Hiking on the Camiño dos Faros

Today's stage takes us to the heart of the Costa da Morte . We start from Laxe, where we visit its port and the church of Santa María da Atalaya, then we head towards the lighthouse via the Ruta da Insua, from where there is a vast panoramic view over the Ría de Corme and Laxe .

Near the lighthouse, we will discover Furna da Espuma and Los Cristales beach. Continuing past Enseada da Baleeira, we will arrive at the Soesto Rock and, after a stop in Soesto, we will follow Arnado beach and the Traba lagoons, a bird sanctuary.

The coastline towards Camelle is striking, with its landscape of large, variedly shaped rocks. After visiting the remains of the Museum of Man in Camelle, small coastal paths lead us to Arou, the end point of this intense stage.

The Camiño dos Faros , which connects Arou to Camariñas, follows a rugged coastline steeped in history. A route that will undoubtedly leave you speechless. The section between Arou and Cape Vilán is the origin of the name "Coast of Death": it was here that the Serpent was shipwrecked at the end of the 19th century, claiming hundreds of lives among the British.

After reaching the Lobeiras viewpoint, you continue through an area of ​​eroded rocks to the port of Santa Mariña. By skirting the Veo lighthouse, you will reach the summit of the Monte Branco dune, which offers one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the route.

Heading down towards the English Cemetery at Punta Boi , the route continues along the beaches of Reira to the iconic Vilán lighthouse. From there, a coastal path will take you to Camariñas, near its fishing port.

The longest stage of the Camiño dos Faros, about eight hours of walking, takes us away from the open sea and into the Ría do Porto . The cove of Basa offers magnificent scenery, with its shellfish gatherers and birds, before we follow the Río Grande towards the rural hamlets of Tasaraño, Dor and Allo.

At Ponte do Porto, we cross a medieval bridge towards Cereixo, with its tidal mill, church, and towers. After Furna do Sapo and the beaches of Area Grande and Leis, we reach Playa do Lago , an ideal halfway point. We continue towards Merexo, along the Río Negro mill path, and to Os Muiños beach.

From Chorente, the forest of the same name leads us closer to Muxía , where Punta da Barca, its lighthouse, and the Virxe da Barca sanctuary offer an unforgettable sunset. The stage ends at O ​​Coido beach, the epicenter of the Prestige oil spill.

The penultimate stage is one of the most demanding, especially the first ten kilometers. Leaving Muxía via O Coido and Lourido beach, we will have to tackle a difficult climb towards Mount Cachelmo, which offers spectacular views of Muxía and Punta Buitra.

After descending to Arnela beach, we climb Monte Punta Buitra and continue along the rugged coastline to Coído de Cuño, the perfect spot to recharge. After the ascent of Monte Pedrouzo and the technical descent to Moreira beach, the stage becomes easier.

The visit to the Touriñán lighthouse, the westernmost point of the peninsula, is a 5 km detour which, if you are very tired, can be skipped. We will then continue along the Insua do Castelo to Nemiña beach and, going upriver via the Vaosilveiro bridge, we will arrive at Lires beach.

Starting from Lires, the last stage will take us to the Fisterra lighthouse (the Finisterre of Roman times) along the cliffs of Punta Besugueira and Mexadoira, in the heart of one of the most striking landscapes of the route.

We cross the two kilometers of Playa do Rostro amidst the roar of the waves and climb to Punta do Rostro to regain our strength. The cliffs of Punta do Castelo, where the Casón ran aground, lead us to the Castro de Castromñán, with a view of Cabo de la Nave.

This section, which features the highest cliffs on the route, is one of the most spectacular. From Cabo de la Nave, we descend towards Mar de Fora beach and, climbing back up the Camiño da Insua to Monte Facho, we tackle the last steep ascent before finally catching sight of the Fisterra lighthouse.

Enjoy Santiago de Compostela!! Dawn breaks over the baroque bell towers of the cathedral and the Praza do Obradoiro gradually comes alive. The first pilgrims arrive at dawn, backpacks on and shoes worn, their faces marked by weeks of walking.

They come from all corners of the world: Japanese, Brazilians, Germans, Australians. Their languages ​​blend with Galician and Spanish in a unique and vibrant symphony. The cobbled streets of the Cidade Vella fill with musicians, artisans, and vendors of Sargadelos pottery.

The aroma of octopus at the fair and cornbread wafts from the covered markets. At noon, the pilgrim's mass gathers believers and the curious at the cathedral, united by something difficult to define: perhaps wonder, perhaps gratitude. At dusk, when the bells ring out over the wet rooftops, Saint James whispers that all roads, in the end, lead here.