The Way of Saint James from Ribadeo is the last stretch of the Northern Way. The one that will take you from Ribadeo and the region of A Mariña, in the Cantabrian coast, through the interior of Lugo and A Coruña towards the city of the Apostle. Escape to the mythical Praia das Catedrais before starting this 8-stage pilgrimage along one of the least travelled and most authentic routes, and discover some of the hidden gems, such as Mondoñedo or Sobrado dos Monxes.
Itinerary
▌Day 1. Arrival in Ribadeo
To start the Way of St. James from Ribadeo you will have to arrive on your own, or with the optional transfer service we offer. The town offers interesting Indian architecture, influenced by Galician emigration to Latin America since the 19th century, and is well worth a visit. However, depending on your arrival time and the tide table, if you have time, you won't want to miss the world famous Praia das Catedrais, just a few kilometres away. If you would like to visit this natural wonder, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can arrange access and timetables, as there is a maximum number of people allowed in each day and during high tides it is closed.
▌Day 2. Stage Ribadeo - Vilanova de Lourenzá
Distance: 27.5 km. Duration: 7 hours. AccommodationVilanova de Lourenzá
The first stage takes us definitively away from the coast, the dominant trend in the rest of the Camino del Norte, and we must begin our journey through the interior of Galicia to reach the capital of Compostela. This section, marked mainly by rural and livestock farming landscapes, with mountainous and sparsely populated areas, welcomes us to Galicia.
The most important climb is the ascent to A Ponte de Arante, after which you will find yourself in the Val de Cabarcos, whose name refers to a Celtic tribe of which we have found remains of their fortified forts and enclosures, otherwise very abundant throughout Galicia.
You will pass through Vilamartín Grande, Gondán and San Xusto de Cabarcos, before reaching Vilanova de Lourenzá. Be sure to visit the monastery of San Salvador, founded in the 10th century by Count Osorio Gutiérrez - known as the Holy Count - and whose Baroque façade was built in 1735 under the direction of the architect Fernando de Casas Novoa, who shortly afterwards designed the current façade of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
A perfect place to rest, breathe fresh air and get in touch with the gastronomy of inland Galicia, known for the quality of its meats.
▌Day 3. Stage Vilanova de Lourenzá - Abadín
Distance: 24 km. Duration: 6 hours. AccommodationAbadín : Abadín
The third day of the Way of Saint James from Ribadeo is marked by its low difficulty, although it will be necessary to pass the pass that separates the valleys of Lourenzá and Mondoñedo. This episcopal city is historically one of the seven heads of the Kingdom of Galicia. We cannot miss the cathedral, the seminary of Santa Catalina with its library of incunabula, the remains of the old medieval city walls or the Ponte do Pasatempo. Once in Mondoñedo you will have to choose two possible routes to get to Abadín, the end of the stage.
The historic route, recently recovered, goes through the forest and is almost four kilometres shorter than the complementary route, but it has steep climbs and lacks intermediate settlements. This area is often foggy and with stray cattle, so it is not advisable if you are walking alone or alone or in bad weather.
The complementary route, on the other hand, passes through the valley of Valiñadares and the village of Lousada with a long and very gradual ascent. For this reason, we recommend that you take the complementary route and enjoy the almost 17 kilometres that await you.
After the last ascent you will descend towards Abadín, the entrance to the region of A Terra Chá, a large plateau that extends to the heart of the province of Lugo.
▌Day 4. Stage Abadín - Vilalba
Distance: 20.8 km. Duration: 5 hours. Accommodation: Vilalba
Fourth day: an easy, pleasant stage with almost no gradients, as it runs through A Terra Chá (chá means "flat" in Galician). The route runs parallel to the N-634 road, along dirt tracks and asphalt. On your arrival in Vilalba, the capital of the region chairegaYou can visit the Tower of the Andrade family, the only vestige of the old medieval castle that is now part of the network of paradors.
And if after a good meal your plan is to relax, there is nothing better than to do so in the Charca do Alligal, a free hot springs area. Enjoy its bicarbonate-calcium and weakly mineralised waters, which help to improve wellbeing, as well as rheumatic and skin problems.
▌Day 5. Stage Vilalba - Baamonde
Distance: 27.5 km. Duration: 3:45 hours. AccommodationBaamonde
In this fifth stage of the pilgrimage you will leave Vilalba, first descending and then flattening out. The route is again marked by the crossing of several rivers along the way. Continue along the road until you reach Baamonde, whose name and foundation is attributed, according to legend, to a warrior, Badamundus, linked to the mythical battle of Clavijo in 844.
We recommend a stop at the Galicia tavern-museum, a charming establishment that is over a hundred years old and has been in the same family for generations. In addition to its homemade stews, in this establishment you will be able to try one of the best pot coffees .
▌Day 6. Stage Baamonde - Sobrado dos Monxes
Distance: 32 km. Duration: 8 hours. Accommodation: Sobrado dos Monxes (alternative stop in Miraz, counting one more day)
From Baamonde, the road heads through tiny villages and over "a thousand rivers" in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. Along the way you will often see rows of smooth stones stuck in the ground (in Galician, chantas) to mark out the boundaries of the estates in accordance with Celtic tradition. In Galicia there are many traces of Celtic culture, from music to place names and many popular beliefs and mythology. Shortly after Baamonde the Way of St. James forks, in the direction of As Cruces or in the direction of Seixón. In this programme we recommend you to take the second option, as it is the official Way.
There are few towns and villages to be found from Miraz, so we recommend that you take supplies with you. The route climbs gradually up to Alto da Mámoa and from there through A Cabana and higher, until you reach the highest point of the Northern Way, the so-called Marco das Pías, at an altitude of 710 metres. Here you leave the province of Lugo to finally enter the province of A Coruña, descending along the road to O Mesón. From this point, a succession of roads and paths will take you to the shores of the Sobrado lake - an artificial reservoir built by the monks of the nearby abbey at the beginning of the 16th century. It is only a short distance to the end of the stage, where you can visit the spectacular Monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes and show off its stamp on your credential. We recommend that you leave four spaces because it is a large and very beautiful stamp.
▌Day 7. Stage Sobrado dos Monxes - Arzúa
Distance: 22 km. Duration: 5:30 hours Accommodation: Arzúa
The eighth stage will take you to Arzúa, where you will join the French Way and reach Santiago de Compostela in two more days. You will begin your stage by saying goodbye to the marvellous enclave of Sobrado dos Monxes in the direction of A Gándara, where you can contemplate an ancient milestone of the Roman road. You will also find a fork in the road: a path that takes you to A Mota, avoiding contact with the French Way as far as O Pedrouzo (there are fewer services on this stretch). The other takes you to Arzúa. We recommend this option, as this Galician village is the perfect place to spend the night.
▌Day 8. Stage Arzúa - O Pedrouzo
Distance: 19.1 km. Duration: 4:45 hours. Accommodation: O Pedrouzo
This stage will offer you more beautiful green landscapes and some small rural treasures such as the hermitage of Santa Irene, where pilgrims usually stop to rest and share experiences before continuing to O Pedrouzo or A Rúa.
You will notice that the number of people walking or cycling increases dramatically in relation to previous stages. The French Way, which you will walk to Santiago, is the busiest of all.
At the end of the day, you will find yourself in O Pedrouzo, a town that has grown in recent years, as you will see, and which offers a special hospitality to walkers.
▌Day 9. Stage O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 19.9 km. Duration: 4:30 hours. Accommodation: Santiago de Compostela
At last! The last stage of your Camino de Santiago begins and the city of the apostle awaits you after less than 20 km. After passing behind O Pedrouzo, you will go up through O Amenal and descend to A Lavacolla, the village that gives its name to Compostela's airport.
From there, a new ascent will take you directly to Monte do Gozo, whose name reveals the joy of the pilgrims who, since the first millennium, arrived in Santiago by this route and saw, for the first time, the longed-for silhouette of the towers of the Cathedral. Only four kilometres separate you from the city, which you will enter through the popular neighbourhoods of San Lázaro, Fontiñas or San Pedro and the famous Porta do Camiño.
▌Day 10. Santiago de Compostela
The last day is a tribute to your efforts. After a well-deserved rest, you will have the whole day free to explore the Holy City: its Cathedral and the rest of its monuments. If you wish, we can also help you with this. And, if you have time, we have some complementary activities that may be of interest.
During the Camino, sleeping well and resting is essential. Here are some images of some of the accommodation we work with on this route.
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06_Mondoñedo
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06_miraz
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arzua_2
pedrouzo
santiago de compostela_3
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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