The Green Route of the Vía de la Plata: approximately 370 kilometers from Granja de Moreruela through the Sanabria Highlands and the spa town of Ourense to Santiago de Compostela.
The Camino Sanabrés is the western continuation of the Vía de la Plata. At Granja de Moreruela, north of Zamora, it branches off the old Silver Route and heads northwest: through the highlands of Sanabria, over the mountains of Galicia and through the spa city of Ourense all the way to Santiago de Compostela. Where the Vía de la Plata would continue straight toward Astorga and the Camino Francés, the Sanabrés takes the direct, green route into the heart of Galicia.
It's a calm, varied path with long, quiet stages that meets larger numbers of pilgrims only close to Santiago. If you love the openness of the Vía de la Plata but want the lush green of Galicia for the finale, this is your route.
Depending on the source, the route goes by several names:
The name comes from Sanabria, the region in the northwest of Zamora province that the route crosses.
The Camino Sanabrés is ideal if you're walking the Vía de la Plata and want a greener, quieter finish than the variant via Astorga. On its own, too, it appeals to anyone who values calm, nature and a slow growing-into Galicia.
It's less suitable if you want dense infrastructure and lots of company: some stages are long and lonely, and outside the season supplies can be sparse. If you're short on time, bear in mind that the Sanabrés alone takes about two weeks.
From the junction at Granja de Moreruela the path first crosses the dry highlands of Zamora, then climbs into greener, cooler Sanabria with its reservoirs and mountain villages. Over a pass the route enters Galicia.
Gentle, lush-green hills follow, with oak and chestnut woods and deep river valleys. In Ourense the path crosses the Miño before heading over the last Galician hills to Santiago de Compostela.
With over 7,000 meters of ascent, the Sanabrés is considerably hillier than you'd expect from a “branch.” Steep climbs and descents in Sanabria and the Galician valleys demand solid fitness; technically the route stays straightforward.
Most pilgrims need about 13 to 17 days. The yellow-arrow waymarking is good, but some stages are long and accommodation is sparser than on the Camino Francés – a little planning ahead helps.
A highlight no other Camino offers quite like this: Ourense is a spa city. The Romans already used the hot springs that bubble up here at over 60 °C.
In the city center lie the As Burgas springs, and along the banks of the Miño public thermal pools such as A Chavasqueira and Outariz invite you to bathe – the perfect place to rest tired pilgrim legs.
The best time is spring to autumn; Sanabria can be cold and snowy in winter, the south very hot in high summer. Accommodation is in public and private hostels (albergues); on the long stages it's wise to check the next bed in advance.
As on all Spanish routes, you'll need a pilgrim's credential (credencial) to stay in the hostels and to receive the Compostela at the end.
Spain is cheaper than France. Budget roughly €25–40 per day. Public albergues often cost €8–12, private ones €12–18; add food and the occasional pilgrim menu (around €12–15). If you self-cater, you'll get by for less.
The starting point is Granja de Moreruela; many, however, begin further south on the Vía de la Plata (e.g. in Seville, Salamanca or Zamora) and flow seamlessly into the Sanabrés.
A Taberna de Gundián
Open season unknown
Acogida La Casa Azul y Amarilla
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Alameda Rooms Santiago
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Albergue A Fonte de Compostela
Open season unknown
Albergue Alda O Fogar do Teodomiro
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