Camino dos Faros: Malpica to Finisterre in Comfort

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Day 1: Arrival in Malpica

Malpica is situated close to A Coruña. Once you arrive and check in at your lovely hotel, walking around the town and visiting the quaint port can be a good option before taking a look at the restaurants to decide where to have a tasty fish or seafood dinner today. 

• Overnight at Hotel Fonte do Fraile (or similar)
  

Day 2: Malpica to Barizo | 13.2km

During the first walk, you get directly into the mood of the Camiño dos Faros as you follow gravel roads and small, sometimes uneven and exposed footpaths along the coast, passing a beach, a chapel and the Sisargas islands. The route ends at the doorstep of your rural seaside hotel near Barizo. Dinner is not included because the hotel only serves a la carte menus. And you might want to try next door’s restaurant “As Garzas” awarded with a Michelin star in 2018 (but remember to book in advance).

• Walking for the day: 13,2km, 5h, ↑400m ↓400m
• Overnight at Hotel Casa da Vasca (or similar)

Day 3: Barizo Circular Walk | 13-16.2km

Today you walk first to the Faro Nariga, one of the most famous lighthouses of the Costa da Morte although, or maybe because, it is a modern building. After the lighthouse, you continue to the beautiful beach of Niñons, where you can either take a taxi back to your hotel or start the return route along gravel roads that give access to a modern windmill park.

• Walking for the day: 16,2km, 6.5-7h, ↑720m ↓72m
• Shorter option: 13km, 5h, ↑615m ↓615m (taking a shortcut)
• Overnight at Hotel Casa da Vasca (or similar)

Day 4: Roncudo to Ponteceso | 14-18km

To avoid a long stretch of steep coastal footpaths through a vast empty area, a taxi will take you in the morning to the tiny hamlet of Roncudo. From there, you either follow the Camiño along winding footpaths to the cape O Roncudo, after which there is no alternative for a 3km tarmac lane until you reach the fishermen’s village of O Corme OR you take a shortcut to O Corme.

After a coffee break at O Corme, you have to choose again: between the long spectacular Camiño along the coast with some exposed parts, or a shorter, higher route through shady woods before you reach the extensive sand plateau that separates the river mouth of Ponteceso from the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, you walk along a long stretch of sandy trail before reaching Ponteceso, where a taxi will take you to your modern beach hotel in Laxe.

• Walking for the day, low route: 18km, 6.5h, ↑525m ↓650m
• Walking for the day, high route: 14km, 4.5-5h, ↑325m ↓450m
• Overnight at Hotel Vida Mar de Laxe (or similar)

Day 5: Laxe to Camelle | 15.8km

A beautiful stretch of coastline and one steep hill separate Laxe from the large sandy beach of Traba. The ocean has violated the dunes on several occasions, thus creating a wetland with lagunes that are popular among birds. After a swim or a meal at the only bar-restaurant along the route today, you follow an old coastal ox-trail that has been literally carved into the granite rock and winds around strange wind-sculptured rock formations. In the harbour of Camelle, a taxi picks you up for a transfer back to Laxe because there is no hotel nearby.

• Walking for the day: 15,8km, 5.5h, ↑485m ↓485m (alternative walk less exposed for rainy and windy days: 12km, 4h, ↑275m ↓275m)
• Overnight at Hotel Vida Mar de Laxe (or similar)

Day 6: Arou to Mourin/Camariñas | 13.6km

Our recommended route for today starts at the village of Arou and takes you first along two tiny harbours before you climb up Europe’s highest dune. Then a truly wild scenery awaits as you descend and cross a chain of small beaches called Praias de Trece. You finally reach the Cemetry of the English; a symbolic burial place to honour the lives of sailors and passengers that died in three shipwrecks that happened on this coast between 1883 and 1893. The last kilometres are easy as you hike along a gravel road for a while (taking some shortcuts close to the coast at times) before you head into the woods and walk to the doorstep of your cosy hotel, where you will also have dinner tonight.

NOTE: For those who prefer less exposed and easier routes, or on days with strong winds, there is an alternative high route starting near Sta Mariña, that offers the view across the Praia do Trece before you reach the cemetery.

• Walking for the day: 13,6km, 5h, ↑415m ↓375m (alternative route: 12km, 4-4.5h, ↑270m ↓385m); If your accommodation tonight is in Camariñas, the walk will be 2km longer: 15.6km, 5.5h, ↑415m ↓420m
• Overnight at Hotel Puerto Arnela (or similar)

Day 7: Mourin to Camariñas | 13km

As you walk back to the coast from Mourin, you will be surprised by the dramatic location of the most imposing lighthouse on the route: the Cabo Vilán, also the first electrified lighthouse of Spain. You can visit the house (now it holds a visitors’ centre and café) before you continue along the coast, past a modern fish factory and a chapel located on a hilltop above Camariñas. Today’s route is relatively short, which allows you to have a longer lunch at the Arnelo restaurant in Camariñas. We recommend visiting the small museum dedicated to the typical handcrafted lace of Camariñas. After lunch, you walk back to your hotel or order a taxi when it’s time to return for dinner.

• Walking for the day: 12-13.9km, 4-4,5h, ↑270m ↓385m
• Overnight at Hotel Puerto Arnela (or similar)

Day 8: Ponte do Cereixo to Muxia | 14.4-17km

In the morning, transfer to Ponte do Cereixo to the start of today’s walk to Muxia. After two days of wild coastal landscapes, today you follow the river mouth, Ria do Porto, where large groups of marisqueiras can be seen (and heard) in the morning as they collect mussels and shellfish. The mini lighthouse of Lago tells you that you’re back to the Atlantic coast and close to the beach of Lago (with several bars and restaurants). This is a good place to stop for a break before the second part of the route, which starts with a steep uphill section to the village of Mereixo. Here you join in for the first time on the Camino de Santiago trail to Finisterre but soon take a beautiful path through lush riverside vegetation back to the coast before you finally enter Muxia via the beach.

• Walking for the day: 14,4km, 5.5-6h, ↑565m ↓600m (the walk to the Sanctuary will add about 3km/1h to the total walking for the day)
• Overnight at Hostal La Cruz (or similar)

Day 9: Moreira to Queiroso | 15km

To avoid 3 km of tarmac road and the crossing of three small ‘fjords’ with very steep ascents/descents, you ride partway with the taxi that transports your luggage. From Moreira – a small hamlet with no services – you walk to the beach and join a section of the Camiño dos Faros along a barren coastline with similarities to Scottish or Nordic landscapes. Today’s lighthouse is again small but located at the Westernmost edge of Europe: Cabo Touriñan. From there, you turn south to the surfers’ beach of Nemiña and enjoy lunch before you walk the last 2 kilometres to a rural hotel, where you will overnight. Dinner is again included.

• Walking for the day: 15km, 5.5-6h, ↑515m ↓500m
• Overnight at Casa Fontequeiroso (or similar)

Day 10: Castrexe to Finisterre | 14.3-20km

The last stage is again a fascinating one, especially between Praia Arnela and Finisterre, where you walk very close to the cliffs and appreciate once more the skill and bravery of fishermen that stand on exposed corners to get the best catch. The section between Castrexe and Praia Arnela can be skipped, but then you will miss the last 1.5km of the sandy and desolate beach before Finisterra.

• Walking for the day: 20km, 8h, ↑820m ↓780m
• Shorter option (starting at Playa Arnela): 14,3km, 6h, ↑625m ↓665m
• Overnight at Hotel Vida Finisterre Centro (or similar)

Day 11: Cape Finisterre/Departure

Before you depart,  you should not miss the walk to the most symbolic part of the Camiño dos Faros (approx. 7,5km, 330m in ascent and descent) – the loop walk to the Cabo Finisterre (if you have not done it on the previous day). Cape Finisterre, commonly referred to as the “end of the world”, is the final destination for many Camino pilgrims who, on reaching Santiago, continue to walk until they can walk no further – at the Lighthouse Finisterre.

Click to view default hotels

• Hotel Fonte do Fraile (Malpica)
• Hotel Casa da Vasca (Barisco)
• Hotel Vida Mar de Laxe (Laxe)
• Hotel Puerto Arnela (Camariñas)
• Hostal La Cruz (Muxia)
• Casa Fontequeiroso (Queiroso)
• Hotel Vida Finisterre Centro (Fisterra/Finisterre)

*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.