Camino del Ebro

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Riumar (Ebro Delta) → Logroño
• Length: 466.0 km
• Elevation gain:↗ 2,758 m / ↘ 2,378 m
• Duration: 17–21 days
• Signposts: Yellow arrow and scallop shell, along with the red-and-white markings of the GR-99 — double signage
• Character: A flat, secluded riverside path from the Mediterranean to the Rioja—also ideal for cycling pilgrims

Overview

The The Ebro Trail follows Spain’s second-longest river from its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea upstream to Logroño—466 kilometers through rice paddies, orchards, steppes, and vineyards. It begins where other routes end: at the sea. For centuries, pilgrims from Italy, southern France, and the eastern Mediterranean came ashore here and followed the river inland.

It’s a quiet kind of journey. No pilgrimage towns every week, but plenty of sky, plenty of water, and places where a pilgrim still stands out. Those who know the major routes and are seeking silence will find it here—along with one of the oldest traditions associated with St. James: in Zaragoza, Mary is said to have appeared personally to the apostle.

Other Names

The official name of the trail is The Ebro Way of St. James, the Spanish Federation refers to it as the Camino de Santiago del Ebro. In Catalan, you’ll also come across the name Camí de Sant Jaume de l’Ebre in the delta. They all refer to the same route along the river.

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

Ideal for pilgrims who don’t fear solitude but actually seek it out: flat terrain, easy navigation, authentic villages, plus cities like Tortosa, Zaragoza, and Tudela as cultural hubs. Cycling pilgrims will also find this route perfect—over 90 percent of the route is easily cyclable.

This route is less suitable for those who expect daily company from fellow pilgrims and a dense network of hostels. There are long stretches with little shade between towns, accommodations need to be planned in advance, and in midsummer, the Ebro Valley gets brutally hot. First-time pilgrims are better off taking the Camino Francés.

Route & Landscape

It all starts with Ebro Delta: Rice paddies stretching to the horizon, flamingos, fishing villages—one of the most unusual starts the Camino de Santiago has to offer. Past Tortosa, the route leaves the river for three stages and climbs into the Terra Alta: vineyards, almond trees, and hardly a village in sight. Near Caspe, it returns to the river and stays close to it.

From Zaragoza on, the valley widens and becomes greener: irrigated farmland, vegetable gardens, and avenues of poplar trees. Passing through Tudela and Alfaro, you’ll reach the Rioja Baja, where vineyards give way to the riverbank—until you reach Logroño, where the great stream of Francés pilgrims awaits.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

The route is typically divided into 17 daily stages, averaging about 25 kilometers each. The terrain is mostly flat; there are no serious climbs except on the three inland stages through the Terra Alta. The bigger challenges are the distance and the climate: little shade, heat in the summer, and no fountains or bars between some towns. The general outline:

1. Riumar → Tortosa (approx. 38 km) — through the delta and the rice fields, via Amposta, to the old episcopal city — flat, wide open, lots of sky
2. Tortosa → Gandesa (approx. 45 km) — via Xerta up into the Terra Alta — the first of three inland stages with real ups and downs, usually split over two days
3. Gandesa → Caspe (approx. 55 km) — secluded vineyards and almond groves, passing through Fabara and into Aragon — take your water supply seriously
4. Caspe → Zaragoza (approx. 105 km) — along the reservoir to the Rueda Monastery near Escatrón, then via Quinto and Fuentes de Ebro to the town of La Pilarica — four days of flat terrain
5. Zaragoza → Tudela (approx. 85 km) — via Alagón and Gallur to the Mudéjar town of Navarras — irrigated farmland, vegetable gardens, hardly any incline
6. Tudela → Calahorra (approx. 60 km) — via Alfaro, with its storks, to the Roman town of Calagurris — the Rioja Baja begins
7. Calahorra → Logroño (approx. 55 km) — through vineyards via Alcanadre to the destination — the Camino Francés awaits in Logroño

The Pilar: Where the Legend of St. James Begins

The Camino del Ebro has something that no other Way of St. James has: it leads to the very place where the tradition of St. James itself begins. At the January 2, 40 According to legend, Mary is said to have appeared to the Apostle James on the banks of the Ebro—while she was still alive—standing on a pillar of jasper. Today, the Basilica of El Pilar In Zaragoza, Spain's largest Baroque church: 130 meters long, with eleven domes and two frescoes by Goya. The Pilar is considered the oldest Marian shrine in Christendom.

For pilgrims, this means that this route connects Spain’s two major sites associated with St. James—the place of his vision and the site of his tomb. The route has been documented since the 12th century, after the reconquest of Zaragoza in 1118 cleared the way; liturgical manuscripts attest to pilgrim blessings along the Ebro as early as the 11th century. In some sections, you’ll be walking along the Roman highway from Tarragona to Astorga.

Highlights Along the Way

• Ebro Delta — A nature park with rice paddies, lagoons, and flamingos; starting at the Riumar Lighthouse offers a stark contrast to everything you’d expect from the Way of St. James.
• Tortosa — The cathedral, the bishop's palace, and the Moorish castle of Suda overlooking the river.
• Caspian Sea — It was here in 1412 that the Compromiso de Caspe determined, by arbitration, who would become King of the Crown of Aragon.
• Rueda Monastery — A Cistercian monastery near Escatrón featuring one of the best-preserved medieval water-drawing wheels in Spain.
• Zaragoza — the Basilica del Pilar, the Aljafería, and the Roman ruins of Caesaraugusta.
• Tudela — The Mudéjar Old Town and the Cathedral of Santa María with its Romanesque portal.
• Alfaro — Europe's largest white stork colony nests on a single building, the San Miguel Collegiate Church, with about a hundred nests.
• Calahorra — the Roman city of Calagurris, with a cathedral built on the site of the martyr's tomb.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

Historically, this route was the land route taken by pilgrims arriving by sea: Those who came across the Mediterranean from Italy, southern France, or even farther afield would go ashore at Sant Carles de la Ràpita or in the delta and follow the river. The Arab geographer al-Masudi even mentions pilgrims from Ethiopia and Syria traveling along this route.

Today, getting started is easy: head to the Delta via Barcelona (take the train to L’Aldea-Amposta-Tortosa, then continue by bus to Deltebre/Riumar). Several routes converge along the way—the Camino Catalán from Montserrat via Lleida near Pina de Ebro, the trail from the Maestrazgo near Escatrón, and the Camino Castellano-Aragonés near Gallur. So you can also think of the Ebro Trail as the main artery of an entire network of routes in eastern Spain.

Continue the pilgrimage?

In Logroño, the Camino del Ebro joins the Camino Francés — From here, it’s still about 576 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. The contrast couldn’t be greater: After two and a half weeks of tranquility by the river, you suddenly find yourself in the busiest pilgrimage route in the world.

Those who prefer to continue on a quieter route can switch to the Camino Castellano-Aragonés in Zaragoza, heading toward Soria and Burgos—or plan the grand combination right away: the Delta, the Ebro, the Francés, and the Atlantic.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best times to visit are spring (March–May) and fall (September–October). You should avoid the height of summer: the Ebro Valley is one of the hottest regions in Spain, and shade is scarce. Start early and bring enough water for the whole day—there’s nothing for hours between some places.

The network of lodging options is more limited than on the major routes: a mix of municipal lodging, parsonages, guesthouses, and hostals—it’s best to call ahead a day. As on all Spanish trails, you’ll need a Pilgrim's Pass (Credencial), so you can stay at the hostels along the way and receive the Compostela at the end. It's best to order it online in advance so that you'll have it in time for the start of your trip.

Planning your stages is more important here than anywhere else, because distances and lodging locations don't always align—the easiest way to do this is right in the Camino Ninja app, where you can put together your stages and plan suitable accommodations at the same time.

What the journey will cost you

The Camino del Ebro is an affordable route: hostels and parish-run accommodations typically cost 8–15 €, basic hostals 25–40 €, and the menú del día 12–15 € (as of August 2026). You can get by just fine on 35–45 € a day; if you stay at hostals more often, expect to spend 50–60 €.

Getting There

To get started: Take the train from Barcelona toward Valencia to L’Aldea-Amposta-Tortosa, and from there take a bus or taxi to Deltebre/Riumar in the Delta. Alternatively, fly to Barcelona or Valencia and take a train or bus to the Delta.

Back from Logroño: direct trains to Zaragoza, Madrid, and Barcelona, as well as bus connections in all directions. If you’re continuing your pilgrimage, there’s no need to plan anything—the Francés route starts right outside the front door.

• Getting to the Delta: Bahn bis L'Aldea-Amposta-Tortosa (renfe.com), then take the bus to Deltebre.
• Return trip from Logroño: Logroño Train Station, with direct trains to Zaragoza, Madrid, and Barcelona (renfe.com).
• Intermediate entry: Zaragoza is easily accessible by AVE—if you only want to walk the second half, start at the Basílica del Pilar.