Spain
Camino del Salvador
Salvador Way
León → Oviedo
- Total distance
- 126 km
- Typical duration
- 5 days
- Stages
- 5
- Average stage
- 25.2 km
- Longest stage
- 34.0 km
- Pilgrims
- ~2k a year
A medieval saying held that whoever visits Santiago and not the Saviour honours the servant and neglects the master. Pilgrims on the French Way therefore detoured north from León to venerate the relics in San Salvador cathedral at Oviedo, and many then continued on the Camino Primitivo rather than returning.
Five stages, but genuinely hard ones: the route crosses the Cantabrian range over passes above 1,500 m, with long climbs, exposed high ground and very few services. Pairing it with the Primitivo makes a demanding three-week mountain pilgrimage from León to Santiago.
Route map
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Trail geometry & map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Stages
The conventional stage division. Distances over 30 km are highlighted — those are the days worth planning around.
| # | Stage | Distance | Total | Ascent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | León→La Robla | 27.0 km | 27.0 | 380 m | |
| 2 | La Robla→Poladura de la Tercia | 24.0 km | 51.0 | 780 m | |
| 3 | Poladura de la Tercia→Pajares | 15.0 km | 66.0 | 620 m | The highest and most exposed section, crossing above 1,500 m. No services on the way. |
| 4 | Pajares→Pola de Lena | 26.0 km | 92.0 | 240 m | |
| 5 | Pola de Lena→Oviedo | 34.0 km | 126.0 | 520 m | Ends at San Salvador cathedral, the start of the Camino Primitivo. |