El Camino de Santiago is one of the most famous thru-hikes in Europe. It’s accessible to most people and has many options of length and difficulty. The most popular version of this hike is the Camino Frances, and its starting point is St. Jean Pied de Port, on the border of France and Spain. You walk across the country to Santiago de Compostela with the option to continue onto Finisterre, known as the “end of the world,” on the Atlantic Coast. In total, you’ll walk 800km between St. Jean and Santiago, and can add on another 90km by continuing to Finisterre.
Learn more about pilgrim trails on our dedicated website for shorter trails.
Crossing the border into Spain
On the first day, you cross the Roncevalles pass in the Pyrenees mountains into Spain – one of the most difficult days of the hike with 1300m of elevation gain. After this, the trail mellows out and becomes a daydream of rolling hills and vineyards in the Basque country. From here, you will make your way to the historical city of Pamplona and then onto Logrono. The trail winds through lush forests and dusty paths as you weave through local municipalities.
Brave the desert
From here, you’ll make your way to the Meseta, which is the 8-stage stretch between Burgos and Leon. It’s a dry, dusty stretch with most of the path next to the road. While the trail association has planted trees to provide shade, they’re still saplings and do not provide much relief yet. It’s best to start the days on this section early in the morning and pack a lot of water to avoid heat exhaustion!
Returning to the Spanish hills
Once you reach Leon, you’ll have reached the end of the Meseta. From here, you’ll make your way toward Ponferrada. The trail morphs back to rolling hills and you’ll begin to see the mountains of Galicia in the distance.
When you leave Ponferrada in pursuit of Sarria, you enter Galicia and the O Ceibriro mountains. As you walk through the forests, you’ll think back to the Meseta and wonder if you’re on the same trail! But no worries, follow the yellow arrows and you’ll find your way to Santiago.
Choosing your endpoint
Finally, you’ll walk the last 100 kilometers from Sarria to Santiago. This is the busiest section of the trail because the church issues certificates to pilgrims after they’ve walked at least the last 100 kilometers to Santiago. You may find it helpful to book your accommodation in advance for these 5 stages. The trail winds through forests and rocky hills until you reach the coveted city.
Some pilgrims who hike the trail for religious purposes end their hike in Santiago, while many others continue on to the coast for another 3 days to hop in the ocean. The 3 stages between Santiago and Muxia are the most tropical of the way. The humidity starts to pick up and the vegetation turns coastal. As you end the trek, you’ll make your way to the town on boardwalks with the Atlantic Ocean on your right side. It depends on how much time you have, but the hike to the “end of the world” in Finisterre is popular for most pilgrims to recover by the beach after their 30+ stages of hiking.
When to hike
Pilgrims hike this trail year-round, but the best time to hike to avoid trail closures and have the best options for albergues is in late spring or early autumn. It’s best to stay off the Meseta in high summer for safety reasons, and there are many closures in winter due to snow.
Do not forget:
We have created a complete gear list for thru-hikers, click here for more information. Some additional items that you should not forget when hiking El Camino de Santiago:
- (Sleeping bag) liner -> for the nights in the albergues
- Trekking poles -> for the protection of your knees on the roads and mountain passes
- Sunglasses and sunscreen -> for protection against the sun on the Meseta
- Water bladder -> to stay hydrated on the long days
Good to know:
While the Camino de Santiago is a longer trail, a majority of the hiking is on mild terrain, which makes it easier to hike longer distances every day – most pilgrims average 25-30km per day.
There are eight main cities this trail passes through, Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Sahagun, Leon, Ponferrada, Sarria, and Santiago. Between these cities, you’ll stay in small villages in hostels known as albergues. Most of the albergues are owned by the Catholic church and are offered to pilgrims at a discounted rate.
You will carry a “credential” with you along the trail and will need to present this at all of the albergues to secure your bed. Each place you sleep (and even some restaurants) will stamp your credential as you walk the Camino. Don’t lose this! You’ll need to present this to the pilgrims’ office in Santiago if you want to receive your certificate.
There is also an opportunity to receive a certificate in Finisterre for walking to the coast if that holds more weight for you than the certificate offered by the church.
Useful links: Pilgrim’s Office
