Hello!
If anyone could please suggest based on the difficulty, such as ascending and descending of any given section, and amount of kilometers: what would be the best way to divide up the walking from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela ?
My constraint is that I’m traveling with a young granddaughter probably is not use to walking as much as I am. Since we will be doing this during her spring break, we have only seven days to complete the walk.
I have looked and found various options, it seems if I could divide up the section between Ventas de Naron and Amenal into 4 days, trying to walk a maximum of 12 miles…. Is this possible? Suggestions for where to stop and possible lodging?
Thank you so much. I appreciate any help!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7383 posts
When I walked it, it was broken down:
Sarria-Portomarín, 23km/13.8mi
Portomarín-Palas de Rey, 25km/15mi
Palas de Rey-Arzua, 28km/16.8mi
Arzua-Pedrouzo, 19km/11.4mi
Pedrouzo-Santiago de Compostela, 20km/12mi
Distances are approximate.
Hotels we stayed at:
Sarria - Mar de Plata
Portomarín - Pensión Arenas Porto
Palas de Rei - Casa Leopoldo
Arzua - Pensión Begoña
Santiago - Hotel Lux Santiago, then Hotel Rua Villar
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9318 posts
If you use a Camino planner, like Wise Pilgrim, you can see how to break up the days. If you are not used to walking long distances, keep it down to 20km per day or less.
Rather than starting in Sarria, it is nice to start a few km farther, in Barbedello. This allows you several hours of walking in the morning without the crowds of people starting in Sarria. I have done this 3 times from here and really enjoyed my stay in Casa Barbedelo. Great food for dinner and breakfast at 06:00. Walking at sunrise is beautiful.
Barbadelo - Casa Barbedelo
Portomarin - Huelles Turistico
Airexe - Pension Eirexe
Melide - O Palpador
Arzua - Cruce de Caminos
O Pedrouzo - Mirador
Santiago - San Martin Pinario - send them an email to request a Pilgrim room. Lots cheaper
Use this guide to help plan your distances though, as well as finding accomodation. Where I stayed may not suit you and what you are looking for. I did stay in Ventas de Naron in 2015 and thought it was great.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/camino-guides/en/route/camino-frances/the-complete-camino-frances
Message me if you have any questions. Am 69 and have walked 6 times.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4377 posts
We stopped at the same towns as Jamie above. Just be warned that the walk is very, very hilly. More than we thought it would be. And do not attempt to carry your clothing/supplies with you, have them transported from hotel to hotel. In fact, don’t even wear a backpack. It becomes very heavy very quickly. Even if empty. We used fanny packs. We ditched ours after the first day.
There are plenty of places to stop for food or snacks and water. You won’t starve or die of thirst.
I do wish I had walking sticks. Bring your own. The ones we got there were cheap and didn’t last the day. They kept collapsing. Know you will smell manure for the first few days, there are biting bugs but not too many, oh, and slather your feet with Vaseline each morning before you walk, I only had one blister the entire time. If you do get a blister use a gel like bandaid, Compeed (the brand I purchased there). They do not come off till you take it off. I have seen them in Walgreens.
There were a few times when you have a choice of routes, faster or easier. Well, we always seemed to choose the wrong one. There are books available that give you very detailed descriptions of the walk, and which routes to choose. Of course, I learned this after we finished, lol?
Add a rest day in the middle, or break up a few days. We walked for 6 straight days, it was brutal.
Otherwise, it was all good.
PM if you need more specifics.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9318 posts
Barbara, if your back pack was that uncomfortable, either it was too heavy or you were wearing it wrong. Did you get it fitted or have someone show you how to wear it? Mine is only 5.5kg and I truly don't have much of a problem with it on most days. If it is hilly day, I do send on a small bag with some clothes and toiletries in it. Remember, if you are wearing a day pack with water, rain gear (yes, you will need something like an Altus Poncho to keep you dry in April in Gallicia) first aid, and or snacks, your shoulders will be aching. That is why a good back pack has that hip belt, to keep the weight off of your shoulders.
Pretty much everyone is wearing something like a hip pack for their phone, glasses, pilgrim pass, money.
I have cheap, Z-fold poles with cork handles. They have worked on 2 Caminos so far without collapsing. Only paid 39€ for them.
There are hills, but nothing dramatic. Just go slow and steady. Walk shorter days if you can, but if you only have 7 days, that becomes difficult. You will want to have at least one day in Santiago.