Walk Through Spain
The Camino de Santiago {with shameless cheats} in 28 days
Pamplona >> Santiago
I share most of my experiences after the fact. This post is different. Despite having planned two trips for my brother then my mother, I have yet to walk this route through Northwest Spain. It’s a trip that has been on my mind for a while and I thought I’d just put the information out there for others who have similar goals. Have you walked the camino? Your comments will be of great help to this post and I invite them below! My goal is to complete this adventure one day and when that day comes you know a follow-up post will be done. Now, a glimpse in the intricate mind of Grace in the World in planning mode…
Budget 880€ (accommodations/transport 580€+10/day for food 300€)
The Itinerary
Day 1:
(best to start on a Monday)
Register in Pamplona (optional)
Day 2:
Start walking! Pamplona >> Cizur Menor (amenities, 12th century Church of San Miguel with a fortified tower) >> Alto del Perdon or “Hill of Forgiveness” >> Zariquiegui >> sculpture of pilgrims >> Uterga >> Muruzabal >> Puente La Reina {5 hrs/24km}
Day 3:
Puente La Reina >> cross the Pilgrims’ Bridge >> Maneru >> Cirauqui (Church of San Roman built in the 13th century) >> Lorca (Hospital de Peregrinos de Arandigoyen) >> Villatuerta >> Estella {4.5 hrs/21km}
Day 4:
Estella (Bodegas Irache wine museum) >> Azqueta and Villamayor de Monjardin >> Los Arcos {4 hrs/19km}
Day 5:
Los Arcos >> Torres del Rio >> Virgen del Poyo >> Viana (palaces in Plaza de los Fueros + Plaza del Coso + gothic church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion) >> Logroño {5.5 hrs/27km}
Day 6:
EXTRA DAY in LOGROÑO
Day 7:
EXTRA DAY in LOGROÑO
Day 8:
Logroño (Puerta del Camino) >>Navarrete (Bodegas: La Rioja wine + Iglesia de la Asuncion) >> Nájera {6 hrs/28km}
Day 9:
Nájera >> Azofra >> Cirueña >> Santo Domingo de la Calzada {4hrs/20km}
Day 10:
Santo Domingo de la Calzada >> cross River Oja/Puente del Santo (Saint’s Bridge) >> Granon >> Redecilla del Camino >> Castildelgado >> Viloria de la Rioja >> Villamayor del Rio >> Belorado {4.5 hrs/22km}
Day 11:
Belorado >> Tosantos >> Villambistia >> Espinosa del Camino >> Villafranca Montes de Oca >> Agés >> Atapuerca (three kilometers away, 800,000 year old human remains were discovered. These are the oldest human remains discovered in Europe! ) {6 hrs/29km}
Day 12:
Atapuerca >> Villalval >> Cardenuela de Riopico >> Orbaneja >> Villafria >> Burgos (see the walls of an old castle or the Museum of Human Evolution + the gothic cathedral) {3.5 hrs/17km}
Day 13:
EXTRA DAY IN BURGOS
Day 14:
DAY IN BURGOS + bus to Fromista
Day 15:
Fromista >> Poblacion de Campos >> Revenga de Campos >> Villarmentero de Campos >> Villalcazar de Sirga (Church of Santa Maria la Blanca) >> Carrión de los Condes {4 hrs/19km}
Day 16:
Carrión de los Condes >> Calzadilla de la Cueza >> Ledigos >> Terradillos de Templarios >> Moratinos {6 hrs/29km}
Day 17:
Moratinos >> Sahagún >> Calzada del Coto >> Bercianos del Real Camino {4 hrs/19km}
Day 18:
Bercianos del Real Camino >> El Burgo Ranero >> Villarente {7 hrs/32 km}
Day 19:
Villarente >> Mansilla >> Villamoros de Mansilla >> Puente Valdelafuente >> Puente Castro >> Leon (Cathedral/Pulchra Leonina) {2.5 hrs/12km}
Day 20:
EXTRA DAY in LEON
Day 21:
EXTRA DAY in LEON + Bus to Astorga {10 euros} (Museum of Pilgrimage/Palacio Episcopal by Antoni Gaudi)
Day 22:
Astorga >> Valdeviejas >> Murias de Rechivaldo >> Santa Catalina de Somoza >> El Gamso >> Rabanal del Camino {4.5 hrs/20km}
Day 23:
Rabanal del Camino >> Foncebadon (place a rock taken from home at Cruz de Ferro to symbolize a burden left behind) >> Manjarin >> El Acebo >> Riego de Ambros >> Molinaseca >> Ponferrada {4.5 hrs/20km}
Day 24:
Ponferrada >> Compostilla >> Columbrianos >> Fuentes Nuevas >> Camponaraya >> Cacabelos (Archaeological Museum + Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Plaza) >> Pieros >> Valtuille de Arriba >> Villafranca del Bierzo {4.5 hrs/20km}
Day 25:
Villafranca del Bierzo >> Pereje >> Trabadelo >> La Portela de Valcarce >> Ambasmestas >> Vega de Valcarce >> Ruitelan >> Las Herreias de Valcarce (The road will start its ascent) >> La Faba >> La Laguna de Castilla {6 hrs/25km}
Day 26:
La Laguna de Castilla >> O Cebreiro >> Linares >> Hospital de la Condesa >> Padornelo >> Alto do Poio >> Fonfria >> Biduedo >> Filloval >> As Pasantes >> Ramil >> Triacastela >> Aguiada >> Sarria
+ Train to END in Santiago
Day 27:
EXTRA DAY in SANTIAGO
Day 28:
EXTRA DAY in SANTIAGO
Pack LIGHT:
- 25L Backpack
- packing cube/dry bag for clothing (all quick dry)
- 3 tops (1 long sleeve 1 tank 1 tee)
- 3 bottoms (yoga leggings, trail pants, hiking shorts)
- 2 bras, 2-3 pairs underwear
- 2 pairs socks
- LBD
- Hiking Boots
- Sandals
- Hat
- Light scarf/wrap
- Fleece?
- Small umbrella?
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
- iPad + charger, Passport, credit cards, phone, headphones
- Shampoo/conditioner, comb, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, razor, face/body wash/lotion, nail clippers, tweezers, band-aids + antiseptic, anti-chafe balm, arnica oil, tiger balm, anti-inflammatory, chapstick, Sunscreen, laundry soap
- Sleep sheet & travel towel
- A small rock or other token from home to leave at the Cruz de Ferro
Some general notes about Spain
- most Spaniards have a light breakfast (usually bread+cookies/cake) first thing in the morning then a second breakfast around 11.00 (a second coffee + tostada/croissant/fruit/yogurt)
- Coffee choices: “cafe con leche” = 1/4 espresso + 3/4 warm milk (flat white), “cortado” = half espresso half milk, iced coffee is not a thing, neither is filter coffee.
- lunchtime is 14.00-16.00 (sometimes 17.00) – it’s the biggest meal of the day
- a “menu del día” is a three-course lunch special Monday-Friday
- siesta (after lunch) means most villages will be closed 16.00-18.00/19.00
- dinnertime starts at 20.00 (finishes around 23.00) – tapas style light bites
Accommodations: http://www.alberguescaminosantiago.com/albergues/
Route info: https://www.pilgrim.es/en/french-way/
