length

8 Days

difficulty

Moderate

trip cost

from $1190 pp

Icons / stylised / time Created with Sketch.

length

8 Days

Icons / stylised / difficulty Created with Sketch.

difficulty

Moderate

Icons / stylised /cost Created with Sketch.

trip cost

from $1190 pp

Nature Immersion

Cultural Interest

Self-Guided Trip

our walk expert

  • Overview
  • Highlights
  • Itinerary
  • Map
  • Inclusions
  • Exclusive Guide
  • Similar Walks

Overview

Sarria to Santiago Essentials

Walk the final section of the world famous Camino de Santiago (‘The Way’). Start in Sarria and journey through the hills of Galicia to finish at the pilgrim’s goal of Santiago de Compostela. Following scenic country roads and forest tracks crossing old villages and cities born from the Camino trail, it is difficult to imagine a better way to enjoy Spain’s rich legacy of history, culture, food and art on the world’s greatest historical trail. This trip is designed for the savvy traveller. Your accommodation will have private facilities but at a more affordable price than on our usual RAW Travel Camino trips. We have hand selected well-located clean and comfortable accommodation. Luggage transfers, breakfasts and in-country support staff are all still included to ensure that you can have a truly memorable and hassle-free Camino experience at a price that suits. And you don’t have to be religious – just a keen walker.

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The Camino Stage 5. Sarria to Santiago: The Essentials Trip

Highlights

Get Ready For

  • Walk the final 100km of the Camino Trail
  • Qualify for your Compostela
  • Finish in this historic city of Santiago
  • Well-located private accommodation with your own bathroom
  • Daily breakfast and luggage transfers, plus in-country support and more

Itinerary

Daily Details

Day 1: ARRIVE SARRIA

Welcome to Sarria, the starting point for your exciting journey! If you arrive in the morning on this first day you can spend exploring the city of Sarria and all it has to offer. Sarria is a busy, modern town with plenty of shops, hotels, restaurants and bars, but its origins are Celtic and it was an important and major medieval centre for pilgrims. Remnants of its ancient past can still be seen in the old quarter along Rua Major. The church of Igrexia de Santa Maria has an ancient pilgrim’s mural. If you follow the Camino route to the top end of town you will see the ancient convent Monasterio da Madalena, the ruins of the castle and the medieval bridge Ponte Aspera that crosses the River Celerio. The town is bustling with peregrinos, including those who started their Camino hundreds of kilometres back to pilgrims like you who are walking the final 100km to Santiago de Compostela to qualify for their Compostela.

Day 2: SARRIA TO PORTOMARIN (22KM)

Time to finally get onto the Camino Trail and on your way to Santiago. The majority of your first walk is a great introduction as it is along sheltered woodland pathways or quiet country roads and passes through many hamlets and small villages. The scenery along the way is wonderfully green and lush and very rural. The trail climbs and falls repeatedly as it passes tiny hamlets full of history.

The high point of the day (660m) at Pina dos Corvos has wonderful views over the reservoir and surrounding countryside. From here begin your steep descent, crossing the Mino Reservoir over its modern bridge into Portomarin.

Portomarin has been inhabited for thousands of years and its importance grew with the popularity of the Camino in the middle ages. At one time it had three orders of Knights: the Knights Templar, the Knights of St John and the Knights of Jerusalem, which may go some way to explaining the castle like edifice of the 12th century Romanesque Igelsia San Nicolas church which still stands in the square at the centre of town. The town was previously divided by the Rio Mino but was flooded in 1960 to create the Mino Reservoir. Every historic monument was moved brick by brick to the town that stands on the hill today; you can see pictures of the old town in some of the bars and cafes that line the main street.

Meals: B

DAY 3: PORTOMARIN TO PALAS DE REI (25KM)

Today’s walk is uphill for pretty much all the way, however the gradient is never too steep. The path crosses and runs parallel to the main road to Gonzar, though you spend most of your days walking on woodland tracks and quiet roads. A climb takes you to Sierra Ligonde, today’s high point at 720m. The walk is then downhill to Ligonde and Eirexe and onto A Calzada. There is a detour here of 2km to the National Monument, Vilar de Donas where the Knights of Santiago are buried and is worthy of a visit if you have time. A gentle climb now takes you through several small hamlets to Alto Rosario, a good vantage point on a clear day and then down into Palas de Rei.

Palas de Rei – Palace of the King – has little to remind you that it was once home to a king. This small country town has plenty of shops, bars, cafes, ATMs and a peregrino equipment shop in case you need to stock up on any items.

Meals: B

DAY 4: PALAS DE REI TO ARZUA (29KM)

Today’s walk is mostly on paths through quiet woodland, crossing over the main road to Arzua several times and guiding you through six river valleys to reach a high point of 515m at Coto. The Camino takes you out of Palas de Rei over the main road and up into woodland to Carabell and its 12th century church, Iglesia de San Xulian. The path crosses the Rio Pambre passing through the hamlet of Pontecambre before climbing to oak woodland until it reaches the road and into the hamlet of Casanova and onwards to Campanilla where you leave the province of Lugo to enter the province of A Coruna. The Camino now follows the road to Cornixa then leaves the road for a pathway to Leboreiro where you will find the 13th century Iglesia de Santa Maria and the old pilgrim’s hospital Casa Enfermeria.

The path now crosses the medieval bridge over the river Seco and skirts an industrial estate through the village of Furelos and onto Melide. Melide is a busy town founded in the 13th century and has many historic buildings and churches including the Capilla de San Pedro and San Roque next to which stands a 14th century stone cross said to be the oldest in Galicia. The museum and the buildings around the Plaza de Convento are well worth a visit. Melide is also famous for Pulpo Gallego, octopus cooked Galician style and reputed to be the best in Spain. Much of the path after Melide winds through woodlands of oak, pine and eucalypt, passing over several valleys through Boente, Castañeda and then Ribadiso from where you can see the Hospital San Anton, one of the oldest pilgrim hospitals in existence.

From Ribadiso follow the country road on a steep uphill climb and through the outer suburbs before entering Arzua.

Meals: B

Day 5: ARZUA TO O PEDROUZO (21KM)

The majority of today’s walk to O Pedrouzo is through wonderful pine and eucalyptus scented woodland. The path is mostly level, passing through three shallow river valleys with a gradual climb up to Alto de Santa Irene at 404m. The country lanes and woodland paths pass through many small hamlets. The final section climbs steeply to a main road, into eucalyptus woodland and onto A Rua and the village to O Pedrouzo. O Pedrouzo /Arco do Pino is a small but busy town with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars and the staging point for the last section of the Camino before entering Santiago de Compostela.

Meals: B

Day 6: O’PEDROUZO TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (20KM)

Today’s route will likely be busier as pilgrims begin the last stage of their walk into Santiago, filled with excitement and anticipation. The pilgrims mass at Santiago Cathedral begins at midday so you will need to leave early to arrive on time. The first section of today’s route passes through eucalypt forests with most of the route on quiet roads and pathways before the final kilometres and a climb to Mount Gozo before descending into the suburbs of Santiago. The path runs alongside the airport and you will see many crosses of twigs and branches used by pilgrims to decorate the fence.

Lavacolla village is where pilgrims traditionally washed to purify themselves before entering Santiago and Lavacolla literally means to wash your tail. At Monte Gozo, Mount of Joy, you will first sight the stunning Catedral de Santiago spires.

The final section is well signposted into the old quarter with its wonderful historical buildings and narrow shop filled alleyways, until you finally reach the Praza Obradoiro in the heart of Santiago de Compostela, and the wonderful ancient Cathedral.

Meals: B

Day 7: FREE DAY IN SANTIAGO

Today you have the whole day to enjoy and explore historic Santiago de Compostela with its many enticing tapas bars and restaurants. You can attend the midday pilgrims mass and look around the famous Cathedral of St James which forms the city’s heart and watch the steady stream of pilgrims arriving into the square as they finish their epic journey. Alternatively you may like to take a day trip out to visit Finisterre, the ‘end of the world’ or a shorter rooftop tour of Santiago, both of which can easily be arranged locally.

Meals: B

Day 8: DEPART SANTIAGO

You are free to check out of your hotel any time before 10am. If you would like to explore Santiago further you are able to leave your bags with reception.

Meals: B

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Map

Explore

Sarria

Sarria is a busy, modern town with plenty of shops, hotels, restaurants and bars. It is bustling with pilgrims – those who began their Camino hundreds of kilometres back as well as the large number that walk the final 100km to Santiago de Compostela to qualify for their Compostela.

CLICK ON A PIN TO REVEAL INFORMATION ABOUT THAT LOCATION
Portomarín

The lovely small village of Portomarín on the Rio Miño has a remarkable history and significant sites, including the castle-like 12th-century Romanesque Church of San Nicolás in the centre of town. It is an unusual combination of a church and a fortress. This twofold purpose originated with the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, who built it to provide protection for pilgrims and traders.

Palas de Rei

The small and pretty town of Palas de Rei was a favourite place of residence of the Galician nobility. The name comes from Pallatium regis (royal palace). The Castle of Pambre is one of the greatest examples of medieval military architecture to in Galicia. The importance of the Jacobean pilgrimage in this village goes back to time immemorial.

Melide

Melide is a busy town founded in the 13th century. It has many historic buildings and churches including the Capilla de San Pedro and San Roque next to which stands a 14th century stone cross said to be the oldest in Galicia. The museum and the buildings around the Plaza de Convento are well worth a visit. Melide is famous for Pulpo Gallego, octopus cooked Galician style and reputed to be the best in Spain.

Arzúa

This is the last large town before you reach Santiago. It has plenty of restaurants bars and cafes and a few ATMs. The 14th century Capilla de la Magdelena is the town’s main monument. Arzúa is most famous for its local cheese, Queixo, a smooth creamy cheese made from cow’s milk which most restaurants feature in some way and is definitely worth trying.

O Pedrouzo

The charming village of O Pedrouzo has plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. For many pilgrims, it is the last stage of the Camino before finishing their journey in Santiago de Compostela. Its main attractions include the Roman bridge over the Rio Mera, the parish Church of Santa Eulalia de Arca, and the baroque church of Lardeiros, which stands out for its size and beauty.

Santiago de Compostela

The wonderful and historic city of Santiago is the end of the Camino journey for most pilgrims. Praza do Obradoiro and the wonderful ancient Cathedral form the city’s heart. Attend the midday pilgrims mass and watch the steady stream of pilgrims arriving into the square as they finish their epic journey. There are many enticing tapas bars and restaurants in which to celebrate your journey.

Inclusions

What's included?

Included
  • 7 nights in accommodation that is clean, comfortable and well-located
  • Private ensuite rooms on a twin share basis
  • Daily breakfast
  • Luggage transfer each day from hotel to hotel (1 x 20kg bag per person)
  • RAW Travel navigation app with maps of your hotel locations and emergency contact numbers
  • Local and Australian emergency contact numbers
  • Pre-trip Camino guidance and planning
  • Dedicated local support person in Spain for reassurance
Excluded
  • Single supplement $525
  • Travel insurance
  • Flights
Added Extras

Take a private transfer from Santiago airport to your hotel in Sarria at an additional cost from $320 per vehicle (based on 4 people), so that you can start your trip as smoothly as possible.

For an extra indulgence, upgrade your hotel in Santiago to a Parador from $200 per person/per night twin share and $300 per person/per night single occupancy, when booked 6 months in advance (subject to availability).

You may like to extend your trip and stay an extra night in Sarria and/or Santiago – price available on request.

For any part of your trip that falls between 31 October and 31 March there is an out-of-season luggage transfer surcharge cost of $30 per person per day.
Camino De Santiago destination guide

Exclusive Guide

Camino de Santiago

Walking the Camino is an incredible journey that will immerse you not only in Europe’s grand history, food and culture but most importantly the extraordinary camaraderie that exists along these routes. The spirit of the Camino de Santiago is alive and well among people from all over the world. It is a bucket list experience you will never forget! Discover inspiration, travel essentials, practical information and more in our free Destination Guide. All you need to know about walking the Camino de Santiago routes through Spain, Portugal and France!

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TRIP date selection

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Please select your preferred dates for on-demand trips or select a scheduled date for group departures. If you have booked a self-guided trip please understand that because your trip date is on demand and we must check availability of all properties on your chosen dates before it can be fully confirmed

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