Camino del Mar

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Castropol (Asturias, Ría de Ribadeo) → Ferrol (A Coruña) — the starting point of the Camino Inglés
• Length: 272.4 km
• Elevation gain: ↗ 4,536 m / ↘ 4,576 m — that’s just 16.7 per kilometer: flatter per kilometer than the Camino Inglés (24.8); this route isn’t challenging because of its inclines, but because of the total duration of twelve days along the coast—the one exception being the climb up the Serra da Capelada
• Duration: 10–12 days (12 stages; 13-stage option)
• Waymarking: Yellow arrows, which the sponsoring association repaints twice a year; up to Ladrido, you’ll also be walking along the state-signposted Camino Natural da Ruta do Cantábrico—after that, the markings become sparse, so a GPS track is required equipment
• Access route: The Camino del Norte—it passes through Castropol and Ribadeo; the turnoff is just past Ribadeo’s old town; directly: the Ferrol–Oviedo meter-gauge railway
• Connection: The Camino Inglés begins in Ferrol—112.5 km to Santiago, which alone satisfies the 100-km requirement for the Compostela; the total distance from Castropol is about 385 km
• Status: Recognized by the Church (Cathedral Chapter of Santiago, June 2021); the Compostela is available—recognition by the Xunta has not yet been granted, despite a unanimous parliamentary resolution from 2010 (as of August 2026)
• Character: A long stretch of cliffs almost devoid of pilgrims—rias, fishing ports, the highest cliffs in continental Europe, and a sanctuary for the dead right along the route; not a single pilgrim hostel between Ribadeo and Ferrol—advance booking is mandatory, not just recommended

Overview

The Camino del Mar begins one day before his own decision: in Castropol, on the Asturian side of the Ría de Ribadeo, where they speak Eonaviego—the transitional dialect between Galician and Asturian—and on the first morning, you look out across the water at the countryside you’ll be walking through for the next twelve days. Crossing the Puente dos Santos, you’ll arrive at Ribadeo, and that's where it happens: The Camino del Norte turns inland toward Mondoñedo—you stay by the sea. 272.4 Kilometers long: past the 30-meter rock arches of the Praia das Catedrais, at the Basilica consecrated in 925 San Martiño de Mondoñedo, through the fishing ports of Burela, San Cibrao, and Celeiro, to Viveiro in and out again, along the cliffs of Loiba and up to the Serra da Capelada, where the Vixía Herbeira which, at 615 meters, are the highest cliffs in continental Europe — and right through the middle of Santo André de Teixido, the sanctuary that every Galician must visit at least once, whether alive or dead. Then Cape Punta Candieira, Cedeira, the lagoons of Valdoviño—and finally the inlet leading into the Ría of Ferrol.

And Ferrol is the real punchline: This path doesn't end at a junction; it ends at a starting line. Ferrol is the traditional starting point of the Camino Inglés, for a very practical reason: From Ferrol, it is 112.5 Kilometers To Santiago, it’s only 74 from A Coruña—only Ferrol meets the 100-kilometer rule for the Compostela. We’ll be honest with you about the cost of the detour: From Ribadeo, the Norte would still 193.2 km to Santiago; the Camino del Mar takes about 259 from there—but only as far as Ferrol. If you walk all the way from Castropol to Santiago, the distance is about 385 Kilometers. The sea is the only reason for this detour, and that's enough. The journey is half over: Since June 2021 The Cathedral Chapter of Santiago issues the Compostela to its pilgrims; the Xunta refuses to do so despite a unanimous request from the parliament on 2010 still waiting (as of August 2026). With about 200 Compostelas a year, you'll be the only person here for days on end with a scallop shell on your backpack.

Bequeathed in 1391, counted in 1456, recognized in 2021

The oldest document related to this route is a bequest. 1391 A noblewoman from Viveiro stipulates in her will:“Iten mando yr por min en romaria a Santo Andre de Teixido, porque llo tenno prometudo.” — Furthermore, I command you to make a pilgrimage to Santo André de Teixido on my behalf, for I promised him I would. Along the long coastline, this sentence is no longer a footnote but a set of directions: Your home is the destination of your Stage 5, and the shrine is the destination of your Stage 9 — Your stages 6 through 9 are like carrying out a will on foot, with a delay of a good 630 years. And the destination is the place about which all of Galicia says the same thing: A San Andrés de Teixido vai de morto o que non foi de vivo. — Those who did not go there as the living will go there as the dead. According to tradition, those who shirk the journey are reborn as lizards, toads, or snakes, which is why no one kills an animal on the way to Teixido: it could be a soul on its final pilgrimage. The Camino del Mar takes care of it in passing— Santo André de Teixido isn't just a detour here—it's a stop along the way: Between Cariño and Cedeira, the trail runs right through the middle, past the Amilladoiros—the piles of stones at the entrance—which, on Judgment Day, are said to reveal who has fulfilled their vow. Add your stone to the pile.

The foundation of this path—the "Jakobus" section—is not in the ground, but in the harbor—and its days are numbered. 1456 the English pilgrim noted William Wey in the port of A Coruña“84 barcos de todas las naciones del norte” — 84 ships from all the nations of the North; historian Ilja Mieck estimates that for the 15th century 8,000 to over 35,000 pilgrims by sea each year, and Ribadeo was one of the three main ports of call—along with A Coruña and Padrón—for this maritime pilgrimage to Santiago. The necessary infrastructure was in place on land: up to six pilgrim hospitals in Viveiro (according to the Cicerone guide), a 1531 documented hospital opposite the apse of San Martiño de Mondoñedo — that one 925 consecrated basilica, which is considered “Spain’s oldest cathedral” and whose Romanesque frescoes were only 2008 emerged from beneath the chalk. But there’s one thing we’d rather tell you than sugarcoat: There is no pilgrim’s account that describes the coastline from Ribadeo to Ferrol as a continuous route. The evidence is sporadic—ports, hospitals, a Teixido vow. The continuous route is a 21st-century reconstruction pieced together from historical fragments, and that is exactly what you should know.

It was built by an association: the Asociación Amigos do Camiño do Mar, founded on 10.12.2013 following preparatory work that began in 2007. The Galician Parliament had already called on the Xunta in March 2010 unanimously voted to recognize it—nothing happened, and club president Manuel Vicente sums up the situation perfectly with this statement:“No entendemos cómo el Camino de Invierno fue reconocido rápidamente y el nuestro lleva más de quince años esperando.” — We don't understand how the Camino de Invierno was recognized so quickly, while ours has been waiting for over fifteen years. The church acted faster than the state: Since June 2021 the Cathedral Chapter of Santiago recognizes the Camino del Mar, and the Compostela is issued. To be honest, there are two things to note here. First, the organization publishes two routes under the same name—the short, direct route to Neda (about 187 km) on its current website, and the long coastal route to Ferrol on its partner sites: This is the long one, the only one that includes Teixido and La Capelada. Second, the official stamp route through the fifteen concellos covers only Ribadeo to Neda/Narón—in Castropol, you get your stamp where Norte pilgrims do, and in Ferrol, at the tourist office. In practice, the geography itself mitigates both issues: Since the route ends at the starting point of the Inglés, its 112.5 kilometers alone satisfy the 100-km rule—regardless of how an examiner evaluates the 272 kilometers that precede it.

Other Names

In Galician, the trail is called Camiño do Mar, in Spanish Camino del Mar — that's what his sponsoring association calls him; that's how it appears on the Credencial. Internationally, you often see Ruta do Mar, ever since Cicerone Publishing highlighted the name in the title of its only English-language guide in 2019 (“The Camino Inglés and Ruta do Mar”); occasionally also Camino de la Costa Norte or simply “the coastal version of the Norte.” More important than the names are the two routes behind them: Under the same name, there is a short, direct route (about 187 km in eight stages, Ribadeo → Neda) and the long coastal route to Ferrol—the one described here, which is the only one that truly takes in Santo André de Teixido and the Serra da Capelada. The association’s president himself insists that there is only one documented, approved route: “El Camino del Mar, sólo hay uno.” There are also two common misconceptions you should avoid. The Camiño Natural da Ruta do Cantábrico is a government-built hiking trail (154 km, Ribadeo → Ladrido, opened in 2017)—not part of the Camino de Santiago, but it follows the same route for long stretches, which is why the first half of the trail is so well-marked. And the Camino dos Faros is the other Galician coastal pilgrimage route—it runs along the Costa da Morte, southwest of Santiago: a related route, not a section of it.

Who It's Ideal For—and Who It's Not So Ideal For

This route is for you if you’ve already completed one Camino and want to tackle the next one without waiting in line at the sink: around 200 Compostelas a year, 26 nationalities—that’s the scale we’re talking about. You should be able to walk for twelve days straight and value endurance over drama, because the elevation gain figure sounds tougher than it actually is: 4,536 meters over 272.4 kilometers works out to 16.7 per kilometer—per kilometer, this route is flatter than the Camino Inglés (24.8), where he’ll hand you over at the end. In return, you’ll get a stretch of coastline that no one else ever sees on foot — the rock arches of the Catedrais, the northernmost tip of Spain within reach, the highest cliffs in continental Europe, and a burial site right in the middle of the route — plus a safety net that none of our other routes have: The coastal train stops at almost every stop along the way. You can get off whenever you want.

To be honest, though, it's not for you if you find yourself looking for a place to sleep on the spur of the moment in the afternoon, rely on solid yellow arrows, or are budgeting 30 euros a day: Between Ribadeo and Ferrol, there are not a single pilgrim hostel, there are stretches of up to 40 kilometers without any services, and past Ladrido, the trail markers are attached to the arrows, which a local association repaints twice a year. You plan around such gaps in advance, not while you’re on the trail. And anyone looking for the social side of the Camino—twenty pilgrims gathered around a table in the evening—won’t find it until Ferrol, where the Camino Inglés offers it as a matter of course.

Route & Landscape

You'll start in Castropol, the whitewashed little town on the Asturian side of the Ría, where the Eo flows into the sea and the people Eonaviego speak the transitional dialect between Galician and Asturian—and cross the Puente dos Santos into your destination country on your very first day. In Ribadeo you'll head west instead of south. The first few days take you along a string of beaches and the edge of the cliffs: the fishing village Rinlo, the Praia das Catedrais with its 30-meter arches, the Ría de Foz with San Martiño de Mondoñedo A Burela and San Cibrao the coast takes on a maritime and industrious character—fishing ports, the aluminum smelter, the porcelain factory in Sargadelos —, then the Ría de Viveiro, and with Viveiro you’ll find yourself in the historic heart of this route: city gates, monasteries, and—at one time—as many as six pilgrim hospitals.

Behind O Vicedo and O Porto do Barqueiro The character tips over. You're at the northernmost tip of Spain—the Estaca de Bares, where the Atlantic and the Cantabrian Sea meet, lies ahead of you as a detour—and from here on out, it's all about the cliffs: the steep coastline of Loiba, then Santa Marta de Ortigueira, and Cariño, and finally the climb up to the Serra da Capelada — geologically, a sunken volcanic island where mantle rock from a depth of over 70 kilometers is exposed at the surface; designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023. The Vixía Herbeira At 615 meters, these are the highest cliffs in continental Europe, and right in the middle, between the cliff's edge and the gorse, crouches Santo André de Teixido. Then the Cape Punta Candieira, the descent to Cedeira, the lagoons and dune beaches of Valdoviño — and finally, the curve into the Ría de Ferrol, past Montefaro, the Castelo de San Felipe and Brión, on to Ferrol, the naval town where the Camino Inglés begins.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

Expect twelve stages between 13 and 34 kilometers — 10 to 12 days of walking, depending on whether you take the longest route. The elevation gain sounds daunting at first, but it's not that much per kilometer: 4,536 meters Over 272.4 kilometers, that's 16.7 per kilometer—the Camino Inglés comes to 24.8. So the Camino del Mar is flatter per kilometer than the route it leads into; what makes it difficult is the cumulative effect: twelve days, no hostels, few supplies, and a constantly changing surface—coastal path, forest trail, sandy track, town streets, and asphalt. The one exception is Stage 9 from Cariño to the Serra da Capelada: from sea level to over 600 meters along a cliff edge—the longest single ascent on the entire route—with pilgrim accounts describing certain sections as “montañero,” or mountain hiking terrain. And as with all routes without hostels, the following applies: Your destination for the day isn't determined by your fitness level, but by where there's a bed.

1. Castropol → Ribadeo — approx. 13 km — A short start on the Asturian side of the Ría, crossing the Puente dos Santos into Galicia. With the Eonaviego language border behind us, Torre dos Moreno Right in front of you—just past the old town of Ribadeo—you'll turn off the Camino del Norte.
2. Ribadeo → San Cosme de Barreiros — approx. 26 km — Through the fishing village of Rinlo and the Praia das Catedrais (Advance registration required during Holy Week and from July 1 through September 30!). Arches up to 30 meters; beyond that, beach chain.
3. San Cosme de Barreiros → Foz — approx. 21 km — A pleasant day along the Ría de Foz. Must-see stop: San Martiño de Mondoñedo, consecrated in 925, “Spain’s oldest cathedral,” featuring the oldest Romanesque frescoes in Galicia.
4. Foz → San Cibrao — approx. 23 km — Via Burela, the largest fishing port along the route, and at Sargadelos...behind us. Our destination is the San Cibrao Peninsula, home to the Museo Provincial do Mar and the Farallóns the Maruxaina right in front of us.
5. San Cibrao → Viveiro (Celeiro) — approx. 28 km — The longest day of the first half, via Xove to the Ría de Viveiro. Viveiro is the historic capital of this route: Porta de Carlos V (1548), once home to as many as six pilgrim hospitals—and the hometown of the woman who, in 1391, bequeathed her Teixido pilgrimage in her will.
6. Viveiro → O Vicedo — approx. 21 km — Out of the Ría and northward — the day of transition before the coast becomes wild.
7. O Vicedo → O Porto de Espasante — approx. 18 km — Via O Porto do Barqueiro on Galicia's smallest ría. From here, it's worth taking a detour to the Estaca de Bares, the northernmost point of Spain, with the late Roman harbor breakwater O Coído. Next, the cliffs of Loiba featuring Galicia's most famous mistranslation.
8. O Porto de Espasante → Cariño — approx. 28 km — Via Saint Martha of Ortigueira; the government-built Camino Natural ends at Ladrido—from here on, the trail is marked solely by the association.
9. Cariño → Santo André de Teixido — approx. 21 km — The Queen Stage: up to the Serra da Capelada, past the Vixía Herbeira (615 m), the highest cliffs in continental Europe, right in the middle of the UNESCO Cabo Ortegal Geopark. At the end of the day, you’ll find yourself in Santo André de Teixido — not as a day-tripper, but as someone who walked here.
10. Santo André de Teixido → Cedeira — approx. 17 km — Short but spectacular: around the cape Punta Candieira and down the cliff trail to Cedeira. Along the way, the beach at Teixidelo with its black, non-volcanic sand, which is unique in the world.
11. Cedeira → Valdoviño — approx. 22 km — A quieter stretch of coastline with lagoons and dune beaches; still within the geopark area.
12. Valdoviño → Ferrol — approx. 34 km — The longest day to finish: via Montefaro, the Castelo de San Felipe and Brión into the Ría de Ferrol. On the beach at Doniños In 1800, the British landed with 109 ships—and got no further. In Ferrol, the Camino del Mar ends right at the starting line of the Camino Inglés.

Anyone who no longer wants a 34 after eleven days will share the final stage: Valdoviño → Covas (about 21 km) and Covas → Ferrol (approx. 13 km) — Covas has lodging, and the twelve stages become thirteen. In general, this route is more forgiving of changes in plans than any other: The Ferrol–Oviedo meter-gauge railway stops in Ribadeo, Foz, Burela, San Cibrao, Viveiro, O Vicedo, and Ortigueira—you can cut the route short, skip sections, or walk in segments: all without needing a taxi. Still, the most critical reservation along the entire route remains Santo André de Teixido: The pilgrimage site has very few beds, and Cariño itself isn't very big either.

Highlights Along the Way

• Castropol — a whitewashed little town overlooking the Ría, featuring the Capilla del Campo (15th century), palaces from the 16th to 18th centuries, and Eonaviego as the everyday language. To be honest: The route begins here one day before the official trail—on the Asturian side, where the Camino del Norte also passes through.
• Torre dos Moreno, Ribadeo — The Moreno Ulloa brothers returned from Argentina as “Indianos” and commissioned Julián García Núñez, a student of Gaudí, to build a Modernist tower on the main square. Their return by sea, immortalized in stone.
• Praia das Catedrais — Officially known as Praia de Augas Santas, a natural monument since 2005: rock arches and tunnels up to 30 meters high along a 2.2-kilometer stretch of cliff edge. During Holy Week and from July 1 through September 30, you’ll need to register in advance for free—a curious twist: you register just to pass through your own section of the trail.
• San Martiño de Mondoñedo (Foz) — Consecrated in 925 by San Rosendo, hence known as “Spain’s oldest cathedral”; designated a BIC since 1931 and a Basilica minor since 2007. During restoration work in 2008, the oldest Romanesque frescoes in Galicia were uncovered beneath a layer of lime. In the parish museum: the tomb, ring, and 1.45-meter-long crosier of San Gonzalo—the bishop whose kneeling, according to legend, caused Norman ships to sink.
• Sargadelos (Cervo) — the ruins of the Real Fábrica from 1791, Spain’s first blast-furnace ironworks, and the circular ceramics factory from 1970 on the same site: The king’s cannonballs and the blue-and-white porcelain from the museum shop come from the same soil.
• San Cibrao and the Maruxaina — Off the coast of the peninsula lie the Os Farallóns archipelago, home to the Maruxaina: a siren who lures sailors to their doom, or a kind old woman who warns of storms—the fishermen remain divided on this to this day. On the second Saturday in August, men set out with horns and foghorns to drown out her song and bring her ashore for the Gran Xuízo Popular. She is always acquitted.
• Viveiro — first mentioned in a document in 857; three surviving city gates, including the Porta de Carlos V dating from 1548 and bearing the imperial coat of arms; Holy Week, with its 15 processions, has been designated a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 2013. And it was here in 1391 that the will was signed, which is the oldest record of this route.
• Estaca de Bares — the northernmost point of Spain, where, according to official sources, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea meet; over 280,000 migratory birds each year, plus the 292-meter-long late Roman harbor breakwater, O Coído. Until 1978, the U.S. Coast Guard operated a radio station here—the northern tip has always served as a listening post.
• The Benches of Loiba — In 2009, mechanic Rafael Prieto placed two benches along the cliffs; in 2010, Scottish festival musicians carved “The best bank of the world” into one of them: they were referring to the cliffs (“bank”), but the bench remains. A path whose most famous phrase is a translation error.
• Vixía Herbeira and the Cabo Ortegal Geopark — 615 meters, the highest cliffs in continental Europe, featuring the Garita de Herbeira, a structure dating from the early 19th century that was restored in 2003. A UNESCO Global Geopark since May 24, 2023: The Serra da Capelada was once a volcanic island, and here, mantle rock from a depth of over 70 kilometers lies on the surface—you’re walking on the oldest ground on the peninsula.
• Santo André de Teixido — the shrine one visits before one must: “A San Andrés de Teixido goes as a dead man what was not done in life.” Documented since the 12th century; granted to the Order of St. John in 1196; also notable are the Amilladoiros, the Herba de namorar, and the eight bread figurines of the Sanandresiños. A major pilgrimage takes place on September 8—and on this route, it’s not a detour but a destination in its own right.
• Teixidelo — the beach below Capelada, with black sand of non-volcanic origin — unique in the world, according to the Geopark. Black sand without a volcano: Only this coast can offer that, too.
• Punta Candieira — the lighthouse cape between Teixido and Cedeira, the last major rocky outcrop of the Capelada before the trail descends toward the Ría de Cedeira.
• Castelo de San Felipe and the Battle of 1800 — In 1800, a British fleet of 109 ships landed troops on the beach at Doniños—the final leg of your journey—and was repelled by the fortifications along the Ría de Ferrol. A pilgrimage route that ends at a line of fortifications—on the side that held.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

The natural feeder is the Camino del Norte. On his way to Galicia, he passes right through Castropol and crosses the Ría at the Puente dos Santos to Ribadeo — If you’re coming from Irún, Bilbao, or Gijón, you have only one choice there: head inland via Lourenzá and Mondoñedo along the Norte route, 193.2 km to Santiago — or stay by the sea: about 259 km to Ferrol, plus the 112.5 km of the Camino Inglés. The detour to the coast adds up to just under 180 extra kilometers, and it has exactly one selling point: the sea. If that’s enough of a reason for you, then that’s all you need.

If you’re not arriving via the Norte line, you can travel directly here—it’s easier than the location might suggest: Castropol and Ribadeo are both located on the Ferrol–Oviedo meter-gauge railway line, and there are also bus connections to Lugo, A Coruña, and Oviedo. Historically speaking, the direct route is actually the most authentic: Ribadeo was one of the three main ports of entry for the maritime pilgrimage to Santiago—in the 15th century, pilgrims arriving from England or Flanders set foot in Galicia right here, straight from the ship. Today you’ll arrive by train instead of by cog, but you’re heading in the right direction.

Continue the pilgrimage?

The Camino del Mar does not end in Santiago—it ends in Ferrol, and that's not a weakness, but his best idea: Ferrol is the classic starting point of the Camino Inglés. From there, it's 112.5 Kilometers To Santiago—just 74 from A Coruña—only Ferrol meets the 100-kilometer requirement for the Compostela. So your coastal route doesn’t drop you off just anywhere; it takes you right to the starting line. Five to six stages via Neda, Pontedeume, Betanzos, Bruma, and Sigüeiro take you to the Obradoiro—well-marked, with public hostels, and once again in the company of fellow pilgrims; in Neda, you’ll find the remains of the medieval pilgrim hospital Sancti Spiritus and the Xunta hostel from 2002. After twelve days of staying at private lodgings, this is a change of pace: starting in Ferrol, you’re back to the traditional Camino experience.

For the Compostela This route is particularly convenient in that regard: The 112.5 kilometers of the Inglés route alone meet the 100-km rule—regardless of how an examiner evaluates the 272.4 kilometers that come before it. Still, be sure to collect stamps along the entire route: Fifteen municipalities between Ribadeo and Neda have had their own Camiño do Mar stamps made; in Castropol, you can get your stamp where Northern pilgrims do, and in Ferrol, at the tourism office or at the Inglés hostel. From Castropol to Santiago, the total comes to about 385 Kilometers — and in the end, there is the document for which entire fleets crossed the Atlantic 600 years ago.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time is May through early October — though even in the height of summer, this coast can get as rainy as other places do in April: A rain jacket is essential gear, not an option. Bring enough water and provisions to last several days, especially for the Capelada between Cariño and Cedeira—there are stretches of up to 40 kilometers without any supplies. And if you’re hiking the Praia das Catedrais If you're stopping by, be sure to get your free admission pass online beforehand—yes, really: sign up for your own stage.

Download the GPS track and don't rely on arrows. Until you reach Ladrido near Ortigueira, you'll be walking mostly along the state-built trail that opened in 2017, Camiño Natural da Ruta do Cantábrico and you’re exceptionally well-guided; after that, everything depends on the yellow arrows, which the association repaints twice a year—there are pilgrim accounts of people who didn’t find a single one along entire stretches of the route. The second requirement is a bed: Not a single pilgrim hostel between Ribadeo and Ferrol. You’ll be staying in guesthouses, hostels, and rural inns for twelve days—be sure to book in advance, as there are often only two or three places to stay in the small towns, and the two trickiest nights are in Cariño and Santo André de Teixido. You plan around such gaps beforehand, not while you’re on the road.

As on all routes along the Way of St. James, you'll need a Pilgrim's Passport (Credencial) — For this route, there is an official version issued by the Oficina de Peregrinaciones of the Diocese of Santiago, available through the St. James associations; along the way, you’ll collect stamps at the fifteen specially designed municipal stamp stations from Ribadeo to Neda. A digital Credencial exists, but the organization itself still advises against using it—there are too few registered stamping locations. It’s best to order the credential online in advance so you’ll have it in time for the start of your journey. And plan your daily stages in advance, because lodging options are few and far between, and your stages will have to be based on available beds—the easiest way to do this is directly in the Camino Ninja app, where you can put together your stages and plan suitable lodging at the same time.

What the journey will cost you

Expect 55 to 85 € per day (As of August 2026) — This route is more expensive than a traditional Camino, and the reason is simple: There is no network of hostels. Between Ribadeo and Ferrol, you’ll stay in guesthouses, hostales, and casas rurales, with 35 to 55 € for a single room and 45 to 75 € in a double room; depending on the season, travel websites list prices for the region at up to 90 €. Things don’t get cheap again until you reach your destination: The Inglés hostels in Ferrol and Neda cost around 10 €. When it comes to food, however, you’re in luck: the “Menú del Día” here ranges from 12 to 16 €, and you’ll walk through the fishing ports of Burela, San Cibrao, and Celeiro, where fish is the cheapest item on the menu. Over twelve stages, depending on your pace, you’ll end up with roughly 700 to 1,000 € Excluding travel to and from the destination. More and more places are offering pilgrim discounts if you show your Credencial—it doesn't hurt to ask. The Credencial itself costs just a few euros; the Compostela in Santiago is free, as is the reservation for Praia das Catedrais.

Getting Here

The starting point is Castropol in the far west of Asturias, directly across from Ribadeo—and this trail offers a luxury in terms of access that none of our other trails have: its own railroad connecting the starting point and the destination. The meter-gauge line Ferrol–Oviedo (formerly FEVE, now operated by Renfe) runs practically parallel to the route and stops at Ribadeo, Foz, Burela, San Cibrao, Viveiro, O Vicedo, Ortigueira, and Ferrol. You can start your journey here, break it up, skip a stage, or hike in sections without ever needing a taxi—it’s slow, but scenically one of the most beautiful train routes in Spain, and conveniently serves as a preview of your first stages.

By plane Whether you arrive in A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, or Asturias/Oviedo—Oviedo is on the same rail line as the Ría de Ribadeo. By bus ALSA, Monbus, and Arriva connect Ribadeo and the Asturian coast with Lugo, A Coruña, Santiago, and Oviedo; from Ribadeo, you can reach Castropol in just a few minutes via the Puente dos Santos. The return trip is the most convenient part of this route: Ferrol has train and bus connections to A Coruña and Santiago — and anyone who wants to Camino Inglés If you're taking the bus, you won't need to make the return trip until you reach Obradoiro anyway. If you're coming on foot, you'll take the Camino del Norte: It passes through Castropol and Ribadeo.

• Getting to the starting point: Flight to A Coruña, Santiago, or Asturias/Oviedo; narrow-gauge railway from Ferrol to Oviedo (formerly FEVE) to Ribadeo, and from there across the Puente dos Santos to Castropol; Long-distance buses (ALSA, Monbus, Arriva) from Lugo, A Coruña, Santiago, and Oviedo.
• Return trip from Ferrol: Train and bus connections to A Coruña and Santiago — anyone continuing on the Camino Inglés will be traveling back from Santiago anyway.
• Intermediate entry: The Coastal Railway stops at almost every stop along the route—if you only want to ride the “king stages” around Teixido, board the train in Viveiro or Ortigueira.