We welcome you to the Camino de Santiago from Bilbao. Walk with us from one of the main Basque capitals to Santander, a stately city considered one of the most beautiful on this route. Walk parallel to the Cantabrian coast and discover the fishing tradition, the millenary Basque culture and the spectacular coastal landscapes, crossing beaches on foot, and estuaries and bays by boat. Six stages to understand why the Northern Way is one of the favourite destinations of many walkers who dare to take a step away from the more beaten French Way.
Itinerary
▌Day 1. Arrival in Bilbao
To make the most of the Camino de Santiago from Bilbao, it is important to arrive in Bilbao in good time. We recommend a stroll through the old quarter, in search of the Cathedral of Santiago, the only one on the entire Pilgrim's Way dedicated to the holy pilgrim, as well as the Cathedral of Compostela. The Guggenheim Museum is another option.
And if you have an extra day, you can spend it visiting Elorrio, Oñati and the Sanctuary of Arantzazu. As you can see, there is a wide range of possibilities before starting your pilgrimage.
▌Day 2. Stage Bilbao - Portugalete
Distance: 19.9 km. Duration: 5 hours Accommodation: Portugalete
The first stage of this section is the most urban of the Camino de Santiago from Bilbao to Santander. There is the possibility of choosing a variant on the banks of the Nervión estuary, so as not to make it so monotonous. This option will take you to Barakaldo. The official route, on the other hand, will take you through the streets of the towns that grew up on the outskirts of Bilbao, and allows you to save 7 km and some slopes.
On your arrival in Portugalete you will see the Hanging Bridge, also known as the Bizkaia Bridge, the charming medieval old town, the 14th century Salazar Tower and the Gothic-Renaissance style Basilica of Saint Mary.
▌Day 3. Stage Portugalete - Castro Urdiales
Distance: 32.4 km. Duration: 8 hours Accommodation: Castro Urdiales
On the Camino de Santiago from Bilbao to Santander, this is undoubtedly the longest stage. From Portugalete to the next town, La Arena, there are twelve kilometres that run inland along a cycle lane, in basque language called bidegorri. From there, the route continues along the coast, through Pobeña.
From here, a beautiful stretch of greenway awaits you, a real balcony overlooking the sea that follows where the mining railway used to run. Before reaching Ontón, you leave the Basque Country and enter Cantabria. From this town, the route forks into two options: the official route goes through Otañes, away from the coast.
The alternative shortens the stage by 7.2 km and runs along the hard shoulder of the N-634. On your arrival in Castro Urdiales, in addition to its impressive heritage, you can enjoy the Cantabrian gastronomy, although it still shares much with the typical Basque dishes. Undoubtedly, fish and seafood are still the main protagonists.
View of the Bay of Biscay at the exit of Castro Urdiales, on the Way of St. James from Bilbao to Santander.
▌Day 4. Stage Castro Urdiales - Laredo
Distance: 26.6 km. Duration: 6:30 hours Accommodation: Laredo
Leaving Castro Urdiales, the path climbs up to Allandelagua, at the top of which we can contemplate the remains of a medieval Templar tower-fortress. Further on, another fork in the road makes it necessary to make a decision. The official route lengthens the stage by almost six kilometres and increases the number of slopes along this stretch, but it is the most peaceful and scenic. The variant runs along the hard shoulder of the national road, and although it is shorter, it is also more dangerous. We recommend that you choose the official route.
After passing Liendo, you will quickly reach Laredo, where you can enjoy the Convent of San Francisco, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción - a jewel of Gothic art -, the Merenillo or San Marcial gate, which formed part of the 13th century wall, and the 18th century Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Bien Aparecida.
▌Day 5. Stage Laredo - Güemes
Distance: 29 km. Duration: 7 hours Accommodation: Güemes
On this section of the Pilgrims' Route to Santiago de Compostela from Bilbao, there are two options at the start: the first is to border the Santoña estuary, lengthening the route and enjoying the coastal scenery. The second is to go to Puntal de Laredo and, from there, cross by boat to the town of Santoña. From there, you will cross Noja, Isla, Arnuero and Castillo Siete Villas before reaching Güemes, the ideal place to rest and finish such a long stage.
▌Day 6. Stage Güemes - Santander
Distance: 12 km. Duration: 3 hours Accommodation: Santander
The last stage of the Camino de Santiago from Bilbao is very short, so we recommend that you enjoy it and take it easy. Although we recommend you to leave early to have more time to enjoy the Cantabrian capital.
Once again, there are two alternatives to choose from: the first is the official route, which joins Galizano with Somo for 7 km parallel to the road. The second option would be the coastal variant, which joins the official route a little before Somo, in the vicinity of the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Latas. This variant is longer, approximately 4 km longer, but you will walk along the coast on your last stage and pass through the towns of Langre and Loredo.
On your arrival in Somo you will have to go to the pier to take one of the boats, popularly known as pedreñeras. These ferries run regularly throughout the year to link Somo and Santander across the bay. When you arrive in Santander you will find a welcoming and peaceful coastal town with its wide harbour, one of the most beautiful bays in Spain.
▌Day 7. Discover Santander
After the break and breakfast, our services come to an end. If you have time in the city, we recommend you to distribute the visits of the previous day. Santander does not leave you indifferent and is one of the main attractions for those who make the Camino de Santiago from Bilbao.
During the Camino, sleeping well and resting is essential. Here are some images of some of the accommodation we work with on this route.
Bilbao / Bilbo
portugalete
castrourdiales
liendo
noja
santander
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: administracion@proguias.es, 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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