Astorga to Santiago de Compostella (2026)
"El Camino es la Meta"
The Journey IS the Reward
Travel Day(s)
The interesting thing about traveling to Spain for The Camino is that hikers are the rare exception in the sea of travelers starting off. There are lots and lots of business and vacation travelers with luggage – even backpacks – but very few with true hip belt backpacks. That number gradually increases as you get closer to northern Spain. Even as far as Madrid, pilgrims are still the exception. Once you start taking trains and your destination is one of the cities near The Camino, the percentage of hikers noticeably increases and pilgrims are easy to recognize. The gentleman in the photos below was one of the most obvious examples.
Spain Culture
As an American, there were certain things that stood out to me in Spain culture. Water bottles with caps that don’t come all the way off. City crews that wash streets and pick up litter early in the mornings – especially Saturday, Sunday and Monday after the late nights of partying. Souvenir shops selling Camino stuff of all kinds. Views off into the countryside from the cities. Yellow arrows on sidewalks indicating where the actual path is as it winds through towns. Olives with your beers. Menacing iron gates in front of homes and gardens. Iron bars over the windows. Metal shades on the windows to block out the afternoon sun.
Picking back up in Astorga
to Rabinal de Camino
to El Acebo
to Ponferrada
to Cacabelos
to Vega de Valcarce
to Fonfría ( Crossing over O Cebriero )
to Triacastela
to Sarria
to Portomarin
to Lestedo
to Melide
to Arzúa
to Pedroza / A Rua
to Santiago de Compostella
Finisterre
Muxía
I took the bus from Finisterre to Muxía to spend a day and an evening here.
Madrid
