Your travels bring you, at last, to the beautiful City of Oviedo – the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Asturias. Check in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day and evening exploring the many amazing sites Oviedo has to offer, many dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries when Asturias was experiencing its heyday.

To leave this beautiful city, the pilgrim only needs about an hour. Even before the outskirts of the city there is the possibility of a short and highly-recommended detour of approx. 1 km. (0.6 mi.) to visit two impressive, pre-Romanesque churches: Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. Afterwards, passing a number of sleepy little villages and going up and down ever so slightly, the Camino eventually reaches Grado, the stage goal of this pilgrimage day.

Distance: 25.6 km. (15.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Today, the Camino will gradually become increasingly hillier; however, except for a few short steeper climbs, the path is still quite easy to walk. At noon you can stop in The charming small town of Cornellana is an inviting mid-day stop for lunch and some rest. From there, the Camino leads on to today’s destination town of Salas. The historic center of Salas, with its fortified church and the fortress tower, are absolutely awe-inspiring.

Distance: 24.8 km. (15.4 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Leaving Salas behind, the Way follows the beautiful forest paths, leading steadily but moderately on up the mountain to the village of Bodenaya. Upon reaching the summit, the Camino then continues along the slope. The view to the left opens up time and time again, rendering magnificent panoramas of the mountain world of Asturias.

Distance: 19.5 km. (12.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

In the morning, the Camino leaves Tineo on a steadily ascending, picturesque path along the mountain slope. Enjoy the spectacular views of the green mountains of Asturias! During a short detour, you can visit the ruins of the Santa Maria Real Monastery in Obona.

Distance: 13 km. (8.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

On this day’s journey, the absolute highlight of the Camino Primitivo awaits the pilgrim. Along the medieval path over the heights (Ruta de los Hospitales) and past the ruins of the old pilgrim hospices, you will cross the bare mountains of Asturias, where the enchanting views of this Camino’s mountain world will open up again and again. You will encounter the free-ranging herds of cows and horses who claim these wild, wide-open spaces as their home. In the last third of today’s journey, the Camino crosses small farming communities as it leads down to the quaint town of Berducedo. There is the option to cover the first 5 kilometers/3.1 miles to Ermita San Pascual by taking a taxi (not included, about 20 euros).

Distance: 27 km. (17 mi.) | Difficulty: Challenging but doable

Today, the Camino leads from Berducedo via La Mesa to Grandas de Salime. On this route, you will be rewarded with stunning views over the valley when you reach the reservoir of the river Navia. From here on, the Camino continues across heathlands and via Buspol, until pilgrims reach the day’s journey destination of Grandas de Salime.

Distance: 19.4 km. (12.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Before setting out, it is important to stock up on provisions in the morning as there will be no supplies all the way until Fonsagrada. The Camino to Castro is flat and pleasant; however, from there on, it goes uphill all the way until you cross the border into Galicia at the Alto del Acebo pass. Here, you will also be able to set your first site upon today’s destination: Fonsagrada. Once you have crossed Paradanova, you can choose between the right (steeper, but also prettier) and the left path, which will finally re-merge at Fonsagrada.

Distance: 24.5 km. (15.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Challenging

In the beginning of today’s journey, the Camino will still continue to follow mountainous paths across a mix of countryside landscape and woods. Winding up, the Way will then lead on to the ancient, partially restored pilgrims’ hostel with an original chapel, where you can take an break and rest. Afterwards, a steep and partly stony trail will lead on to to Fontaneira and then on to today’s destination: Cádavo-Baleira.

Distance: 22.9 km. (14.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Challenging

On the first stretch of today’s journey, to Castroverde, the Camino leads on over very pleasant paths and narrow roads. After the first moderate ascent, the route continues across a plain, level and only slightly downhill. Beyond Castroverde, it is important to have sufficient supplies for the remainder of the walking day as there are practically no bars or shops on this route all the way until Lugo. After this long, but easy-walking stage, the pilgrims are finally rewarded as they find themselves standing in front of the majestic, UNESCO-listed Roman city walls of beautiful Lugo.

Distance: 29.8 km. (18.5 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

After the southern crossing of the river Rio Miño, the Camino will lead you uphill for a while. Before reaching San Román, it is advisable to follow the northern Via Romana, which is quite a bit more picturesque than the alternative route. The Way continues past sleepy villages until it finally reaches Ferreira – the destination of today’s easy to walk, but very long stage.

Distance: 27 km. (16.8 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Today, you will go to As Seixas until you finally reach Melide, where the Camino Primitivo flows into the French Way. This will become quite obvious as you will start seeing many more pilgrims wo walk Camino Francés – by far the most popular of all Caminos to Santiago. Consider having lunch in one of the famous Pulperías in Melide – the busy town toward the end of your day’s journey – here, you will get octopus served on wooden boards the traditional way: simply boiled, cut with scissors, accompanied by cooked potatoes and seasoned only with olive oil, salt and paprika. Pop into the charming little church of Santa María as you walk out of Melide to take a look at its well-preserved Romanesque wall paintings and its stunning altar dating back to the times of the Visigoths. The Camino will now take you into the beautiful Galician eucalyptus forests, passing a couple of more quaint villages until you reach you the end of your today’s in Castañeda.

Distance: 29 km. (18 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Leaving Castañeda, you will have a few hills to go up and down, and you can reward yourself with an early rest stop just 3.5 km. (2.2 mi.) as you reach the absolutely delightful little village of Ribadiso: sit at its waterfront by the cute little medieval bridge and soak up the sheer serenity of the scenery. The Camino then leads you across the busy, larger town or Arzua before it plunges backs into the pleasant, peaceful Galician scenery. It is an easy walking day, and you will spend most of the rest of in on forest paths with occasional villages and patches of lush green grasslands in-between. The fragrance of eucalyptus will have become as familiar to your senses as the sight of these pretty trees’ tall and straight trunks. After the serenity of the forest, the atmosphere in the bustling little town of O Pedrouzo may seem a bit too busy, but it’s also worth enjoying it, as all the pilgrims are tingling with restlessness before the last Camino stage tomorrow.

Distance: 25 km. (15.6 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

The Camino has yet just the perfect amount of beautiful scenery, peacefulness and calmness in store for you as you plunge into a beautiful eucalyptus forest right outside O Pedrouzo. As you pass a couple of villages, eucalyptus gives way to conifers, and you will find yourself walking alongside the Airport of Santiago – the feeling of reaching the journey’s end and the impending departure for home is often sensed quite strongly here. Walk up to the top of the Monte do Gozo – the Mount of Joy – and you will behold Santiago de Compostela for the first time! Let the Camino guide you, one last time, into the heart of this magical City. Congratulations, dear Pilgrim: You. Have. Arrived. Celebrate, and enjoy!

Distance: 20 km. (12.4 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

We strongly feel that, after this amazing journey, it is instrumental to spend (at least!) one full, extra day and another night in Santiago, which is why it is added in our program “by default” (though you can opt out of it). This is both the time and the place to unwind, to reflect upon and enjoy your journey’s end and, most importantly, to take it easy on yourself with your post-Camino re-entry into the big, wide World. Aside from that, UNESCO-listed city of Santiago is full of incredible places to explore, and you can collect your very well-earned Compostela (Certificate of Completion) as well as attend the Pilgrims’ Mass at the Cathedral.

Farewell, Santiago; farewell, Camino – and sage travels on your journey back home or to your next adventure! And here is another option well-worth considering: to continue the Camino on to Finisterre (the “End of the World”) and / or to Muxía – two stunning, mystical places on the majestic Atlantic coast.

¡Buen Camino!