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Camino de Santiago del Norte from Santander to Ribadesella

8 Days

85 miles | 138 Km

Santander - Ribadesella

From 1,500 AUD

Personalized quotation

Luggage transfer

24h telephone assistance

Hotel accommodations

On this stretch of the Camino de la Costa you will travel along the coast of the Cantabrian city of Santander to the coastal town of Ribadesella, in the principality of Asturias. In the 145 km that separate the two places, you will find a route of incredible natural and landscape beauty amid coastal, mountainous and wooded areas on the so-called Cantabrian Coast.

Relax on the beautiful and popular Sardinero Beach in Santander.
Get to know the Cathedral of Santander or the Magdalena Palace in the charming historic old centre of the capital of Cantabria.
Discover the World Heritage Site of the Altamira Caves in Santillana del Mar.
Visit the architectural relics of Gaudi or Domenech i Montaner, in the village of Comillas.
Venture out to do the River Sella descent by canoe in Ribadesella.

Furthermore, by booking your Camino de Santiago from Santander with Orbis Ways, you will stay in en suite rooms in charming hotels and country cottages and we will transfer your luggage between stages.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Santander

Explore the capital of Cantabria and one of the most beautiful and popular cities on the northern coast of Spain. We invite you to taste the delicious local dishes of mountain stew and rabas (fried squid).

Visit some of its tourist attractions such as the Pereda Gardens, The Palacio de la Magdalena, Sardinero Beach or Santander Cathedral.

Overnight in Santander

Hotel Abba Santander

Located in the centre of Santander, the hotel offers modern, well-equipped rooms with TV, air conditioning, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.
Enjoy a good buffet breakfast in its dining room.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 2 - Santander to Arce 9,9 miles | 16 km

When leaving Santander, the road today takes us away from the urban landscape to take us to the interior of Cantabria.We will pass through several villages, such as Santa Cruz de Bezana, Mompia and Boo de Pielagos.

Afterwards, we continue along the River Pas estuary in Boo de Pielagos and finally head towards Arce, where we will rest overnight.

Overnight in Arce

Palacio de Arce

Located in the Marques de la Conquista Real Palace, a former stately home, this charming hotel is a typical example of Cantabrian architecture.
Its rooms have air conditioning, TV, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 3 - De Arce a Santillana del Mar 13,6 miles | 22 km

This day begins in Arce and will take us through the spectacular mountainous landscape on the Cantabrian coast. Along today's route, we'll stop by charming villages like Miengo and Suances, which are worth visiting.

We will cross the River Saja and then the path continues through green meadows until we reach the medieval village Santillana del Mar, known for home to the famous Altamira Caves.

Overnight in Santillana del Mar

Hotel Los Ángeles

In this traditional-style accommodation, decorated with stone and natural wood, you can enjoy authentic mountain food.
It has rustic-style rooms, equipped with a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 4 - Santillana del Mar to Comillas 14,3 miles | 23 km

Cross the small towns of Orena with its approximately 1,000 inhabitants; Ciguenza, which in prehistoric times was inhabited by Autorigones or Cantabrians; and Casasola with the Portillo Cave and its Neolithic shell site.

You arrive in Comillas, a Cantabrian village in the West Coast zone. Relax on its beautiful beach and admire the magnificent views of cliffs and rocks that surround it.

Discover the medieval and Baroque heritage of its buildings and the architectural relics of Catalan artists, such as the original Pontifical University of Comillas, which is now in Madrid, the Sobrellano Palace, and the work 'El Capricho', by Antoni Gaudí.

Overnight in Comillas

Hotel Comillas

Surrounded by beautiful gardens, this elegant hotel is located near the Sobrellano Palace.
It offers air-conditioned rooms with a TV, private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 5 - Comillas to Unquera 17,3 miles | 28 km

The path today will take us around the Cantabrian coast passing through the Natural Park of Oyambre. Dunes, meadows, steep cliffs and beaches form a vast, rich landscape that in turn houses a wide variety of vegetation and fauna, such as waterfowl, molluscs and fish.

Then the road will take us through fields and forests until we reach Unquera.

Overnight in Unquera

Agroturismo Muriances

Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and stay in rooms with everything you need for a relaxing stay, including TV, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 6 - Unquera to Llanes 13 miles | 21 km

Today our trail takes us back to skirt along the north coast. We will leave the autonomous community of Cantabria to enter Asturias. Just outside Unquera, we will cross the River Deva over a bridge that takes us to Bustio.

The road continues to climb to 'Cuesta'l Cant' and then downhill through the Sierra de la Borbolla. We will pass through the town of Pendueles, by a narrow road that continues to ascend until the Jorcada Pass, after crossing the Andrin road. The trail continues downhill to La Portilla.

We continue on to Llanes, where we will stay overnight: a beautiful town surrounded by the Picos de Europa mountains and the north coast.

Overnight in Llanes

Hotel Don Paco

This hotel is located in a renovated 17th-century convent, which combines Baroque style with modern facilities.
It has spacious public areas, including a beautiful garden, a restaurant and a bar.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 7 - Llanes to Ribadesella 17,3 miles | 28 km

Cross Llanes until you link with the old Po path and continue to the Monastery of San Salvador de Celorio to go around Palombina Beach.

In the midst of easier trails, you will find several parishes, chapels and monasteries, such as the Chapel of Santin in Barru or the Monastery of San Antolin de Bedon in Amelladeru.

Cross the railway track through Toriellu, Sobares, Argunadieyu and La Espina, before entering Ribadesella, a cheerful village with a variety of restaurants. Tour the great estuary at the mouth of the River Sella, which separates the village in two: the old part from the modern part.

Overnight in Ribadesella

Hotel Villadesella

This typical Asturian country house is surrounded by large gardens and offers comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.
Enjoy a menu of market cuisine with seasonal products in its restaurant.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 8 - Ribadesella

We invite you not to leave this beautiful town that borders the sea without making the popular River Sella descent by canoe, one of the best known water activities in Asturias.

End of our services.

Itinerary map

Services

Included

Accommodation in en suite rooms in charming hotels and country cottages
Daily Breakfasts
Luggage transfers between accommodations
Camino de Santiago pilgrim credential
Information dossier with maps and routes
24-hour telephone support
Assistance vehicle in case of emergency
Travel insurance
Sustainable travel, we compensate the CO₂ emissions of your trip
Taxes

Extras

Cancellation insurance
Additional nights
Picnics

Accomodation

General information

The accommodations with which we collaborate have a private bathroom and all the necessary services to ensure the best comfort available.

Our team checks in situ the quality of all the accommodations offered, so that you have an unforgettable experience during your trip.

The accommodation that we will book for your trip will be selected taking into account our commitment to you: guaranteeing comfort, calm and enjoyment throughout your trip.

We work with quality hotels and country cottages with limited capacity, so we invite you to confirm your reservation as soon as possible.

The name of each accommodation will be provided to you a few weeks before your trip begins.

Room types

It is possible to book this journey in single, double or triple rooms.

All rooms have private bathrooms.

Travel & transfers

Our recommendation is to fly to Bilbao Airport (BIO). From there, you can take a direct bus to Santander, operated by the company “Alsa”.

If you cannot find flights to Bilbao, as a second option you can fly to Santander Airport (SDR), a local airport that receives domestic flights.

If you arrive at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), you can take a direct train to Santander from the "Madrid-Chamartín" station. The train company that operates this line is “Renfe”. On their website, you can see details of timetables and buy tickets.

At the end of your trip in Ribadesella, you can fly from Asturias Airport (OVD). The best option is to take a bus operated by the company “Alsa”, connecting Ribadesella with the airport.

FAQs

Is luggage transfer included? What are the luggage requirements?

Absolutely! Each traveller has included 1 piece of luggage that we will transfer between your accommodations. It's important that this piece of luggage meets the following criterias:

Maximum weight of 45 lbs (20 kg).
Must be only 1 piece of luggage without any attachments or accessories.
Should not contain valuables, fragile items, food or medications.
Must be correctly identified (booking reference of your trip and the full name of the trip holder).

The approximate luggage delivery time will be at 4:00 PM.

What is the best time of the year to complete this trip?

Any time between March and October will give you an amazing experience. May is undoubtedly one of the best months to complete the route, as the temperatures are moderate, as is the influx of pilgrims. In spring, mornings and evenings are usually cool and during the day, temperatures are pleasant, with a sun that is not as scorching as in summer. However, at this time and in autumn, especially in the north where the ocean climate predominates, there are frequent rains, so we suggest you check the weather forecast.

What should my physical preparation be?

This route is categorized as of medium-high difficulty, as it has some demanding ascents and descents. In addition, the walks are between 15 and 30 km daily on average. For this reason, we suggest preparing about 2 months before starting the route by walking daily, preferably on arid terrain and in a coastal climate.

How far in advance should I book my trip?

We recommend that you book as soon as you are sure about your dates, as accommodation can fill up very quickly in this area.

What equipment do I need to bring?

Once you make your reservation we will send you all the detailed information about the specific equipment you need for this route, considering recommendations for shoes, boots, clothes and a day-to day backpack.

How do I get the pilgrim's credential?

The pilgrim's credential can be found upon arrival at your first accommodation. This credential must be stamped in churches, restaurants and hotels during your journey on the Camino de Santiago. At the end of the trip in the city of Santiago, you can obtain the Compostela that certifies you as a pilgrim.

Can some of the longer stages of the itinerary be divided?

Yes, below is a list of all the stages that we can divide, so that you do not have to walk so many daily kilometres:

Comillas to Unquera (with overnight in San Vicente de la Barquera).
Llanes to Ribadesella (with overnight in Nueva).

There are some stages that cannot be divided as our quality department has determined that it is not recommended based on our standards. This is because luggage cannot be transported or there are no accommodations available. For the stages you find longer, you can take a taxi in the morning after breakfast, to drop you off at a point along the way where you can guarantee to finish the stage. This is the most popular option with walkers. You can also take a look at these other options of the Camino del Norte.