The life of Castro Urdiales still revolves around the Puebla Vieja, or old village. It is here that you can explore the most impressive and oldest monuments.
Make your way down to the harbor (a short distance from the camino) to visit Iglesia de Santa Maria...
Castro Urdiales was settled first by the Romans, who used the location more for its iron than the sea. It prospered under the reign of the Kingdom of Castile right up until 1813 when the French Army destroyed the city. It was quickly rebuilt and fortified.
June: San Juan on the 24th, and San Pelayo Mártir (the patron of Castro Urdiales) on the 26th.
July: La Virgen del Carmen on the 16th, and Santa Ana on the 26th.
August: The Assumption of Mary is celebrated on the 14th.
November: San Andrés on the 30th.
The camino through Castro Urdiales follows the N-634 but it is possible to walk the coastline, a route which is a great deal more scenic. It can be followed as far as the beach at which point you will need to turn back towards the main road. A short distance later the camino turns left...
Accommodation in Castro Urdiales
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1 |
Albergue de peregrinos de Castro Urdiales Municipal
Behind the Bullring on the way out of Castro
16 6€ |
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Hostería Villa de Castro Pension
Los Huertos, 2
Booking.com |
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3 |
Pensión La Mar ⭑⭑ Pension
La Mar, 27
Booking.com |
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Pensión Chili Pension
La Ronda, 16
Booking.com |
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Pensión Ardigales 11 ⭑⭑ Pension
Ardigales, 11
Booking.com |
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6 |
Pensión La Marina ⭑ Pension
La Plazuela, 16
Booking.com |
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Hostal Catamarán ⭑ Hostal
Victorina Gainza, 3
Booking.com |
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8 |
Hotel La Ronda ⭑ Hotel
La Ronda 18 bis
Booking.com |
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9 |
Hotel Sercotel Las Rocas ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Flaviobriga, 1
Booking.com |
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10 |
Hotel Agua Viva & Spa Castro ⭑⭑ Hotel
Alto de la Cruz, 6
Booking.com |
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From Allendelagua the camino turns left, and follows a road that is parallel to the A-8. It turns right to cross under it at the first opportunity. After the underpass it leaves the paved road for a path that cuts up through the forest and into Cerdigo, passing the Iglesia...
At the far end of Cerdigo the camino crosses the N-634 where it picks up a coastal path. You will pass the Cerdigo cemetery along the way, eventually rejoining a smaller road that parallels the N-634 and into the town of Islares.
The first building you come to...
Islares is stretched out along the coast and held in place by the road and mountain to the south. The Iglesia de San Martín and is one of the first buildings you come to. Next to it is the municipal albergue.
When leaving Islares exercise caution along the N-634. There is no dedicated place for pedestrians along this stretch.
Accommodation in Islares
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Camping Playa Arenillas Camping
Arenillas, 43
12€ Booking.com |
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2 |
Hotel Arenillas ⭑⭑ Hotel
Islares, 155
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High up on the hillside on the south side of town is the 17th century Iglesia de San Vicente de la Maza; unfortunately its remote location in the hillside forest means that there is seldom someone available to unlock the doors.
After Rioseco, the camino continues to the first roundabout and turns right to cross the river and enter the small hamlet of La Magdalena.
If you plan on staying at the albergue in town, check for the key at the bar first.
January: San Vicente Mártir on the 22nd.
May: San Isidro Labrador on the 15th.
June: San Juan on the 24th.
August: Las Nieves, patron of El Pontarrón, on the 5th. San Mamés on the 7th.
The camino splits in El Pontarrón. The official route continues due south along a pedestrian path adjacent to the main road (which becomes the CA-151) and a coastal option follows the N-634 across the river.
17th century Iglesia de La Magdalena.
La Magdalena is celebrated on the 22nd of July.
The camino leaves the main road at the church in La Magdalena, turning right and uphill to follow the trail over the hillside. When it descends it passes under the A-8 and enters the area known as Liendo.
Hazas is the center of the Liendo area, a collection of towns spread out across this broad valley. As such it has most of the services you need. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands opposite the albergue.
From the albergue the camino climbs up to join the N-634, turning left to follow it a short distance. When it splits the official camino turns left to leave the main road and descend to Tarrueza. You can alternatively keep on the N-634 on a shorter course to Laredo; this option will...
Accommodation in Hazas - Liendo
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Albergue de peregrinos Saturnino Candina Municipal
Barrio de Hazas, 7
17 8€ |
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Pensión Valle de Liendo ⭑⭑ Pension
Barrio de Iseca Vieja, 58
Booking.com |
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Posada La Torre de la Quintana ⭑⭑⭑ Pension
Barrio de Hazas, 26
Booking.com |
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Laredo is a popular tourist town, drawing beachgoers to its 5km of beachfront. The camino brings you through the old town but sort of goes around the best parts. Take your time to explore a bit before setting off down the long beach. In the old town, you will find the Iglesia de...
July: Día del Carmen on the 16th.
August: The Batalla de Flores (the battle of flowers) sees large flower covered floats parading and is held on the last Friday, and San Roque (the patron of Laredo) on the 16th of August.
In Laredo the camino follows two options, and in this instance the alternate route is part of a series of options that appear further to the west.
At issue is the best way to cross the broad estuary between Laredo and Santoña. The official camino requires the...
Accommodation in Laredo
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Albergue El Buen Pastor Private
Fuente Fresnedo, 1
20 13€ |
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Residencia Albergue Casa de la Trinidad Parochial
San Francisco, 24
27 10*€ |
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Pensión Esmeralda ⭑⭑ Pension
Fuente Fresnedo, 4
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Hostal El Carro ⭑ Hostal
La Arenosa
Booking.com |
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Hostal Tucán Hostal
Gutiérrez Rada, 2
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Hotel El Ancla ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
González Gallego 10
Booking.com |
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Hotel Cosmopol ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Cantabria, 27
Booking.com |
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Hotel Miramar ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Alto de Laredo
Booking.com |
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9 |
Hotel Cortijo ⭑⭑ Hotel
González Gallego, 3
Booking.com |
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June: San Juan, the patron of Colindres, on the 24th.
July: El Carmen on the 16th and Santiago on the 25th.
August: San Roque on the 16th and San Ginés on the 25th.
Accommodation in Colindres
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Albergue de peregrinos de Colindres Municipal
Heliodoro Fernández
18 6€ |
Santoña is surrounded by the Cantabrian Sea on three sides, and has a mountain on the fourth; so it is no wonder that the economy here is much to do about fishing, canning, and seafaring. From the docks and the monument to Juan de la Cosa, it is a straight path through town. The ...
The Iglesia de Santa María del Puerto, which dates from the 13th century, was built in the same location as an earlier 8th century Benedictine Monastery which itself is rumored to have been built at the location of a church founded by Santiago himself in the year 37.
The monument...
From the ferry terminal, with your back to the water, walk straight into the city. You will pass through the Plaza San Antonio and then the large Manzanedo Park. Keep going straight when you get to the first roundabout (bus terminal here) and at the next one do the same; you...
Accommodation in Santoña
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Albergue Juvenil de Santoña Municipal
Carretera Santoña-Cicero
68 9.50€ |
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Albergue La Bilbaína Private
Plaza San Antonio, 1
24 12€ Booking.com |
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Hostal El Parque ⭑⭑ Hostal
El Cantal, 15
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Alojamiento Buciero ⭑ Hostal
Manzanedo, 1
Booking.com |
The town of Berria has been built on an isthmus that was formed by dueling north winds. The beach here is a popular day tourist destination.
At the end of Berria, the camino splits. This is one of the rare points where the official camino might not be the best option. Where the main road turns left at the end of town, the camino turns right onto a trail which climbs 100m up to the top of the El Brusco headland....
The official camino over the Alto de Brusco is straightforward. To follow the alternative along the road, turn left at the bend to follow a pedestrian path past the first roundabout. At the second roundabout bear right to follow the CA-141 in the direction of Somo. There exist several...
Accommodation in Berria
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Posada Las Garzas Pension
Primera, 31
Booking.com |
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Hostal de Berria ⭑⭑ Hostal
Playa Berria 40
Booking.com |
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Hotel Juan de la Cosa ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Playa Berria, 14
Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Escalante
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Posada La Rivera de Escalante ⭑⭑⭑ Hostal
Paseo de la Rivera, 1
Booking.com |
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Posada Los Gallos ⭑⭑⭑ Hostal
Ramón y Cajal, 3
Booking.com |
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Hotel Las Solanas de Escalante ⭑ Hotel Rural
Puente Somaza
Booking.com |
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Accommodation in Gama
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Albergue de peregrinos de Gama Municipal
Plaza El Ferial de Gama
12 4€ |
Noja is straddled by two fine beaches and a topography which has kept the town from over expanding. The Iglesia de San Pedro is the highest point in town; it is surrounded by a bit of green space for resting and is across the street from the tourist information office and the...
San Emeterio and San Celedonio are celebrated on the 29th of August.
The camino enters Noja along the park adjacent to the beach, and turns left at the far end to follow the road uphill into the center of town. It passes around the Iglesia de San Pedro and then winds its way back down to the CA-141 which it crosses into Castillo.
Accommodation in Noja
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La Casona B&B ⭑⭑ Casa Rural
Plaza de la Villa
Booking.com |
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Posada La Mies ⭑⭑ Pension
Panadería, 12
Booking.com |
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Pensión López Azcona ⭑⭑ Pension
las Viñas, 9
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Hotel Arillo ⭑⭑ Hotel
Paseo Trengandin, 6
Booking.com |
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Hotel Viadero ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Santander 10
Booking.com |
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Hotel María del Mar ⭑ Hotel
La Panadería 20
Booking.com |
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The camino winds along a paved side road between Castillo and San Miguel.
Accommodation in Castillo Siete Villas (Arnuero)
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1 |
Hotel Las Torres ⭑ Hotel
Barrio San Pantaleón, 23
Booking.com |
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The alternative routes from Laredo all merge here. Most services are along the main road where there are also misleadings signs to the curiously niche Museo de la Campana (bell museum). The museum exists but is in the next town over.
If you need any of the shops in town, stay on the main road when you reach the town. All of the services are located at the start of town along this road, which you can follow to the end of town and resume the official camino.
San Mamés is celebrated on the 7th of August.
The camino passes through San Miguel on a small country road at the upper side of town. It passes the church before descending back to the CA-454 which it follows a short distance before turning left downhill at the end of town. From here it descends to the bottom of the valley, where...
Accommodation in San Miguel de Meruelo
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1 |
Albergue RiCa Private
Barrio Solorga, 2
18 12€ |
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2 |
Hostería Sol Pension
La Maza, 43
Booking.com |
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Bareyo is the heart of a district know for having produced world class stone masons, bell makers, and retablists whose work can be seen and heard throughout the peninsula. Among them is Juan de Herrera who was responsible for the cloister that is part of the Cathedral in Santiago....
In Bareyo it is possible to take a small detour (signposted and along the road) to visit the 12th century Iglesia de Santa Maria. Otherwise, turn left at the road.
Ahead the camino takes a long route around Güemes, in fact it doesn’t much go through town at all...
