A Week on the Camino (self-guided)

On arrival at Santiago airport, you will be met by a Peregrine representative and transferred to your hotel in Sarria, the province of Lugo – just over 100 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela. There is no walking scheduled for today, so you can arrive at any time. In your hotel upon check in, you will receive a Welcome Pack. It is a pack of essential information and documents for your trip including very detailed Travel Book with updated itinerary, route notes and maps, Pilgrim Passport, which you need in order to receive Camino certificate upon completion of your trip!), hotel and meal vouchers, luggage tags and some extra information about the places you are going to visit on your route. This Welcome Pack is an essential piece for your trip, so please make sure you will check all included information and make yourself familiar with details of exciting route that lay ahead.
For dinner, the charming restaurant at Hotel Roma in Sarria is highly recommended.

Begin the first stage of your walk. Throughout the course of the week you will become familiar with the yellow arrows and scallop-shell symbols that guide you. For centuries this shell has been the symbol of the Camino and there are a few different interpretations of its meaning, ranging from mythical and metaphorical to practical. The walk today takes you past many small hamlets. As you walk along the Rua Maior (Maior Street) to the Magdalena Monastery and cross the beautiful Bridge of Aspera, bid farewell to Sarria. Continuing through beautiful countryside and crossing a small idyllic stream, an uphill climb takes you to the villages of Vilei and Bardadelo. Barbadelo’s church is a perfect example of rural Galician Romanesque architecture. The Camino then winds along a dirt track through farming fields flanked by trees. Pass through the hamlets of Leimán and Peruscallo. The section from Peruscallo to the village of Brea (the official 100 km mark) is one of the most beautiful sections of the route. Continue through Mirallos and arrive at Penas, then take a downhill stone track to Moimentos, followed by Mercadoiro, Moutros, Parrocha and Vilachá. A steep descent brings you to the historic town of Portomarin, your base for the night.

Today's walk should take approximately 5–6 hours and is 23 km long.

With the Church of San Nicolás in your shadow, you will leave Portomarin today and make your way to Lestedo. Following a beautiful uphill track, then a road for a short section, an ascent takes you to a local farm and then to the town of Toxibo. At this point you will come to a very well preserved 'hórreo', which is a granary on stilts, typical to northern Spain. At the village of Gonzar you have the opportunity to stop at a peaceful rest area for pilgrims. After you pass through Gonzar, a steep uphill trail takes you to the small village of Castromaior. Soon you will reach a milestone that marks 80 kilometres. From Ventas de Narón, a short ascent takes you to Monte de Ligonde. Once at the top, take a downhill trail to Ligonde and then ascend to Eirexe. From here, make your way to Lestedo – a tranquil spot and the location of your 'feature stay' for this trip.

Today's walk should take approximately 4–5 hours and is 21 km long.

Today the Camino follows the path from Lestedo to Melida. An uphill climb takes you to Os Valos before you descend slowly to the pretty town of Palas de Rei, one of the most important towns on the pilgrim’s route in Galicia. Its large and partially canopied town square is the focal point of the town, home to a town hall made of granite and whitewash render (a typical example of the region's architecture). Leaving Palas behind, you will enter the beautiful countryside on your approach to the lovely village of San Xulián. The trail then leads you through oak groves to Casanova, and you are soon at the border of the provinces of Lugo and A Coruña. When you reach Leboreiro you will notice its modest Romanesque church. Inside is a carved image of the Virgin Mary. In Furelos you will see a four-arch medieval stone bridge. Your final destination today is Melide, one of the largest towns on the pilgrim’s route in Galicia.

Today's walk should take approximately 4–5 hours and is 19 km long.

Bid farewell to Melide and wind your way along the quiet country roads and through beautiful countryside en route to the city of Arzúa – the point at which the Camino Frances (French Way) meets the Camino del North (North Way). Along the way, you will pass the ancient pilgrimage villages of Boente, Barona and Vilantime. Cross a bridge and follow the downward path that leads you to the restored village of Ribadiso on the banks of the Iso River. Continue and arrive at Arzúa, your base for the night. A small park in the town is a popular meeting point for the locals and provides an interesting insight into local village life. Some of Arzúa’s main monuments include the 14th-century Capilla de la Magdalena and the 20th-century Iglesia de Santiago. Be sure to try some of the famous local cheese (‘queixo’ in Galician or ‘queso’ in Spanish) – it’s available for sale in many of the town’s shops and restaurants.

Today's walk should take approximately 3–4 hours and is 15 km long.

Today you will complete one of the final stages of the Camino de Santiago. This stretch of the walk takes you through agricultural meadows, landscapes of oak and eucalyptus and a collection of sleepy villages such as Ferreiros, Boavista, O Castro and Salceda. Soon after Salceda, you will pass a monument dedicated to the pilgrim Guillermo Watt who died at this point when making his journey to Santiago. Next you will pass through Xen and Ras into Brea. From Brea, continue along the road to Santa Irene. A highlight of the day is a visit to the beautiful chapel of Santa Irene, a beautiful building with unique statues of St James (Santiago). A continuous, quiet country road then takes you eventually to your next stop, Rúa, one of the quieter places before Santiago de Compostela.

Today's walk should take approximately 4–5 hours and is 19 km long.

Embark on the final and key stage of the Camino de Santiago, with your ultimate goal, the city of Santiago de Compostela, in your sights. After leaving Rúa, pass through San Paio and the village of Lavacolla. Pilgrims in ancient times would wash in the stream here before continuing to Santiago. An uphill climb takes you to the village of Vilarmaior, then a gradual ascent sees you reach Monte do Gozo. It’s at this point that ancient pilgrims experienced their first views of the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago. This is a great spot to sit back, reflect and enjoy a well-earned rest before leaving the rural landscapes behind and heading into the urban sprawl of the city. As you come to the end of the final leg, you will walk through the town to the magnificent Plaza del Obradoiro and then to the gates of the marvellous Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. After you’ve rested and rejuvenated, take the time to wander around the historic quarter of the city. Perhaps obtain your Compostela certificate while here – provided you have stamps in your Pilgrim Passport as proof of completion of the last 100 kilometres (see your detailed route notes for more information).

Today's walk should take about 4–5 hours and is 19 km long.

Your journey comes to an end after breakfast in Santiago de Compostela. You may wish to book additional nights' accommodation to explore the city some more. You can also book an optional departure transfer to the airport if you wish.