Spain
Ruta do Mar de Arousa e Ulla
Arousa Sea and Ulla River Route
Vilanova de Arousa → Santiago de Compostela
- Total distance
- 56 km
- Typical duration
- 2 days
- Stages
- 3
- Average stage
- 18.7 km
- Longest stage
- 28.0 km
- Pilgrims
- ~600 a year
Tradition holds that the body of Saint James was brought from Jaffa by sea, entered the Ría de Arousa and was carried up the River Ulla to Padrón. This route retraces that passage: a boat leg from Vilanova de Arousa up the ría and river, past the seventeen stone crosses of the only maritime via crucis in the world, then a short walk from Pontecesures through Padrón to Santiago.
It is by far the shortest official route and the only one that cannot be walked in its entirety — the maritime stage must be done by boat, and sailings are seasonal and weather-dependent, so book ahead. Because the walking distance falls well short of 100 km it does not on its own qualify for a Compostela.
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 | Vilanova de Arousa→Pontecesures | 28.0 km | 28.0 | — | By boat, not on foot. Passes the seventeen stone crosses of the maritime via crucis. Sailings are seasonal and weather-dependent — book in advance. |
| 2 | Pontecesures→Padrón | 3.5 km | 31.5 | 20 m | |
| 3 | Padrón→Santiago de Compostela | 24.5 km | 56.0 | 380 m | Shares the final stage with the Portuguese Way. |