Peregrinia
Northern Way
Camino Routes

Northern Way

Hard824 km34 stages

The coastal route along northern Spain. From Irún through the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Spectacular scenery and demanding stages.

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Stages(34)

1

Irún → San Sebastián

First stage of the Camino del Norte, from the French border to the iconic city of San Sebastián along the Cantabrian coast.

2

San Sebastián → Zarautz

Coastal stage with spectacular views of the Cantabrian Sea, passing over Monte Igueldo and descending to Zarautz beach.

3

Zarautz → Deba

Route along the Basque flysch cliffs with impressive geological formations and sea views.

4

Deba → Markina-Xemein

Mountain stage that leaves the coast and heads inland through the Basque Country with significant elevation changes.

5

Markina-Xemein → Gernika

Path to the historic town of Gernika, symbol of Basque peace and freedom, through rural farmsteads.

6

Gernika → Bilbao

Long stage arriving in Bilbao, the largest city on the Camino del Norte, home to the famous Guggenheim Museum.

7

Bilbao → Portugalete

Short flat stage following the Nervión estuary to Portugalete and its famous Transporter Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

8

Portugalete → Castro Urdiales

Transition from the Basque Country to Cantabria, arriving at the fishing town of Castro Urdiales with its Gothic church overlooking the sea.

9

Castro Urdiales → Laredo

Stage along the Cantabrian coast with constant ups and downs, ending at the expansive beach of Laredo.

10

Laredo → Güemes

Stage that crosses the Bay of Santoña by boat and traverses hills to the famous Güemes hostel.

11

Güemes → Santander

Short and easy stage to the Cantabrian capital, with its bay, the Magdalena Palace, and the seafront promenade.

12

Santander → Santillana del Mar

Long stage to Santillana del Mar, one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Spain, near the Caves of Altamira.

13

Santillana del Mar → Comillas

Route along the Cantabrian coast to Comillas, famous for Gaudí's Capricho and the Pontifical University.

14

Comillas → Colombres

Stage crossing from Cantabria into Asturias, passing through San Vicente de la Barquera and its medieval bridge.

15

Colombres → Llanes

First full Asturian stage, arriving at the picturesque town of Llanes with its Cubes of Memory at the harbour.

16

Llanes → Ribadesella

Long stage along the Asturian coast with hidden beaches and cliffs, ending at the mouth of the River Sella in Ribadesella.

17

Ribadesella → Sebrayo

Stage that moves away from the coast and crosses inland Asturias through meadows and small rural villages.

18

Sebrayo → Gijón

Long but flat stage arriving in Gijón, the largest city in Asturias, with its seafront promenade and the Cimadevilla quarter.

19

Gijón → Avilés

Flat stage between the two major Asturian cities, arriving in Avilés with its medieval old town and the Niemeyer Centre.

20

Avilés → Muros de Nalón

Stage that returns to the Asturian coast with moderate climbs and sea views from the cliffs of Muros de Nalón.

21

Muros de Nalón → Soto de Luiña

Short but hilly stage, ideal for resting after the previous long stages, through green Asturian valleys.

22

Soto de Luiña → Cadavedo

Stage along the western Asturian coast with rural landscapes and views of cliffs and wild beaches.

23

Cadavedo → Luarca

Short stage to the beautiful fishing town of Luarca, known as the white village of the green coast.

24

Luarca → La Caridad

Long stage along the western Asturian coast, with constant ups and downs between valleys and cliffs.

25

La Caridad → Ribadeo

Last Asturian stage crossing into Galicia via the Ribadeo estuary, near the famous Beach of the Cathedrals.

26

Ribadeo → Lourenzá

First full Galician stage, heading inland into Lugo province to the Benedictine monastery of Lourenzá.

27

Lourenzá → Abadín

Stage through inland Galicia with gentle hills and eucalyptus forests, typical of rural Galician landscape.

28

Abadín → Vilalba

Stage arriving in Vilalba, famous for its medieval tower and tetilla cheese, across the Lugo plateau.

29

Vilalba → Baamonde

Flat and peaceful stage through rural Galician paths, arriving at Baamonde where it converges with other Jacobean routes.

30

Baamonde → Miraz

The first part of the most solitary stretch of the Northern Way. From Baamonde walk along rural paths through eucalyptus trees and Galician meadows with very little population. Miraz is a small hamlet with a hostel run by international volunteers offering a warm and memorable welcome.

31

Miraz → Sobrado dos Monxes

A short stage continuing through deep rural Galicia to reach the impressive Cistercian monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes. This 10th-century monastery, restored by monks in the 20th century, is one of the largest monastic complexes in Galicia and offers hospitality to pilgrims.

32

Sobrado dos Monxes → Arzúa

Stage that joins the Camino Francés in Arzúa, famous for its cheese, where pilgrims from several routes converge.

33

Arzúa → Pedrouzo

Penultimate stage shared with the Camino Francés, through eucalyptus and oak forests to Pedrouzo.

34

Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela

Final stage of the Camino del Norte, arriving at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the embrace of the Apostle.