to the “Last 100 km” of the Camino de Invierno, making it ideal to qualify for the Compostela.
                  How physically demanding is the section from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago of the Camino de Invierno?
                  This stage is considered moderate, though some days involve long stretches of walking and gradual climbs and descents, particularly through Galicia’s hilly and mountainous areas. You’ll pass through forests, river valleys, and peaceful rural paths, making the effort worthwhile thanks to the beautiful surroundings. Having a reasonable level of fitness and some prior walking experience will make the route more comfortable. We also suggest following our training plan to help you get ready.
                  When is the best time to walk the Camino de Invierno from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago?
                  The Camino de Invierno was originally created as a safer alternative to the Camino Francés, giving pilgrims the chance to experience Galicia’s beauty even in tougher seasons. You can walk it year‑round, but spring through early autumn is particularly lovely, with more stable weather and the landscapes at their most vibrant. During these months, the Ribeira Sacra region is especially stunning, with its vineyards, river canyons, and Romanesque churches — making every day of walking as scenic as it is rewarding.
                  Will the section from Monforte to Santiago qualify me for the Compostela certificate?
                  Yes — walking from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago covers the last 100 km of the Camino de Invierno, so you’re eligible to apply for the Compostela once you arrive. Make sure to get your credencial stamped at the albergues and stops along the way — we include the credencial in your Holiday Pack. For full details on the Compostela certificate, see our blog: “How to Get Your Camino Compostela Certificate – The Pilgrim Office Santiago
                  Is the Camino de Invierno from Monforte de Lemos to Santiago de Compostela well-marked?
                  Yes — this section is marked with the classic yellow arrows and scallop shells, so it’s easy to follow most of the way. To make navigation even simpler, the Follow the Camino App includes a detailed map of the route, showing the exact path plus all your accommodations along the way. You can read more about how the app supports your trip here: Introducing the New Follow the Camino App: Your Ultimate Travel Companion.

                  Start Planning your Adventure Now

                  Walk the Camino to experience what is set to be the biggest Camino experience of the
                  century so far. Embrace your freedom to explore and challenge yourself to walk the Camino.

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