Sarria to Santiago 11-day walk - Camino de Santiago

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. Nowadays the town is bustling with peregrinos, from those who started their Camino hundreds of kilometres back to pilgrims like you who walk the final 100km to Santiago de Compostela to qualify for their Compostela.

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.

Meals: B

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

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

Meals: B

A climb to start the day 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 2 km 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 or Palace of the King has little to remind you that it was once home to a king. Today it is a small country town with plenty of services available.

Meals: B

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.

On route you will pass Melide, 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.

Meals: B

From Melide the path winds through woodlands of oak, pine and eucalypt, passing over several valleys though 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.

Arzua with a population of around 7000 is the last large town before you reach Santiago. The 14th century Capilla de la Magdelena is the town’s main monument. Arzua 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. The town also celebrates its cheese with a Queixo Cheese festival every March.

Meals: B

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

Today’s route will be a busy as pilgrims begin the last stage of their walk into Santiago. 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 and the wonderful ancient Cathedral.

Meals: B

Today you have the whole day to enjoy and explore historic Santiago 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.

Meals: B

You are free to check out of your hotel any time before 10 am. If you’d like to explore Santiago further, you can leave your bags with reception. Interested in more walking options from Santiago? Consider extending your journey with our captivating 6-day Camino de Finisterre for an epic journey to ‘The World’s End”.

Meals: B

16kg of CO2-e per person per day

We pay for a monthly offset to cover the estimated emissions of our walkers for all trips with RAW Travel, which goes into local reforestation or biodiversity restoration. Explore the practical actions behind these estimated carbon offsets for your trip here, following a philosophy of ‘re-wilding the planet’ with native tree planting & Ocean plastic cleans ups.

A reasonable estimate for a pilgrim is 16 kg of CO2-e per person per day, primarily due to hotels, meals and emissions from luggage transfers. The act of walking itself is a form of sustainable travel, so the carbon footprint calculated here is a measure of the ancillary activities surrounding the walk, not the walking itself. The figures are estimates, not precise measurements for each route/trip, as it’s difficult to provide an exact number without detailed data on specific hotels, menus, and transfer routes which vary from person to person. This figure represents the operational footprint of the hike and its included services only. It does not include the flights and other transport needed to get to the start and finish of the walk.

An individual can significantly influence their footprint with the varied choices they make around food and drink at each meal. For instance, a diet rich in meat, imported goods and alcohol, will have a much higher impact than one focused on local, seasonal, and plant-based options. This daily stated figure is an average across the 18 days of the pilgrimage, derived from the key consumption

Carbon Footprint Breakdown

• 10 nights excellent accommodation including historic hotels and character country houses
• 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 emergency contact numbers
• Pre-trip Camino guidance and planning
• Dedicated local support person in Spain for reassurance

• Single supplement $840
• Lunches and Dinners
• Travel insurance
• Flights

With our Individual Trips, guests have the freedom to choose their own departure date and tailor their itinerary to suit their hiking preferences, subject to availability along the trail.

We offer a private transfer from Santiago Airport to your hotel in Sarria at an additional cost per vehicle (based on 4 people or fewer). Please inquire with our destination expert if you’re interested in this service.

For an extra indulgence, upgrade your hotel in Santiago to a Parador from $180 per person/per night twin share and $275 per person/per night single occupancy, when booked 6 months in advance (subject to availability).

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.

The final stage from Sarria to Santiago (115km) is by far the most popular and social section of the Camino, and it also ticks the box for the minimum number of kilometres you need to walk to obtain a Compostela, or certificate of completion. The last pitstop of the epic Camino pilgrimage is charming  Santiago de Compostela, a lively city with magnificent works of art, stunning architecture, and the famous cathedral that beckons pilgrims on their final approach.

There is something for everyone along this final stretch: historic sites and churches, beautiful views, local cuisine and the companionship of other pilgrims, to name a few. The countryside is beautiful and it is the perfect walk to get a taste of Spanish culture and the rural lifestyles in Spain. There are plenty of villages to stop at along the way, too, so you can walk as little as 10km per day or up to 30km per day. It’s easily accessed by rail from Madrid.

Learn more about the highlights of walking from Sarria to Santiago here.

The walking isn’t difficult on this section with just gradual inclines as opposed to sharp climbs. Due to its popularity, there is a real community feel. It’s a cultural melting pot and you will make friends with people from all walks of life and countries. And of course you get to experience the crowning glory of walking into Santiago de Compostela as the pinnacle of this section, and potentially all sections!

Whether you intend to walk the full Camino or this shorter section from Sarria to Santiago, your walk will be more enjoyable if you have conditioned your feet and body to walking the same distances and terrain as your daily stages on the Camino. Pounding the trail day after day can take a toll on your body, causing blisters, stress fractures and shin splints. Muscle soreness is a given, but with proper training, you can prevent some injuries that could force you off the trail.

The closest international airport is Madrid, from where you can catch a train to Sarria from Madrid-Chamartín Station (~4.5 hours). Most services require a transfer at Monforte de Lemos, though there is usually one direct train per day. You can book your train direct on www.renfe.com or www.raileurope.com

Read more here: The Ultimate Guide: How to get to the Camino de Santiago

Yes.You only need to walk 100km (or bike 200km) to earn a compostela, an official certificate of completion of the pilgrimage. RAW Travel will provide you with a pilgrim passport before your trip, which entitles you to your Compostela certificate. Once you arrive in Santiago, take your passport to the Pilgrim’s Office to register and receive your QR code. This will also have an approximate time that you should present yourself to the Pilgrim’s office and, once there, they will verify the final 100km of stamps in your passport and issue you with your official Compostela certificate. 

Read more: Pilgrim passports and compostelas on the Camino

Many travellers choose to spend extra time exploring vibrant Spanish cities such as Santiago itself, Pamplona, Leon, Barcelona or Madrid. If you’d like to keep walking, you can continue along the Camino Finisterre, considered the final chapter of the Camino de Santiago. Since ancient times, pilgrims have journeyed beyond Santiago to Finisterre (Fisterra in Galician) – literally the “end of the world.” Over 4 days of walking, this route leads you to the Atlantic Ocean and the dramatic coastal landscapes of Galicia, offering a fitting conclusion to your Camino adventure.

Read more here: Cape Finisterre: Walk to the end of the world

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the best times to walk from Sarria to Santiago. 

Walking from Sarria to Santiago in spring means green fields, wildflowers and fresh countryside air. The weather is generally mild, though rain showers are common in Galicia, so a light rain jacket is essential. Pilgrim numbers start to rise in May and June, but the trail still feels comfortable and lively without being overwhelming.

Autumn is also a rewarding time for this route. Days are warm but not too hot, and the Galician hills take on golden tones as chestnut trees and vineyards change colour. September still carries the energy of summer, while October feels calmer with fewer pilgrims. It’s an ideal balance of good weather, vibrant landscapes and a friendlier pace.