Camino de Invierno
From Ponferrada to Santiago through the Ribeira Sacra: 263 kilometres of mountains, terraced vineyards and the Galicia almost nobody walks.
What it is like to walk
Medieval pilgrims who reached Ponferrada in winter did not climb O Cebreiro: the snow made it impassable. They went down the Sil valley instead. That detour is today the Camino de Invierno, and it is still the quietest way into Galicia.
It passes Las Médulas, crosses the Ribeira Sacra between vineyards hanging over the river, and climbs and drops through four provinces before joining the Camino Sanabrés at Lalín. It has real climbs and demanding stages, but rewards you like few routes do.
Services are scarce and places to stay are very limited on some stretches. Setting off without bookings is the quickest way to end up sleeping twenty kilometres from where you wanted to be.
The stages from Ponferrada
The usual ten-day plan. It can be made longer or shorter.
- Stage 1Ponferrada → Las Médulas28 kmStart here
- Stage 2Las Médulas → O Barco de Valdeorras28 kmStart here
- Stage 3O Barco → A Rúa de Valdeorras15 kmStart here
- Stage 4A Rúa → Quiroga32 kmStart here
- Stage 5Quiroga → Monforte de Lemos33 kmStart here
- Stage 6Monforte → Chantada30 kmStart here
- Stage 7Chantada → Rodeiro25 kmStart here
- Stage 8Rodeiro → Lalín24 kmStart here
- Stage 9Lalín → Silleda18 kmStart here
- Stage 10Silleda → Santiago de Compostela43 km, over two daysStart here
Distances are approximate. Long stages can be split; we suggest how, based on your pace.
What your trip includes
Included
- Accommodation booked at every stage
- Personal guide to your Camino
- Pilgrim passport (credencial)
- Assistance phone line throughout the trip
Optional
- Luggage transfer between stages
- Transfers to and from the airport or station
- Flights, trains and buses
- Back-up taxi on the longest stages
- Catamaran trip on the Ribeira Sacra