Camino de Santiago / Camino Francés: Highlights of León & the Final 150 km

Explore more of León in the morning then transfer to Villafranca del Bierzo by private taxi with scheduled stops at several sites of interest along the Camino, as well as allowing you the option to walk 3 short but attractive sections of the Camino.

Overnight: in Villafranca del Bierzo, in a 3* equivalent historic inn.

Explore the many historic sights of Villafranca in the morning, then a short transfer to the fascinating hilltop stone village of O’Cebreiro to begin an An exhilarating walk with great views. 1st 8.5 km are more or less level, up high at over 1300 m / 4265 ft. The last 13 km are practically all downhill, through pastureland and forest with many sections on lovely corredoiras – typically narrow and often shady Galician country paths linking meadows and villages.

Approximate walking distance: 21.2 km / 13.2 mi.
Overnight: in Triacastela, in a family-run 1* inn.

You’ll have to choose from a shorter and a longer option today, both through lush green countryside, depending on whether or not you want to visit the Benedictine monastery at Samos, one of the oldest in Christendom.

Approximate walking distance: 18.5 – 25 km / 11.5 – 15.5 mi.
Overnight: in Sarria, a comfortable modern 1* – 3* hotel.

Today’s walk may be the most beautiful of the entire pilgrimage, through verdant forests, grassy meadows, fertile orchards and simple stone-built hamlets to Portomarín, perched on the banks of the Miño, one of Galicia’s great rivers.

Walk: 21.5 km / 13.3 mi.
Overnight: a former “parador”, this 3* traditional-style country hotel is the best in Portomarín.

The Way continues on through lush Galician countryside to Palas de Rei. If time allows, take a short detour to visit one of Spain’s most outstanding Romanesque churches at nearby Vilar de Donas, classified as a national monument.

Approximate walking distance: 24.3 km / 15 mi.
Overnight: family run inn near Palas de Rei.

Rolling green landscapes, dotted with cows, stonewalls and tiny Romanesque churches on your way to Melide, famed for its Pulpo a la Feira – tender morsels of boiled octopus drenched in virgin olive oil, sea salt and paprika. An especially enchanting stretch of forest trail leads to the tiny hamlet of Castañeda.

Approximate walking distance: 22.8 km / 14.2 mi
Overnight: a highlight of the trip is this 18th century “Pazo”- a traditional granite-built Galican manor near Castañeda.

More pretty rolling terrain as ancient paths and country lanes lead through vegetable patches, fields and oak groves, then pine and eucalyptus woods.

Approximate walking distance: 23 km / 14.3 mi
Overnight: a family run inn set in a typical Galician landscape

Quiet lanes and forest paths wend through increasingly populated countryside until you reach the Monte del Gozo—“Mount of Joy”, so named for the emotion of those who were rewarded with their first view of the cathedral spires. Now downhill, in the footsteps of millions before you, until the magical moment of arrival at the impressive cathedral in the Plaza del Obradoiro – Santiago’s grandiose central square.

Walk: 22 km / 13.7 mi
Overnight: located in the old quarter just steps from the magnificent Obradoiro square and the Cathedral, our standard hotel is a comfortable 4 *property in the refurbished wing of a working Franciscan monastery,and is consistently rated one of the city’s best.

Don’t forget the 12:00 noon mass at the cathedral for pilgrims arriving the previous day! If you’re flying out, most flights out of Santiago leave in mid-afternoon, so you’ll have time for the 20 minute transfer to the Santiago international airport.