Camino del Norte · Camino-Hub

Total distance: 815 km
Typical duration: 34 days
Stages: 34
Average stage: 24.0 km
Longest stage: 37.0 km
Pilgrims: ~26k a year

The Northern Way follows the Cantabrian coast from Irún on the French border through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias before turning inland in Galicia to meet the French Way at Arzúa. It was the route of choice in the ninth and tenth centuries, when the interior was still contested ground.

It is harder than the French Way in every respect that matters: more daily ascent, longer gaps between services, and a cumulative climb greater than the Camino Francés despite never crossing a real mountain range. The compensation is Basque food, empty beaches, and a fraction of the crowds until the final three days.

Route map

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Stages

The conventional stage division. Distances over 30 km are highlighted — those are the days worth planning around.

#	Stage	Distance	Total	Ascent	Notes
1	Irún→San Sebastián	24.5 km	24.5	700 m
2	San Sebastián→Zarautz	22.0 km	46.5	640 m
3	Zarautz→Deba	21.5 km	68.0	690 m
4	Deba→Markina-Xemein	24.0 km	92.0	900 m	A demanding inland day with sustained climbs and few services.
5	Markina-Xemein→Gernika	24.5 km	116.5	660 m
6	Gernika→Bilbao	30.0 km	146.5	850 m
7	Bilbao→Portugalete	19.0 km	165.5	340 m
8	Portugalete→Castro Urdiales	26.0 km	191.5	560 m
9	Castro Urdiales→Laredo	26.0 km	217.5	480 m
10	Laredo→Güemes	29.0 km	246.5	490 m	Requires the Laredo–Santoña ferry; it does not run in bad weather.
11	Güemes→Santander	15.0 km	261.5	180 m
12	Santander→Santillana del Mar	37.0 km	298.5	420 m	The longest stage on the route; commonly split at Boo de Piélagos.
13	Santillana del Mar→Comillas	22.0 km	320.5	340 m
14	Comillas→Colombres	28.0 km	348.5	470 m
15	Colombres→Llanes	23.0 km	371.5	330 m
16	Llanes→Ribadesella	31.0 km	402.5	490 m
17	Ribadesella→Sebrayo	31.0 km	433.5	620 m
18	Sebrayo→Gijón	32.0 km	465.5	560 m
19	Gijón→Avilés	25.0 km	490.5	380 m	Industrial and unlovely; some pilgrims take the train.
20	Avilés→Muros de Nalón	23.0 km	513.5	620 m
21	Muros de Nalón→Soto de Luiña	17.0 km	530.5	480 m
22	Soto de Luiña→Cadavedo	23.0 km	553.5	730 m
23	Cadavedo→Luarca	16.0 km	569.5	390 m
24	Luarca→La Caridad	30.0 km	599.5	700 m
25	La Caridad→Ribadeo	22.0 km	621.5	340 m	Crosses the Eo estuary into Galicia.
26	Ribadeo→Lourenzá	28.0 km	649.5	660 m
27	Lourenzá→Abadín	25.0 km	674.5	720 m
28	Abadín→Vilalba	21.0 km	695.5	300 m
29	Vilalba→Baamonde	20.0 km	715.5	260 m
30	Baamonde→Miraz	15.0 km	730.5	330 m
31	Miraz→Sobrado dos Monxes	25.0 km	755.5	520 m
32	Sobrado dos Monxes→Arzúa	22.0 km	777.5	340 m	Joins the French Way at Arzúa.
33	Arzúa→O Pedrouzo	19.0 km	796.5	290 m
34	O Pedrouzo→Santiago de Compostela	19.0 km	815.5	340 m