The last stage on the Camino de Santiago

Come and do the last stage on the Camino de Santiago

This blog entry is dedicated to all those people who do not have time or don’t dare do the Camino de Santiago, and who want to take advantage of their plan to visit Galicia to complete the last stage of the Camino de Santiago. If that’s your case, read on.

The plan that we propose in this article is that you take advantage of your holiday in Galicia to choose a different plan: dedicate a day to do the last stage of the Camino de Santiago. Here’s why it’s a great idea and which stretch you can do.

Why you should do the last stage of the Camino de Santiago

A day on the Camino de Santiago has a lot to offer you. If you’re wondering if it’s worth doing only the last stage, then here are some reasons to take a day trip on the Camino de Santiago:

• It is enough time to make first contact. While a day on the Camino de Santiago will not allow you to acquire a pilgrim’s routine, it will give you the possibility to get closer to the pilgrim’s essence and their customs.
• You’re putting yourself to the test. The last stage of the Camino de Santiago involves an excursion of 4 or 5 hours on foot. If you do not have problems in finishing it, you will realize that doing the Camino de Santiago is not as difficult as some paint it to be.
• You can go back. Having completed the last stage of the Camino de Santiago does not mean that you have burned out the experience. On the contrary, you will most likely feel like returning and your next holiday will be to make a pilgrimage. Let the Camino de Santiago hook you!
• One thing you should know before you get excited thinking that you can do the Camino de Santiago in a single day, is that you will not be able to request the Compostela on your arrival in Santiago. To do this, you must complete a minimum of 100 km, if you make your pilgrimage on foot, or 200 km if you go by bike.

But if the Camino has managed to hook you, on your next holiday you can do the Camino de Santiago from Sarria and then request the Compostela, since this route has a distance of 111 km. If you want help to organize this, share some details with us and leave the rest in our hands.

The last stage on each of the pilgrim routes

Many of the pilgrim routes that run through the Iberian Peninsula join the Camino Frances in its final stages. These are: the Camino Primitivo (in Melide), the Camino del Norte (in Arzúa), el Camino Olvidado (in Villafranca del Bierzo) and La Via de la Plata (in Astorga, if you take the Camino Frances variant).

That is why, below we only talk about the last stage of those routes that do not join the Camino Frances. Plan your trip to Galicia and think about which of the routes is the most convenient to get to Santiago de Compostela, completing the last stage of the Camino de Santiago.

The last stage on the Camino Frances

The Camino Frances is the most popular route on the Camino de Santiago, especially its final stages, since, as mentioned above, many of the itineraries that run through Spain converge on it. It is also the only route listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

If you are going to do the last stage of the Camino Frances, on foot, we recommend you to complete the stretch that joins O Pedrouzo with Santiago de Compostela (19.4 kilometres).

If you go by bike, you can do the route from Arzúa (38.7 km). Below, we will tell you about these last two sections of the Camino Frances.

From Arzúa to O Pedrouzo

We only recommend doing this stretch of the Camino Frances to those people who want to do the last stage by bike. Doing 38.7 kilometres on foot means walking almost 10 hours and we do not want you to arrive exhausted in Santiago de Compostela.

The first section of the last stage of the Camino de Santiago Francés for bikegrims has a total of 19.3 km, from Arzúa to O Pedrouzo. It is a pleasant route, surrounded by forest area and with only a few slopes.

On the way out you can visit the beautiful town of Arzúa. Check the link to learn more about what to do and what to see in that typical pilgrim town.

From O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela

The last stage of the Camino Frances to Santiago for those pilgrims who go on foot, begins in O Pedrouzo. From there to Santiago there is a total of 19.4 km, that is, 4 or 5 hours on excursion.

This part of the route crosses a stretch bordered by eucalyptus trees and oaks, to go towards Monte do Gozo, a landmark on the Camino Frances. The climb requires some effort, but nothing that cannot be completed calmly and with various stops during the ascent. Then the last stage of the Camino de Santiago enters the urban area in the city of Santiago de Compostela.

On this last stage of the Camino Frances, you can visit, in O Pedrouzo, the Church of Santa Eulalia de Arca. Then, the entire heritage of Compostela awaits you. You can check out our guide to the city if you want more information about what to see and what to do there.

The last stage on the Camino Ingles

The Camino Ingles is the shortest pilgrim route. This section runs entirely through Galicia, from Ferrol to Santiago de Compostela.

If you would like to do the last stage of the Camino Ingles, on foot, we recommend you to do the stage that joins Sigüeiro with Santiago de Compostela (16.5 kilometres). If you go by bike, you can start from Bruma (41.3 km). Below we talk about these last two sections of the Camino Ingles.

From Bruma to Sigüeiro

It is 24.8 km from Bruma to Sigüeiro. This section is only recommended to those people who want to do the last stage of this Camino de Santiago by bike.

These kilometres on the Camino Ingles are a gentle walk, along comfortable paths and tracks with good surfaces. The tour crosses various locations with services, so you can make stops whenever you want.

Sigüeiro to Cathedral of Santiago

The last stage of the Camino Ingles for pilgrims who go on foot, runs between Sigüeiro and Compostela. The route, 16.5 kilometres long, involves a walk of approximately 3 or 4 hours.

During these last kilometres, the Camino Ingles has various moderate slopes. During the first part of the tour you cross wooded areas, then enter the northern neighbourhoods in the city of Santiago.

You can visit the bridge that crosses the River Tambre. A construction from the medieval period, which is still preserved in good condition. At the end of the stage, all the history related to the Cathedral of Santiago awaits you there.

The last stage on the Camino Portugues

In Portugal there are two paths on the Camino de Santiago. One that runs through the centre of the country and  another that begins in Porto, bordering the Atlantic coast.

If you want to know more about them you can consult our guide to the Camino Portugues. However, we would advise you that both join in Redondela and that therefore, doing the last stage of the Camino Portugues involves following the central route.

If you would like to do the last stage on the Camino Portugues walking, we advise you to do the stage that runs between Padrón and the city of Santiago (25.2 kilometres). If you are cycling, you can start from Caldas de Reis (43.8 km). Below we explain what these last two sections of the Camino Portugues are like.

From Caldas de Reis to Padrón

This section of the Camino Portugues is recommended only to pilgrims who go by bike. The 18.6 kilometres that separate Caldas de Reis de Padrón run, to a large extent, surrounded by forest and dotted with small villages.

Although the Camino Portugues is quite flat, in this part of the route you will find some slopes, but of a moderate nature. If you want, before starting the tour, you can enjoy the spas in Caldas de Reis.

From Padron to the tomb of Santiago the Apostle

The last stage of the Camino de Santiago Portugués is 25.2 kilometres long. On the tour, in addition to enjoying the heritage of Padrón and its famous peppers, you can visit the Santuario da Escravitude and the Fuente Santa.

As a curiosity, we would tell you that in Padrón, the pilgrims who have decided to deviate from the Camino Frances along the Variante Espiritual join here. A section of pilgrim origin that has the only maritime Way of the Cross in the world. You can find out more about this route on the guide to the Camino Espiritual.

The last stage on the Camino Sanabres

The Camino Sanabres is one of the variants on La Via de la Plata. This route heads to Ourense and, from there, heads to the Cathedral of Santiago.

If you would like to do the last stage of the Camino Sanabres walking, we advise you to do the stage that runs between Ponte Ulla and the city of Compostela (20.9 kilometres). If you go by bike, you can start from Silleda (40.1 km). Below we talk about these last kilometres on the Camino Sanabres.

From Silleda to Ponte Ulla

The penultimate stage of the Camino Sanabres is carried out along trails, bordered by pine trees and eucalyptus trees. The route between Silleda and Ponte Ulla crosses many charming villages, although without services.

From Ponte Ulla to Compostela

The last stage on the Camino de Santiago Sanabres is more pleasant than those on other pilgrim routes. Generally, city entrances are marked by the presence of industrial environments, however, the Camino Sanabres is an exception.

The initial stretch of the stage runs through a wooded environment, then crosses rural areas, dotted with small villages. In this section you will have the opportunity to see the Sacred Peak, the scene of a multitude of pilgrim legends.

The final straight of the route is made through streets and avenues of Santiago de Compostela, until reaching the Plaza del Obradoiro. In total, 20.9 kilometres separate Ponte Ulla from the Cathedral of Compostela.

The last stage on the Camino de Finisterre

Most pilgrims do the Camino de Finisterre after completing some stretches on the Camino de Santiago. However, if you are visiting the Costa da Morte, you can consider following this route, heading onto the Cathedral of Santiago.

In fact, as we tell you in the article we dedicate to the epilogue of the Camino de Santiago, this path can function as a pilgrim route or as an extension. It all depends on which direction you take.

If you are going to do the Camino de Finisterre on foot, it is advisable to start in Negreira (21 km). Bikegrims can start the tour from Olveiroa (54.4 km).

From Olveiroa to Negreira

The second stage of the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre has the reputation for being one of the most beautiful sections on the route. From Negreira to Olveiroa, the distance is 33.4 km. At this stage the pilgrim path runs between thick oak groves, dotted with chestnuts, beech, granaries and crosses.

During the day you will cross various towns such as Camiño Real, Vilaserío, Santa Mariñas or Abeleiroas, among others. Stage 2 on the Route to the End of the World ends in the medieval town of Olveiroa.

Negreira to Santiago

Stage 1 of the Camino de Santiago de Finisterre runs between the Cathedral of Compostela and Negreira. The 21 kilometres made on this stage are through a mountain environment, full of pines and eucalyptus trees.

This is not a difficult stage, but it does face continuous moderate slopes. The main challenge is the ascent to the Alto do Mar de Ovellas, with an elevation of 215 metres.

The route crosses various towns in the Concello of Santiago and Ames. At the end of the tour you will cross the River Tambre over a Roman bridge, to finish the stage in Negreira.

How to do the last stage on the Camino de Santiago

Before finishing this post, we want to share with you some services that can help you organize a day trip on the Camino de Santiago, within your visit to Galicia. Some of them are:

• Luggage: on the Camino de Santiago you will find companies specialized in the transport of baggage between stages. Therefore, you can request that they bring your luggage from the beginning of the last stage of the Camino de Santiago to your accommodation in Compostela.
• Bicycles: If you want to do the bike tour, you don’t need to bring your bike from home. On the Camino de Santiago, you will find many companies that rent bicycles. You can return it when you arrive in Compostela.
• Accommodation and transfers: If you wish, you can also contact an agency specialized in the Camino de Santiago, like us, who will manage transfers to the beginning of the stage and accommodation for the night before; and upon arrival in Compostela.

We do not offer these services separately, but if you want us to organize your trip during those days, we can take care of all the logistics so that you can spend a day on the Camino de Santiago and be able to do the last stage. Call us, leave a comment, or write to us on Facebook, and we’ll give you all the information that you need.

Buen Camino!