Sarria to Santiago de Compostela

Your Camino begins in the lively pilgrim town of Sarria, the most popular starting point for the final 100 kilometers to Santiago. Upon arrival, we gather for a relaxed welcome and orientation dinner — an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers, review the week ahead, and settle into the rhythm of the journey. You’ll receive your pilgrim passport (credential), the small but meaningful document that will be stamped along the way and ultimately lead to your Compostela. With anticipation in the air, your Camino officially begins

Distance: 22 km / 13.5 miles
Average walking time: 5–6 hours

Your Camino begins in Sarria, named after the river that flows through the town — the River Sarria — whose origins are believed to trace back to a pre-Roman Celtic tribe known as the Seurri.

Sarria is considered the unofficial starting point for pilgrims walking the final 100 kilometers required to receive the Compostela certificate. Just a few hours into the walk, you pass the 100 km marker to Santiago de Compostela, a meaningful milestone for many.

The route leads through forest paths, small villages, and open countryside before arriving in Portomarín, a historic town overlooking the Miño River. Its main church, San Nicolás, was relocated stone by stone when the valley was flooded, preserving its medieval character.

Distance: 25 km / 15.5 miles
Average walking time: 6–7 hours

Leaving Portomarín, the Camino gently ascends through rolling hills, eucalyptus groves, and quiet rural hamlets. The path is well marked and easy to follow, allowing you to walk confidently at your own rhythm.

This is a day that encourages longer stretches of uninterrupted walking — ideal for reflection or easy conversation with fellow pilgrims met along the way.

You arrive in Palas de Rei, whose name comes from Pallatium Regis, meaning “Palace of the King,” believed to reference a Visigothic royal residence. Today, it remains a welcoming Camino town with a strong pilgrim tradition.

Distance: 15 km / 9 miles
Average walking time: 3.5–4 hours

Today’s walk is shorter and particularly scenic. The Camino winds through shaded woodland, medieval stone bridges, and traditional Galician villages that feel largely unchanged by time.

This gentler distance allows flexibility — time to stop for coffee, explore villages, or simply enjoy the walk without rushing.

Melide is one of the Camino’s most loved towns, famous for its pulpo a la gallega. It is also where the Camino Primitivo joins the Camino Francés, bringing together walkers from different routes and backgrounds.

Distance: 14 km / 8.5 miles
Average walking time: 3–4 hours

Today you continue through pastoral landscapes, oak forests, and small farming communities. The terrain is gentle and social, with many pilgrims walking at similar distances and paces.

This stretch highlights the everyday rural life of Galicia — green fields, stone walls, and quiet villages — making it an ideal day to slow down and enjoy the surroundings.

You arrive in Arzúa, well known for its local cheese, queso de Arzúa-Ulloa, and its lively pilgrim atmosphere as Santiago draws closer.

Distance: 19 km / 12 miles
Average walking time: 4.5–5 hours

The Camino today passes through eucalyptus forests and peaceful rural paths. By now, the route feels familiar, and many walkers use this day to reflect on their journey while enjoying the shared rhythm of the trail.

O Pedrouzo is the final overnight stop for most pilgrims. The town carries a sense of anticipation, as conversations turn toward arrival in Santiago and the meaning of the days already walked.

Distance: 20 km / 12.5 miles
Average walking time: 5–6 hours

The final day begins early. From Monte do Gozo — the “Hill of Joy” — you catch your first glimpse of Santiago’s cathedral towers in the distance, a moment many pilgrims describe as unforgettable.

The Camino concludes in the Praza do Obradoiro, in front of the cathedral. Arrival is often emotional — a quiet sense of completion shared with pilgrims from all over the world. The walk ends here, but for many, the Camino experience — the people met, the clarity found, and the confidence gained — continues long after the journey is complete.

Start your final morning in Santiago with a leisurely breakfast before heading out to explore the winding, granite-paved streets of the historic Old Town. The centerpiece of your day is the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela; we recommend visiting the tomb of Saint James and, if you wish, attending the moving Pilgrims' Mass at noon. Afterward, take the

afternoon to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of the plazas or collect your hard-earned Compostela certificate at the nearby Pilgrims' Office.