One of the most authentic experiences of the routes that lead to Santiago: walking the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo, in its entirety, to finish in Santiago. The name "primitive" is due to the fact that it was born of one of the first pilgrimages to the recently discovered tomb of the apostle St. James the Greater. It was in the 9th century when King Alfonso II and his retinue left the capital of Oviedo to travel to Compostela, thus defining a route that coincides almost 100% with the current one and which perfectly combines services and tranquillity.
Itinerary
Primitive Way from Oviedo
▌Day 1. Welcome to Oviedo, where the Way of St. James begins
Welcome to the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago. On this first day you should arrive in the Asturian capital from your place of origin. We recommend you do it as soon as possible to enjoy the city or, if it is not possible, book an extra night to get to know it at your leisure. It deserves no less.
Oviedo - in Asturian Uviéu - is one of the most impressive cities in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, and it is also a perfect place from which to visit some of the nearby points of interest, such as the temples of Naranco and Lillo or the mythical sanctuary of Covadonga.
▌Day 2. Stage Oviedo - Grado
Distance: 27 km. Duration: 6:30 hours Accommodation: Grade
Oviedo was the capital of the only Christian kingdom on the peninsula that was not conquered by the Arab expansion that gave rise to the Umayyad Caliphate, and from there, in the 9th century, King Alfonso II set out for Compostela when he received news from the bishop of Iria Flavia of the discovery of the tomb of the favourite of the apostles. That journey made him the first known pilgrim, and the route he followed is what is known today as the Primitive Way.
The destination of the day, which runs through the impressive central Asturian landscape, is Grado - a small town that is a crossroads and also a crossroads of medieval and Indian architectural references.
▌Day 3. Stage Grado - Salas
Distance: 21 km. Duration: 5 hours Accommodation: Chambers
The third day of your adventure on the Primitive Way from Oviedo takes you through Cornellana, home to the magnificent monastery of San Salvador. From there, along the valley of the river Nonaya and between small villages, you will reach the beautiful historic centre of Salas, where you will find remains that bear witness to the great importance of this town in the past: the Santa María la Mayor Collegiate Church, the Tower and the Palace of Valdés. Be sure to visit the Pre-Romanesque Museum.
▌Day 4. Stage Salas - Tineo
Distance: 22.3 km. Duration: 5:30 a.m. Accommodation: Tineo
A day to ascend towards La Espina, between meadows and forests of oak and chestnut trees which, on this route, will become your most faithful fellows. You can also enjoy the rural architecture through examples such as the church of Santa María and its transept in Porciles, or the chapel of Cristo de los Afligidos (Christ of the Sorrowful ones) at La Espina. The end of the stage at Tineo (in Asturian, Tinéu) will not disappoint you.
▌Day 5. Stage Tineo - Pola de Allande
Distance30.2 km. Duration7:30 a.m. Accommodation: Pola de Allande
As the walker enters the western region of Asturias, he will notice how the ecological and scenic richness that characterises this Primitive Way increases. The day will end in the charming village of Pola de Allande (La Puela), the perfect place for a well-deserved rest after one of the hardest days on this route, with many slopes and changes in level.
▌Day 6. Stage Pola de Allande - Berducedo
Distance: 20.5 km. Duration: 5 hours AccommodationBerducedo
Another day on this Primitive Way through the impressive mountains of western Asturias. It will be time to climb the Palo pass (1,147 metres above sea level), from where you can enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding area.
The day ends in Berducedo, the perfect place to try its famous corn "tortos" and, of course, to continue enjoying the unbeatable Asturian gastronomy.
▌Day 7. Stage Berducedo - Grandas de Salime
Distance: 22 km. Duration: 5:30 a.m. AccommodationGrandas de Salime
The last fully Asturian stage of this Primitive Way from Oviedo, which will take you from Berducedo to Grandas de Salime, bordering the beautiful reservoir of this town. The views from the Ballena viewpoint are simply unforgettable. And in Grandas be sure to visit some of its interesting monuments, such as the collegiate church of El Salvador.
▌Day 8. Stage Grandes de Salime - A Fonsagrada
Distance: 27.4 km. Duration: 6:30 hours Accommodation: A Fonsagrada
On this day you will cross the official border between Asturias and Galicia to realize how few — very few — things change. The route will take you to the O Acebo pass, in Os Ancares mountain range, more than 1,110 metres above sea level. Small churches, hermitages and chapels dot the route, arranging the territory covered with small villages dedicated to agriculture and livestock farming.
▌Day 9. Stage A Fonsagrada - O Cádabo
Distance: 25.1 km. Duration: 6 hours Accommodation: O Cádavo
Penultimate day before reaching the other big city on the Camino de Santiago: Lugo. Today you will reach O Cádavo, a small village that is the capital of the municipality of Baleira. The route passes by the ruins of the Hospital de Montouto, founded in the 14th century to provide shelter for pilgrims making the journey in those days. Next to it, the prehistoric remains of Pedras Dereitas travel much further back in time and allow us to imagine other cultures and religiosities.
▌Day 10. Stage O Cádavo - Lugo
Distance: 31.3 km. Duration7:30 a.m. Accommodation: Lugo
Last stage of your adventure on the Primitive Way from Oviedo before reaching Lugo, in which you will cover the distance from O Cádavo to the capital of Lugo, the first city on the Camino de Santiago since it began in Asturias. Another day of rural scenery that becomes more densely populated as you approach Lugo, one of the great historic cities of Galicia since Roman times.
▌Day 11. Stage Lugo - A Ponte Ferreira
Distance: 29.1 km. Duration: 6:30 hours AccommodationA Ponte Ferreira
You will leave Lugo through the Porta de Santiago, which thousands of pilgrims have crossed over the centuries, to meet the river Miño and continue your journey towards the tiny village of A Ponte Ferreira, the perfect place to regain your strength and spend the night.
You will walk along secondary roads and trails amidst the characteristic rural landscape of inland Galicia.
▌Day 12. Stage A Ponte Ferreira - Melide
Distance: 21.3 km. Duration: 5 hours. Accommodation: Melide
The last stage of the Primitive Way from Oviedo before joining the French Way. The junction takes place in Melide, a village with an undoubtedly Camino flavour. From there you will notice a clear increase in the number of pilgrims, so we recommend you make the most of the last kilometres of this primitive route, much quieter and more solitary. And speaking of "flavour", if you are interested in gastronomy, in Melide you can't miss the octopus. á feira - which has a long tradition here - and melindres: the typical local dessert.
▌Day 13. Stage Melide - Arzúa
Distance: 15.2 km. Duration: 4 hours. Accommodation: Arzúa
A short stage awaits you on the thirteenth day. Less than 15 km to adapt your pace to that of the French Way, which traditionally stops in Arzúa. This stage may be hard for walkers coming from Palas de Rei on the French Way, but those coming on the Primitive Way from Lugo or Oviedo are already used to the continuous changes in level. In any case, the day promises paths among centenary trees and beautiful spots, such as Ribadiso: the anteroom to Arzúa.
▌Day 14. Stage Arzúa - O Pedrouzo
Distance: 21 km. Duration: 5 hours. Accommodation: O Pedrouzo
Another day of this Primitive Way from Oviedo marked by the presence of wonderful landscapes between forests and meadows that will accompany you during today's stage. You will notice that you will pass through villages much more frequently than in previous stages. It is not for nothing that you are approaching Compostela. At the end of the stage, you will find yourself in O Pedrouzo, a modern town, which has grown in recent years, and which offers a special hospitality to walkers.
▌Day 15. Stage O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 18 km. Duration: 4:30 hours. Accommodation: Santiago de Compostela
Finally, the last stage! This stage takes you to the Plaza del Obradoiro from where you will be able to contemplate the impressive cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Many finish their journey here, while others will continue on to Fisterra to contemplate the end of the world. Whatever your case, we are sure that this last stage will not leave you indifferent. You will feel the first stirring of the heart on your arrival at Monte do Gozo, from where you will be able to contemplate the towers of the cathedral just 5 km away.
It doesn't matter where you are from and how far you have walked, or how many times you have walked the path: it continues to impress and create a mood of jubilation that will accompany you until you arrive at the apostle's tomb.
▌Day 16. Discover Compostela
The seventh day is a tribute to your efforts. You have arrived in Santiago after walking the Primitive Way from Oviedo, and after a well-deserved and refreshing rest, you will have the whole day free to get to know the Holy City: its Cathedral and the rest of its monuments. If you want, we can also help you with this. And, if you have time, we have some complementary activities that may be of interest. Ask us about them.
During the Camino, sleeping well and resting is essential. Here are some images of some of the accommodation we work with on this route.
Oviedo
Grade
rooms
Tineo
Pola de Allande
Berducedo
Grandas de Salime
A Fonsagrada
O Cádavo
Lugo
ponte ferreira
melide
arzua_2
pedrouzo
santiago de compostela_4
Frequent Asked Questions
Can I choose the dates I want?
Yes, in our programmes you choose the starting date. The Camino de Santiago can be done all year round, although in January and February many accommodations are closed for rest, so if you want to do it in those dates, we recommend you that you consult us first.
Where are the accommodations?
Most of the accommodation is located next to the Camino, at the place where you will finish each stage. When you make your booking we will generate for you the documentation with the exact address and other location data.
If the available accommodation is more than 1.5 km from the Camino, we will provide a transfer at no extra cost to you.
How does the transport of luggage between accommodations work?
In our programmes we include the option of hiring a luggage transfer service, with a limit of 1 piece of luggage of up to 20 kg per person. There is the option to increase the number of items, but this is not usually necessary. In addition, we will give you luggage identifiers (similar to those at airports) so that you can leave your backpack with the accommodation staff, properly identified, and the shuttle will pick it up there. It is important to do this before 8:00 am, so that our team can take it to the next accommodation before your arrival. In addition, if you plan to travel with more luggage than the Camino, we can also transport the luggage you are not going to use to your last accommodation, so that you can then continue your journey.
What do private transfers consist of?
Although the Camino is done on foot or by bicycle, you may need a vehicle from the airport to the starting point of your pilgrimage or to make a trip to a place of interest near the end of your stage. In these cases, we provide you with private transport vehicles whose price varies depending on the distance. You can see it among the options by clicking on "I want to book my Camino".
What is travel insurance?
By default and compulsory, all our programmes include travel insurance with specific coverage for the Camino de Santiago. You can see the details in the section Insurance of our website.
What does 24-hour assistance mean?
All our programmes include a 24-hour telephone support service, should you need help at any time during your experience. This means that you can also contact us outside office hours (when you are on pilgrimage).
How do I make a reservation?
If you want to book this programme, you have the following options available a form where you can indicate the starting date, the type of accommodation and a series of optional services. The price will be updated according to the options you choose, so you have full control. Once you have configured your trip, click on "Book" to make the payment.
Once we receive your request, you will automatically receive a proof of purchase and within 48 working hours we will contact you to confirm the details of your booking and provide you with the documentation.
What if I can't find the programme I need?
In Proguías we also work with tailor-made programmes (short stages, intermediate rest days, itineraries different from those proposed, etc.). If you are looking for a Camino that meets your needs/preferences, you can ask us for a quote here.
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Request a quote for this programme
We prepare a personalised quote and send it directly to your e-mail.
Person responsible for processing: Your data will be processed by ALBA RODRIGUEZ SILGO with registered office at Rua do Rego 6C 5°D - Milladoiro, 15895 - Ames (A Coruña). Purpose and legitimacy: Your data will be processed for the purposes specified in the reason for contact and in order to respond to your requests or queries, legally based on express consent. Transfers: they will not be transferred to third parties, unless legally obliged to do so. Term: Your data will be processed for the time strictly necessary to fulfil the specific purpose or purposes for which they were collected, until the loss of relevance of their use or, in any case, until they are cancelled in response to the exercise by the owner of the corresponding rights. Rights: We inform you that you can exercise your rights of access, rectification, cancellation and opposition to the processing of your data through this contact form or by sending an e-mail to the following address: [email protected], or in writing, attaching a copy of a document proving your identity to the address: Rua do Rego 6C 5°D - Milladoiro, , 15895 - Ames (A Coruña). Additional information: You can consult additional and detailed information on Data Protection in our privacy policy.
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