Camino del Norte by Bicycle (Santander-Santiago)

The vast majority take the small FEVE train from Santander and thus skip the first 20 kilometers. It's a relatively tough stage with constant ups and downs, which is why the train ride can be comfortable. Everything can be seen from the train.

It's also one of the most boring stages of the coastal route as the entire trip is on asphalt roads. It is possible to cut the stage by 8 km by taking a train from Boo to Mogro, which is recommended as rivers and infrastructure have led pilgrims to make a considerable detour as an alternative.

If you want to spend a little more time in Santander, it is recommended to skip this stage entirely and just take the train or bus from Santander to Mogro.

Now, this part is more interesting and with some extremely interesting experiences along the way. Santillana del Mar was founded in the 9th century by monks who took the relics of St. Juliana and built a chapel and a small monastery on this place. The monastery has since been expanded through various donations.

The church of Santa Juliana is Romanesque from the 12th century. The town of Santillana del Mar is a monument in itself and the maze of streets, lined with old mansions and palaces, is well worth another visit.

It is also possible to visit the Altamira Caves just outside Santillana del Mar. With its 17,000 old cave paintings, it is one of the most important architectural finds in the world.

Arriving to a wonderful stage, very close to the sea, along the beautiful coast. This section leads through green and hilly landscape. A couple of times you "sniff" delicious beaches to get back to wonderful viewpoints. There are several cozy villages along the way where you can experience the very authentic hinterland where village life takes its daily course.

Comillas was one of the most prestigious places for summer vacation in the 19th century, along with Santander, and countless wealthy families from Spain built huge houses here. The most famous is El Capricho, designed by Antoni Gaudi, the famous architect from Barcelona.

Distance: 60 Km

Distance: 51 Km

Distance: 53 Km

Distance: 41 Km

The first miles of this stage goes through the suburbs of Gijón before reaching the soft, green hills that will characterize much of this trip. The route you will experience today does not follow the coast, but cuts a pretty much straight line from Gijón to Avilés, where you will spend the night.

Avilés is primarily known for its cultural center, which was designed by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The city also has a nice old town.

Distance: 48 Km

You leave Cudillero behind and start a new day traveling along well-marked dirt paths. You will cross numerous minivalleys (Ballotas)

This is a relatively hard stage with ups and downs but, in turn, is also one of the most beautiful segments between Avilés and Ribadeo.

At the entrance to Luarca, before going down to the port, it is advisable to go on to the hermitage of Our Lady the White, located in the Watchtower and next to the singular cemetery of the locality. It is a viewpoint with extraordinary views.

Once in Luarca, we recommend you to visit the fishing district of Cambaral, the Cemetery and the Church of Santa Eulalia.

Distance: 47 Km

There isn't a lot of uneven travel in today's stage. The itinerary moves you away from the sea on this first part of the Camino. It is a flat stage as you entering Galicia and you have two possible routes: the one through the interior, the Official Way, and the Coast Route. Both are well marked/signposted.

We explain in detail both routes in the guidebook that Spain is More sends you days before your trip, so you can choose the one you want and get to know the details of the area. We recommend the Coastal Route because so much of it passes through beautiful coastal areas.

Once you are in Ribadeo, you will have time to visit the Cathedrals Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Spain. Your trip includes transportation there from the hotel.

Distance: 55 Km

Today's stage is a turning point in the North Road: on the one hand, you are definitively moving away from the coast; and, on the other hand, you will regain a mountainous route, in a rural environment with livestock around you and where the territory is sparsely populated.

The ups and downs are mostly smooth and are present throughout the entire stage. At the height of Lourenzá and Mondoñedo there is a small mountain range with an approximate difference of 200 meters. Starting at Mondoñero, you ascend gradually up to 600 meters above sea level.

Mondoñero is a small town that houses one of the most beautiful cathedrals on the Northern Route. You will also see monasteries and other monuments.

In Galicia, unlike Asturias, you will find lots of "Horreos" as you walk along the Camino.

After almost finishing the stage, the route becomes easy and pleasantly smooth.

Once in Villalba, we recommend the visit to the Tower of the Andrade, converted into a Parador de Turismo, where you will spend the night.

Old and stately, this is the Vilalbés Municipality, with a rich cultural heritage that displays the historical personality of these lands. Castros, churches or pazos were built in these places and are witnesses to a time past loaded with legends and histories. Next to its history, the restaurants with the exquisite Galician food are right behind.

Distance: 75 Km

The beginning of the stage is simple, and is similar to yesterday. The slopes are quite scarce. During the day you'll see several very picturesque villages where you'll breathe peace and tranquility. There are lots of forests, open fields and plains.

Arriving at the end of the stage, you'll experience more unevenness along the route advancing toward solitary and unpopulated areas.

The cultural jewel of today's stage is the impressive Cistercian Monastery of Santa María, in Sobrado. It is also known as "Sobrado dos Monxes", a singular building directly linked to the road of Santiago and the routes of the Peninsular North and in July 2015 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Distance: 58 Km

Today the Camino del Norte ends at the French Comino at Arzúa.

Whether you have started the Camino in Irún or have completed part of the Camino del Norte, the number of pilgrims you will see from now on until you arrive in Santiago will amaze you. You'll meet people during the rest of the Camino from all over the world with whom you'll have the opportunity to visit and share experiences.

Today's stage is comfortable, without any problems. The landscape mainly consists of eucalyptus forests and meadows.

The end of this stage is met with a great feeling of excitement. Everyone now "sees" the goal and that creates a mood of joy and tranquility.

Upon your arrival in Santiago you may want to carry out a series of important rituals of the traditional pilgrimage. All thes details are described in the Spain is More Guidebook.

You will need to wake up early if you want to go to the Pilgrim's Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago that is officiated every day at 12hr.

The Pilgrim's Office is located a few meters away from the Cathedral. There you will be sent the Compostela once they prove, with the stamps of the credential, that you have cycled the last two hundred kilometers.

The City of Santiago is full of charm with numerous cozy streets where you can taste the delicious Galician cuisine. It is a city full of atmosphere, a perfect to get to know any time of the day. The charm of Santiago's Old Town is hard to match. The cathedral is surrounded by the city's historical center, a World Heritage Site. Finally, be sure to notice the city's monuments, which are true works of art of different architectural styles.

Distance: 64 Km