Hike the Camino Frances to Santiago and the Galician coast in Spain
The Camino Frances pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela is the most popular and well-traveled route of the Camino de Santiago, and coupled with the Camino Finisterre and Camino Muxia out to to and along the Atlantic coast in Galicia, allows hikers to experience the diverse landscapes, rich history and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage area. This route not only offers moderate physical challenge, but provides a unique opportunity for personal growth, self-discovery, and reflection as well. The length of the typical daily stages range from 9 to 18 miles, but alternate overnight options are available and taxi transport can easily be found to shorten a day or take you further. Comfortable private en-suite lodgings as well as inexpensive hostels are available for the night all along the way, so you only need to carry a daypack. Enjoy great Galician cuisine, experience local traditions, architectural marvels and historic sites, and earn a “Compostela” certificate at Santiago de Compostela to commemorate your journey.
The Camino Frances is the most popular and well-traveled route of the Camino de Santiago, covering approximately 490 miles from St Jean Pied Du Port in the French side of the Pyrenees to Santiago De Compostela in Galicia. through a wide variety of terrain including mountains, rolling hills, and flat plains, as well as urban and rural settings, historic towns, and charming villages. Pilgrims can choose to hike all or selected sections to tailor the trip to their timetable and desired challenge level, and taxis ply the route to help anyone who needs a bit of a boost to get to the next night’s lodging or who doesn’t have time to walk the whole route. Villages all along the routes offer splendid local cuisine and lodgings from nice en-suite private rooms to inexpensive hostels and homestays can be found. Official stops along the way enable participants to stamp their Pilgrim’s Passport, and upon reaching Santiago de Compostela, they can receive a “Compostela” certificate. For details on the typical daily walking stages and distances, go to this website.
From there, hikers can continue west on the Camino Finisterre to the “end of the world” on the Atlantic coast, and north along the scenic Galician coast on the Camino Muxia, to the fishing village of Muxia that is famed for its picturesque “sanctuary of the Virgin” by the ocean and for its ‘magic’ stones.
Along these designated European Cultural Routes, many architectural marvels, historical sites, and local traditions can be experienced.
GETTING THERE and back
The Camino Frances begins on the French side of the Pyrenees at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The fastest routes from Seattle to St Jean Pied de Port is by flying to Biarritz where there is a direct train to St Jean Pied de Port, or by flying to Bordeaux France from which two train legs will take you to St Jean Pied de Port.
From the end of the Camino Frances in Santiago de Compostela, there is an airport from which you can arrange a flight home to Seattle.
If you choose to walk to Finistierre or Muxia, a bus can take you from there to the airport at Santiago de Compostela where you can book a flight home to Seattle.
- Suitable Activities: Day Hiking
- Seasons: Year-round, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Weather: View weather forecast
- Difficulty: Moderate, Strenuous, Very Strenuous
- Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
- Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
- Recommended Party Size: 12
- Maximum Party Size: 16
- Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 16
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