Overview
Walk the fourth stage of Camino del Norte from Gijón to Ribadeo along the stunning Asturias coastline. The Camino del Norte (a.k.a. The Northern Way) offers a truly authentic pilgrim experience. Compared to the Camino Frances, the route is quieter, much more challenging, and a lot more rewarding. The Camino del Norte goes along the green northern coast of Spain from San Sebastián in the Basque Country, through Cantabria and the Asturias and reaches Ribadeo in Galicia.
- Gijon, with its seafood and great ciders
- Prehistoric remains and Roman ruins
- The stunning Asturias coastline
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Gijón
A bustling city with lovely beaches, attractive preserved Roman baths and a couple of great museums, there is plenty to explore on arrival in Gijon. It is worth getting lost in its old town and visiting its Plaza Mayor, the Jovellanos House Museum, the San Pedro church and the Revillagigedo Palace.
- Accommodation: Hotel Casona de Jovellanos or similar
Day 2: Gijón to Avilés | 25km
Today’s trail takes you from the city of Gijón to the city of Avilés. You will be walking up Monte Areo, where you will be able to enjoy some nice views and see prehistoric dolmen. There aren’t many services along the way so bring a picnic!
- Walking for the day: 25km, 5-6h
- Accommodation: Hotel Alda Palacio Valdes or similar in Avilés
Day 3: Avilés to Cudillero | 30km
Today you have quite a long day ahead, but after you leave the outskirts of Avilés, you will pass through some nice small towns. Your stop for the night is El Pito, home to interesting Renaissance gardens and grand palaces. Just down the hill, you can visit the picturesque fishing village of Cudillero.
- Walking for the day: 30km, 7h
- Accommodation: Hotel Casa Vitorio or similar in El Pito
Day 4: Cudillero to Ballota | 23km
Today, you will leave El Pito and its majestic residences behind. While part of the path is along roads today, you will follow many old paths and pass some stunning beaches and green countryside along the way.
- Walking for the day: 22.8km, 5h
- Accommodation: Hotel Casa Fernando or similar in Ballota
Day 5: Ballota to Luarca | 22km
You will follow the path near the coast after Ballota. After Cadavedo, the trail heads inland, but as you approach Luarca, you will be able to spot the sea again. Your stop for the night is the pretty, traditional fishing town of Luarca. Enjoy some of the fresh seafood and a glass of cider!
- Walking for the day: 22km, 5h
- Accommodation: Hotel La Colmena or similar in Luarca
Day 6: Luarca to Navia | 22km
Today you will follow a peaceful inland trail from the fishing town of Luarca to the busy market town of Navia, located on the riverbank. Make sure you explore the town, check out the medieval walls and enjoy a taste of the local cuisine.
- Walking for the day: 22km, 5h
- Accommodation: Hotel Casona Naviega or similar in Navia
Day 7: Navia to Ribadeo | 31km
Today will be your last day following the Cantabrian coast. You will cross the bridge of the Saints over the River Eo to enter Galicia and reach Ribadeo. The town is famous for the Cathedrals Beach (a short taxi ride away), Galicia’s second most visited site after Santiago’s cathedral.
- Walking for the day: 31km, 7-8h
- Accommodation: Hotel Eo or similar in Ribadeo
Day 8: Departure
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading back to the airport or extending your stay in Spain.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodations on this tour include a mix of welcoming country inns and comfortable hotels (1-star, 2-star and 3-star), located close to the route of the Camino. You will always have a private room and an en-suite (attached) bathroom. The accommodation places have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. Extra nights can be booked at any of the accommodations along the way.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Casona de Jovellanos (Gijón)
- Hotel Alda Palacio Valdes (Avilés)
- Hotel Casa Vitorio (El Pito)
- Hotel La Colmena (Luarca)
- Hotel Casona Naviega (Navia)
- Hotel Eo (Ribadeo)
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included (usually a simple buffet breakfast/coffee and toast/bread/croissant) on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Where no dinner is included, most places serve hearty pilgrim menus – you can get a 3-course dinner including wine and water for about GBP 10-15 pp.
Difficulty and terrain
This walk is graded moderate to strenuous and includes walks of up to 31km (7-8h) a day, and some of the walks are fairly strenuous with steeper ascents/descents. A reasonable level of fitness is required. This route can be challenging for those with little walking experience (read more about difficulty grades). The Camino Del Norte follows a mixture of farm/dirt tracks, minor roads and footpaths. The route is marked with yellow painted arrows, but please take care at intersections. There are sections on the route where you will divert to follow the red and white stripes of the GR routes. There will always be other walkers around in case you are looking for help. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from March till mid-November, but the best months to visit are April – October.
The weather in Northern Spain is very varied. In general, you can expect pleasant temperatures for walking of between 19C and up to about 26C in the summer months. As you will be walking near the coast for much of this walk, you can expect some rainy days, particularly in spring and autumn.
The flexibility of self guided walking holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The nearest airport to Gijón is Oviedo Asturias which is 30km away.
By train or bus
- Recommended bus services: ALSA and Movelia
- Train schedules: https://www.renfe.com/es/en
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in private en-suite rooms
- 7 breakfasts
- Maps
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (1 pc up to 20kg per person)
- Transfers from the trail to the hotels and back to the trailhead, if needed
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights upon request
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