Camino de Santiago in group with guide
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Guided group pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
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Way of Saint James from Sarria in group with guide
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Further information

Camino del Norte

  • 809 km
  • 34 stages on foot
  • 16 cycling stages
Discover the programmes

Camino del Norte

809 km
34 stages on foot
809 cycling stages
Discover the programmes

In short

The Northern Way runs along the Cantabrian coast from the Spanish-French border to the city of the apostle. Venture along this green coastal route and discover some of the towns and villages considered to be the most beautiful in Spain in the company of lamias, xanas or mouras. And fantastic food. If any Pilgrims' Route to Santiago can be called a "gastronomic route", it is this one.

Itineraries and information

The Camino del Norte is the second longest of the Camino de Santiago routes. It is second only to the Vía de la Plata. It starts in Irún as a variant of the latter and runs along the entire Cantabrian coast. Green meadows, mountainous landscapes, cliffs and incredible beaches, and some cities of great interest, such as Donostia-San Sebastián, Santander or Gijón are its main attributes.

Moreover, it is a Camino that usually amazes. Not only for the scenery. As it is not as crowded as the French route and offers a wide variety of services and infrastructures, it is an option that is gaining strength. And the signposting is also excellent. A good alternative, in short, for those who prefer to walk with fewer people around them and with the sea in sight.

However, it is a demanding route, with significant gradients. Moreover, as it runs through mountainous areas and cliffs, some sections are dangerous for cyclists. So if you want to do this route by bike, you will have to deviate from the route at several points. Don't worry: the cycling variants are also signposted.

To do this route, the closest starting point to Santiago (and which allows you to obtain the Compostela by doing the last 100 km) could be in Baamonde (101 km).

However, in this case you will no longer have the spectacular coastal views that characterise this route. For this reason, most people who choose this route do considerably more than the last hundred kilometres, and usually start in Ribadeo (185 km), just where the Camino turns inland, in Gijón (355 km), in Santander (546 km) or in Irún (809 km).

However, it is most common to do it in sections, starting in Irún and completing it in different periods or even in consecutive years until it is completed.

In its more than 800 km of length, the Camino del Norte has countless points of interest. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Miramar Palace in San Sebastian
  • The Guggenheim Museum and the Begoña Basilica in Bilbao
  • Bilbao Cathedral
  • The town of Castro Urdiales
  • The town of Santillana del Mar
  • Modernist architecture in Comillas
  • The fishing village of Llanes
  • The beach of As Catedrais and the town of Ribadeo
  • The cathedral of Mondoñedo
  • The Sobrado dos Monxes Monastery
  • Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage city

Mode

This label indicates the intended mode of travel, based on two typologies:

In groups

These are group trips, where you are part of a small group of people who have chosen the same destination as you. Perfect for meeting like-minded people. Group trips usually have a guide who is in charge of overseeing the dynamics of the group, revealing the secrets of the destination and, in general, making sure that everything runs smoothly.

On your own

In this type of trip you have full control: you choose the dates and the pace. In addition, they are usually trips with configurable accommodation and services. It is the perfect mode for independent and experienced travellers, as well as for private groups of friends or families.

Type of trip

This label indicates the type of trip we propose to you based on the following options:

Getaways

These are trips that concentrate all their essence in two or three days. The aim is to live a series of experiences in a specific geographical area.

Half distance

These trips offer routes that take only a few days to complete and are perfect for most people who want to enjoy an active holiday without being too physically demanding.

Long distances

This type refers to long routes, which offer a great variety of natural and human spaces to visit and which require several days, usually two weeks or more. They are routes and destinations designed to really disconnect and live the experience to the fullest.

Exploration

These are trips off the beaten track and off the beaten track. They often require certain orientation skills or offer specialised guides at the destination.

Accommodation

This label indicates the type of services (mainly accommodation) we offer on each trip, based on three categories: 

Configurable

The trip offers different types of services and categories of services that you can choose from. For example, standard or premium accommodation. 

Standard

The trips in this group do not offer configurable options. The accommodations correspond to the standard category (not luxurious, but clean and in good condition).

Premium

Trips with this label offer non-configurable options. Accommodation and other services correspond to the premium category.