The Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo túrakönyv

to Santiago de Compostela and Finisterre from Irún or Oviedo

Guidebook to walking the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The 820km Camino del Norte from Irún via Bilbao and Santander takes around 5 weeks to complete. The 355km Camino Primitivo takes about 2 weeks. Includes the Camino Finisterre from Santiago to the coast.

Seasons

Summer/late spring/early autumn are best, because of the weather and because much of the accommodation closes in winter

Centres

Irún, San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Gijón, Oviedo, Lugo, Santiago de Compostela

Difficulty

While certain stages of the Caminos may be quite physically demanding, the Caminos are largely approachable to any walker, since it is often possible to split difficult stages into shorter sections. Luggage transport services are available for walkers who need support.

Must See

The rocky coastline of the Basque Country, sandy beaches, the mountains of Astoria, rolling hills of Galicia; some of Spain's most dynamic cities, including San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo, Lugo, Santiago; variety of architecture from Lugo's Roman walls, Romanesque and Gothic churches, to Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum

Contents

Introduction

The story of Saint James

The Northern Caminos: yesterday and today

Along the routes: different cultures

Choosing your camino

When to go

Preparation and planning

Being a pilgrim

Getting there and back

Equipment

Accommodation

Food

Postal services

Telephones and internet

Other local facilities

Waymarking, route-planning, and maps

Using this guide

The Camino del Norte

Prologue: The Voie Littorale Bayonne to Irún/Hondarribia

Stage 1 Irún to San Sebastián

Stage 2 San Sebastián to Zarautz

Stage 3 Zarautz to Deba

Stage 4 Deba to Markina-Xemein

Stage 5 Markina-Xemein to Gernika-Lumo

Stage 6 Gernika-Lumo to Bilbao

Stage 7 Bilbao to Pobeña

Stage 8 Pobeña to Castro-Urdiales

Stage 9 Castro-Urdiales to Laredo

Stage 10 Laredo to Güemes

Stage 11 Güemes to Santander

Stage 12 Santander to Santillana del Mar

Stage 13 Santillana del Mar to Comillas

Stage 14 Comillas to Colombres

Detour: The Camino Lebaniego Muñorrodero to Santo Toribio de Liébana

Stage 15 Colombres to Llanes

Stage 16 Llanes to Piñeres de Pría

Stage 17 Piñeres de Pría to La Isla

Stage 18 La Isla to Villaviciosa

Detour: The Camino Covadonga Amandi (Villaviciosa) to Covadonga

Stage 19 Villaviciosa to Gijón

Stage 20 Gijón to Avilés

Stage 21 Avilés to Muros de Nalón

Stage 22 Muros de Nalón to Cadavedo

Stage 23 Cadavedo to Luarca

Stage 24 Luarca to La Caridad

Stage 25 La Caridad to Ribadeo

Stage 26 Ribadeo to Lourenzá

Stage 27 Lourenzá to Gontán/Abadín

Stage 28 Gontán/Abadín to Vilalba

Stage 29 Vilalba to Miraz

Stage 30 Miraz to Sobrado dos Monxes

Stage 31 Sobrado dos Monxes to Arzúa

Stage 32 Arzúa to Santiago de Compostela

The Camino Primitivo

Stage 1 Villaviciosa to Pola de Siero

Stage 2 Pola de Siero to Oviedo

Stage 3 Oviedo to Grado

Stage 4 Grado to Salas

Stage 5 Salas to Campiello

Stage 6 Campiello to Berducedo

Stage 7 Berducedo to Grandas de Salime

Stage 8 Grandas de Salime to A Fonsagrada

Stage 9 A Fonsagrada to Castroverde

Stage 10 Castroverde to Lugo

Stage 11 Lugo to As Seixas

Stage 12 As Seixas to Arzúa

Primitivo–Norte Link via Oviedo Oviedo to Avilés

Primitivo–Norte Link via Friol Lugo to Sobrado dos Monxes

The Camino Finisterre

Stage 1 Santiago de Compostela to Negreira

Stage 2 Negreira to Olveiroa

Stage 3 Olveiroa to Finisterre

Appendix A Useful sources of information

Appendix B English–Spanish–Euskera glossary

Appendix C Suggestions for further reading