Camino de Santiago del Norte from Villalba to Santiago

Start this adventure in Villalba, (or Vilalba in Galician), dominated by the Torreon de los Condes de Andrade, the present-day National Parador in Villalba. 

Admire its white maple, a tree with its own name: The Pravia. Also explore the Castle, its immense medieval tower and the Church of Santa Maria.

Overnight in Villalba

Leave Villalba, walk to San Xoan de Alba and then along the paths surrounded by greenery to A Torre.

Advance to the medieval bridge at Sa, over the River Labrada and head to the Parish of Pigara, where a marker tells you that there are 108,458 km that separate you from Santiago. 

Continue towards Ferreira, pass through A Estrada and walk to Santiago de Baamonde to admire its 500-year-old chestnut tree that has a shrine carved inside it with the Virgen del Rosario, the work of the local artist Victor Corral, or the Church of Santiago de Baamonde, with Romanesque and Gothic vestiges from the 11th century.

Overnight in Baamonde

Head towards the old National Route N-VI, towards A Coruña, parallel to the River Parga and then cross the San Alberte Bridge to the chapel and its fountain.

Follow the mountain adorned with typical Galician oak trees, until you reach the village of Carballedo where you will find the Pilgrim Support Point, an initiative started by a local inhabitant where pilgrims can access the internet for free, seal their credentials and acquire provisions. 

Continue to Seixon, in the Friol council area, cross the River Parga again and reach Miraz, officially called San Pedro de Miraz, a quiet village in rural Galicia.

Overnight in Miraz

Start this stretch along Galician inland rural roads, taking the Seixon road and ascending a dirt path to Alto de Mamoa. Admire the views and descend to cross several parishes until reaching A Marcela.

Upon reaching the LU-934 road, you will have entered the province of A Coruna. It borders Lake Sobrado, artificially built in 1500 by Benedictine monks, and admire from there the Monastery of Santa Maria de Sobrado dos Monxes and its towers.

Visit this Cistercian monastery, declared an Artistic Historical Monument, one of the most important convents with a medieval origin in the province.

Overnight in Sobrado Dos Monxes

The beautiful Galician landscape and popular architecture will adorn your journey to Arzua, where the Camino del Norte connects to the Camino Frances. Cross the villages of Vilarchao, O Peroxil and Carelle, to As Corredoiras and head to the municipality of Boimorto and its typical popular architecture. 

Follow the path to Sendelle and visit the 12th century Romanesque church. Pass through Vilar until you reach Arzua, known as the "land of cheese". Walk along the urban path that, according to documents from the 13th century, is the well-known Camino de Oviedo.

Overnight in Arzua

Take Rua do Carmen, a cobblestoned street that passes by the Fuente de los Franceses and crosses the River Vello. Climb a dirt path, then pass over the River Brandeso, and continue between meadows and orchards to the village of Pregontono. 

Walk along trails full of tall eucalyptus trees to Salceda. Cross the villages of As Ras and Brea and take the road again to reach the Alto de Santa Irene pass, the highest point today. 

Cross A Rua until you reach Burgos, and walk through a lush forest of oaks and eucalyptus trees to the small hamlet of San Anton. Before reaching Arca de Pedrouzo, cross the N-547 road, and follow a dirt track that passes over the River Brandelos to reach O Amenal.

Overnight in Amenal

Departing from the Parish of San Miguel de Pereira, take the asphalt trail, cross the River Brandelos and ascend to Cimadevila. Advance then to a monolith that announces the entrance to the municipality of Santiago.

Later you will cross the River Sionlla, known as Lavacolla Creek, a place where pilgrims were stripped of their dirty clothes and washed with a view to their arrival in Santiago.

Climb up to Monte do Gozo and admire the first panoramic view over Santiago. Enter the historic centre of Santiago, a World Heritage Site and access the Plaza del Obradoiro square where the majestic cathedral is located.

Overnight in Santiago de Compostela

We advise you to stay a couple more days in this charming city where you can continue to get to know part of its history in places such as Plaza de Cervantes, the Alameda Gardens and the Plaza da Inmaculada.

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