Camino del Norte from Ribadeo — Self-Guided From Ribadeo to Santiago de Compostela

Ribadeo welcomes pilgrims with the Cantabrian Sea and the Eo estuary, the border between Asturias and Galicia. Stroll through the center, where the Modernist Torre de los Moreno stands out, and head to Illa Pancha, with its two lighthouses linked to the shore by a bridge. If you have time, Cathedrals Beach (Praia As Catedrais), with its rock arches, is just a few kilometers away.

The Camino del Norte leaves the coast at Ribadeo and heads inland through villages such as Vilela and Villamartín Pequeno, among meadows and woods, on a long, steady climb. The day ends in Lourenzá, whose great Benedictine monastery of San Salvador was founded in the 10th century by Count Osorio Gutiérrez, the "Holy Count."

The stage begins with the arrival in Mondoñedo, a former episcopal capital, with its 13th-century cathedral and the Fonte Vella in the historic center — a must-see stop. Then the trail climbs hard up the slopes to the Abadín plateau — the toughest climb of the Galician section.

Today you cross the Terra Chá, a broad plateau of fields, pastures and small woods, with little change in elevation. The villages of Martiñán and Goiriz mark the way to Vilalba, where the Torre dos Andrade, now a parador, dominates the center. This is the home of San Simón da Costa cheese, smoked and pear-shaped.

A stage of country lanes and small medieval stone bridges over streams, among woods and meadows. The terrain is gentle, and one village follows another until Baamonde, with its church of Santiago and stone crosses. From here, it is about 100 km to Santiago de Compostela.

A short, peaceful stage through oak woods and small villages of stone houses, far from the roads. Miraz is a tiny village, known among pilgrims for the albergue run by a British confraternity of the Camino de Santiago. It is a good day to walk slowly and rest up for the next stage.

The loneliest stretch of the Camino del Norte crosses highlands of open fields, woods and wind farms, with few villages or services. The arrival in Sobrado dos Monxes makes the effort worthwhile: the great Cistercian monastery of Santa María, with its Baroque facade and twin towers, is still home to monks.

After Sobrado, the Camino continues through Corredoiras and Boimorto, among meadows and woods, on a stage with gentle terrain. In Arzúa, the Camino del Norte joins the Camino Francés, and the trail, quiet until now, fills with pilgrims from several routes. Don't leave without trying Arzúa-Ulloa cheese.

Now on the Camino Francés, the stage passes through villages such as A Calle, with stone houses and traditional hórreos, and continues through eucalyptus woods and small valleys. After so many days of solitude, walking alongside pilgrims from all over the world gives you a fresh boost. O Pedrouzo is your last overnight stop before Santiago.

The last day runs through the woods to Monte do Gozo, where the pilgrim monument, with two bronze figures pointing toward the city, marks your first view of the Cathedral towers. Then comes the descent through Santiago's neighborhoods to the historic center and Obradoiro Square, the finish line of more than 190 km from Ribadeo.

Before you leave, visit Praza da Quintana and the Holy Door, open throughout the 2027 Holy Year, and enter the Cathedral to embrace the Apostle. Then stroll through the Mercado de Abastos and try Galician seafood — one last reminder of the coast where your Camino began.