We begin in Ponferrada at the Albergue de Peregrinos where you can pick up a credential and a very basic map of the camino as it passes through El Bierzo.
Walking across the the Camino Frances for a short distance we arrive at the first cruceiro. On the sidewalk across the street is the first mojon marking the Camino de Santiago de Invierno. It will take you to your left, down a hill, and across a bridge.
Just over the end of the bridge arrows will take you to your right, and geographically speaking you will have Ponferrada and the river on your right hand side. It is not the prettiest walking to begin with, and already the arrows grow scarce. You have begin walking on an asphalted road at this point, and although the yellow arrows have ended, there are a bounty of other markings which soon crop up. Among them is a red/ blue arrow on a field of white. Stay on this road until you get just past “Embutidos Pajariel,” a factory on your left. Shortly after that the road runs into a dirt section, and another trail marked with white arrows will want to lure you towards the right hand side. NO NOT GO RIGHT (there is a trail there which will walk you right back to where you started, and take up an hour of your time). Instead, keep on to your left where you can see a building in the distance. Soon the mojons will reappear and continue to guide you up a slope.