The French Camino from Sarria to Santiago covers 113 km, takes 6 to 8 days of walking, and earns the official Compostela issued by the Oficina del Peregrino. In 15 days, you can comfortably complete the last third, rest for two nights, visit Finisterre, and absorb the slow pace of Galicia without burning your knees along the way.
18 min read
Walking 113 km to Santiago de Compostela is not a spiritual calendar event; it's a decision of calendar and logistics. Arriving in Sarria by train on a Friday afternoon, booking a bed in a private hostel paid the day before, and starting early on Saturday will have you stepping into Obradoiro Square on a Sunday afternoon, eight days later, with the Compostela in hand and a sore knee.
The French Camino is the most documented, social, and well-signposted route of the six main ones ending in Santiago. It makes sense as a first Camino. It makes even more sense when the available time is 15 working days, which is the typical window for Brazilian holidays attached to a public holiday.
The thesis of this article is straightforward: two-thirds of the French Camino (the 800 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago) require 30 to 35 days of continuous walking, which doesn't fit into a 15-day vacation. What fits, with ease and dignity, is the last third: Sarria to Santiago, with optional Finisterre. The rest of this text treats the subject as an operational project, not a mystical adventure.
The 6 Caminos Compared: Why the French is Still the Best First
TL;DRThe French Camino is the most social and best-signposted route (800 km, St-Jean to Santiago). Portuguese, Norte, Primitivo, Inglés, and Vía de la Plata are viable alternatives for a second Camino. For beginners with 15 days, the last third of the French (Sarria to Santiago) is the obvious choice.
There are more than a dozen official routes, but six dominate the flow of pilgrims registered by the Oficina del Peregrino. Each solves a different problem.
| Route | Total Distance | Typical Days | Profile | When It Makes Sense |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French (St-Jean → Santiago) | 800 km | 30-35 | Social, signposted, dense infrastructure | First Camino, any profile |
| Central Portuguese (Lisbon) | 620 km | 25-28 | Historical, Port wine, urban-rural | Those who have done the French |
| Coastal Portuguese (Porto) | 280 km | 12-14 | Beach, fish, easy pace | 2 weeks, summer profile |
| Norte (Irun → Santiago) | 825 km | 32-35 | Cantabrian Sea, more beautiful, more expensive | Those prioritizing landscape |
| Primitivo (Oviedo → Melide) | 320 km | 13-15 | Oldest, technical, with mountains | Those already in shape |
| Inglés (Ferrol → Santiago) | 119 km | 5-7 | Quick, valid for Compostela | Those with only 1 week |
| Vía de la Plata (Seville) | 1000 km | 40-45 | Quiet, brutal heat, low traffic | Solitaries, outside Jul-Aug |
The French concentrates about 55% of all pilgrims for the year. This solves two things: you don't walk alone if you don't want to, and any village of 200 inhabitants has a hostel, bakery, pharmacy, and bar. The downside is that the final 100 km get crowded in high season.
For 15 working days, any route above 350 km is mathematically impossible. That leaves Inglés (short but less charming) and the last third of the French (Sarria to Santiago). The French wins because rural Galicia compensates for the crowd, and because Sarria is easily accessible by train from Madrid or Ourense.
15-Day Itinerary: Sarria to Santiago Stage by Stage
TL;DR8 days walking (Sarria-Portomarín-Palas de Rei-Melide-Arzúa-O Pedrouzo-Santiago), 2 rest days in Santiago, 3 days on the Finisterre-Muxía extension, and 2 days of air buffer. Daily averages between 20 and 25 km, except Sarria-Portomarín (22 km) and Arzúa-O Pedrouzo (19 km).
The premise: international flight lands in Madrid or Porto. Train or bus to Sarria (Galician railway has direct Madrid-Sarria connection in ~6h for EUR 35-50). Walking starts early the day after landing.
| Day | Stretch | Km | Time | Suggested Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flight + Madrid → Sarria (train) | — | 6h | Albergue Mayor (private, EUR 18) |
| 2 | Sarria → Portomarín | 22 | 5-6h | Albergue Ferramenteiro (EUR 12) |
| 3 | Portomarín → Palas de Rei | 25 | 6-7h | Albergue Buen Camino (EUR 15) |
| 4 | Palas de Rei → Melide | 15 | 4h | Pensión Berenguela (EUR 35) — obligatory pulpo |
| 5 | Melide → Arzúa | 14 | 3-4h | Albergue Los Caminantes (EUR 12) |
| 6 | Arzúa → O Pedrouzo | 19 | 5h | Albergue O Burgo (EUR 14) |
| 7 | O Pedrouzo → Santiago | 20 | 5h | Hospedería San Martín Pinario (EUR 65) |
| 8 | Rest Santiago + Compostela | — | — | Same |
| 9 | Santiago (museum, pilgrim mass, knee rest) | — | — | Same |
| 10 | Santiago → Finisterre (bus, 3h) or walk (3 days) | 0 or 30 | — | Albergue Cabo da Vila (EUR 14) |
| 11 | Finisterre → Muxía (coastal walk) | 28 | 7h | Pensión La Cruz (EUR 40) |
| 12 | Muxía → Santiago (bus) | — | 2h | Central hotel, EUR 80 |
| 13 | Santiago: underground cathedral, Abastos market | — | — | Same |
| 14 | Santiago → Madrid/Porto (train or domestic flight) | — | — | Airport hotel |
| 15 | Return flight | — | — | — |
The Palas de Rei → Melide stage is purposefully short: arrive in time for lunch at Pulpería Ezequiel, a Galician institution since 1948. The Sarria → Portomarín stage has a steep section in the first 8 km and then descends to the Belesar reservoir; carry 1.5 L of water, there are fountains but not all are drinkable.
Those who want to walk to Finisterre instead of taking the bus need 3 additional days (Santiago-Negreira-Olveiroa-Finisterre, 90 km). This compresses the rest buffer in Santiago and only makes sense for those who arrive in the city in good shape.
About the author
Curadoria Voyspark
2 years in the Voyspark editorial team
Time editorial da Voyspark — escritores, repórteres, fotógrafos e fixers em Lisboa, Tóquio, Nova York, Cidade do México e Marrakech. Coletivo. Sem voz corporativa. Cada peça com checagem cruzada por um editor regional e um chef ou curador local.
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