Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected]
Galicia – Lighthouse Way – 5 nights Along the wild Atlantic coast
https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/galicia-lighthouse-way/galicia-lighthouse-way-5-nights/
Route Summary
At a glance
Lighthouse Way 5-night option starting at Camariñas. Add a night in Santiago if you have time.
How much walking?
Full days: 15½-23½ km per day, 4-7¾ hrs walking Using shortening options: 9½-15¾km, 2½-4½ hrs walking using taxi starts
Max. Grade:
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Welcome to the last unspoilt coast of Europe – the Costa da Morte. Grand cliffs, sweeping sandy beaches, lonely capes and iconic lighthouses from a time when this coast, with its fierce tides and dangerous shoals was rightly respected by mariners and feared by their loved ones at home. Fishing is still an important activity on this coast, witness the thriving little ports with their earthy pubs and seafood restaurants.
Our path winds along the “Camino dos Faros” – the Lighthouse Way – and sticks largely to the coast, with the occasional (On Foot designed) foray inland to include an attractive place to stay. In its pure form it is a long and tough walk, but we have arranged short cuts and, courtesy of local taxi drivers, drop-off and pick-up points for those who would prefer a shorter day, maybe to spend some time on the beach!
Hardy walkers could try the full length 10-night version, lesser mortals (or those with insufficient time) should start at Laxe (7-night) or Camariñas.
Cliff walking – not suitable for those with severe vertigo or acrophobia.
Some of the accommodation we use is quite small so please book as early as possible.
Route Highlights
● The unspoilt Galician coast with its lighthouses ● Wild cliffs and windswept headlands ● Empty sandy beaches ● Fresh seafood from local fishermen ● Pretty fishing villages ● Finisterre – the “end of the world” ● Santiago de Compostela (add-on)
We Recommend
A night or two at the end in Santiago de Compostela would appear sensible - or you could hire a car and explore the "Rias Baixas" - the indented coast south of Finisterre.
Grading
Full days: 15½-23½ km per day, 4-7¾ hrs walking Using shortening options: 9½-15¾km, 2½-4½ hrs walking using taxi starts
page 2/9 If done in its complete form without transfers this is a route for the true hiker, with some long and sometimes tough days, but we have arranged with local contact Aznar to be on hand to arrange shortening option taxis as and when required. Easy navigation with waymarked paths - the only difficulties come when trying to refind the route on the other side of a beach!
Medium-hard: Average cumulative uphill stretched (CUSs) 596m (250m-940m) per day.
Easy-medium: CUSs 328m (250m-400m) per day using taxi shortening options on the longer days.
GPX file available for handheld GPS or smartphone App for complete route.
Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information.
When to go
The best months to walk: May, June, September
Other possible months: April, July, August, October, early November
The 10-night version of this route can be done from April to July and from September to mid-October, when the accommodation closes. The shorter versions (7 and 5 night) can be walked throughout the summer (availability permitting) and into November.
NOTE FOR THOSE PLANNING TO SPEND TIME IN SANTIAGO: Xacobeo 2021 and 2022 2021 is a Camino de Santiago Holy Year which occurs when the Feast of St James (25 July) falls on a Sunday. St James is the patron saint of pilgrims and the camino, and therefore, this is a cause for great celebration. There will be lots of events, extra church services, and thousands more people flocking to the pilgrimage trails than in a normal year, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these celebrations have been extended into 2022 too. According to Jacobean tradition, pilgrims who walk to Santiago de Compostela during a Holy Year and Pass through the Holy Door of the Santiago Cathedral are forgiven all their sins. This is called a plenary indulgence and was started by Pope Calixto II. The very first Holy Year was in 1122, with Holy Years falling every 6,5,6 and 11 years. The next one is in 2027. Therefore, be prepared for hotels being busy and finding many more pilgrims on the way to Santiago.
Please note: date ranges shown are for a 'normal' year. While Covid-19 restrictions remain, please contact us to discuss your plans and availability.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Camariñas
You reach Camariñas normally by taxi from Santiago or A Coruña airport. Settle in, have a look round and select somewhere to eat.
page 3/9 Day 2 - Camariñas to Cereixo (5 night start)
An easy day on good tracks and paths that wend their way inland to explore Galicia’s more rural side of life. There’s a chance for a swim at Ariño Beach which you cross on the way to A Ponte de Porto, where you should stop for lunch. Then follow the course of the River Porto to the fascinating site of Torres de Cereixo, before heading to Casal de Cereixo, a lovely converted farmhouse, for an excellent supper and a quiet night's sleep. (4hrs, 15¾km, CUSs 250m)
Option
For the time-poor, this day and the following can be combined, missing out the night in Cereixo.
Day 3 - Cereixo to Muxia
Having waved a fond "hasta luego" to your lovely hosts at Casal de Cereixo, today’s walk takes you quickly back to the Camino you left yesterday. Follow the Rio Porto to its mouth and you will suddenly realise how quiet the last day was, away from the crashing waves of the Atlantic. As you head to Muxia, you will visit the unspoilt village of Merexo and the deserted mills of Os Muinos. Swimming is definitely on the cards today too, with at least three beaches you could test out, conditions permitting. (Easy-medium 4¾hrs, 15½km, CUSs 375m)
Day 4 - Muxía to Lires
Let the drama begin again! After a couple of easier days, the excitement starts almost as soon as you leave your accommodation with a quick scramble up to the Monte Corpiño mirador with amazing views back to Muxia and beyond. Then explore the end of the peninsula and the Nosa Señora da Barca church and lighthouse before setting off for Lourido Beach and your first chance for a swim. Today is a long and quite tough walk (even though we have abridged it to keep it within the capabilities of most). Follow the coast and climb up to the top of Monte Pedrouzo before descending back to sea level at the beach of Moreira. After that, the going is easier and with a few more ups and downs, you will explore a more rural part of the coast before descending once more to the huge beach at Nemiña. Good roads and tracks then take you upriver to your much needed accommodation for the night in Lires. (Hard 7¼ hrs, 23½ km, CUSs 940m, or Medium 2¼ hrs, 9½ km, CUSs 500m after a taxi start)
Day 5 - Lires to Fisterra
And so to the end of the world... And what an epic journey too! The day starts peacefully enough as you follow the path of the River Lires down to the point at which it disgorges into the Atlantic but then you climb up to the cliff tops and spend much of the morning following the coastline. Descend to the golden beach of Rostro – over a mile long and a perfect place for a swim.
It’s up to the cliff tops again after that and you’ll pass rocky coves far below but will sometimes feel the spray from the crashing waves even at this height. From the peak of Veladoiro you’ll be able to see Finisterre in the distance but it’s still quite a walk. A further chance for a swim as you pass the town of Fisterra and then, following a final climb to remind you that this is a pilgrimage, it’s onwards to the lighthouse where you may have chosen to stay for the night. (7¼hrs, 20¾km, CUSs 830m, or 3¾ hrs, 11km, CUSs 400m after a taxi start)
page 4/9 Travel Information
ARRIVING AND DEPARTING BY AIR
The best “local” airports are either Santiago de Compostela or A Coruña. Intercontinental flights would use Madrid – internal flights from there connect with both airports (or transfer by train – see below).
While transfers to the start by bus are theoretically possible, they are poorly timetabled and also involve a final leg taxi in any event. Buses between Fisterra and Santiago or A Coruna are also possible but they take a long time – therefore taxi transfers from and back to both airports (or railway stations/town centres) are included in the holiday price.
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Land by: 18:00 for taxi transfer to first hotel Return flight earliest: 14:30 (no time limit with pre-booked taxi)
A CORUNA Land by: 18:00 for taxi transfer to first hotel. Return flight earliest: 14:00
Return flight earliest times not applicable if using a pre-booked taxi.
Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines’ websites or Skyscanner (see below) before finalising any booking with us. Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you.
For up-to-date schedules and flights from all airports check Skyscanner.
See “Getting to the start of the walk” below for transfer information
ARRIVING BY TRAIN
Nearest railway stations: Start and Finish: Santiago de Compostela or A Coruña
Train timings: Santiago – Madrid 5½ hrs Santiago – A Coruña 1 hr
ARRIVING BY CAR
Parking is available in Malpica and Camarinas on quiet side streets for the 10- and 5-night versions; in Laxe (7-night), parking in the hotel car park is best (€6.50 per day). Returning, no supplement for taxi back to car (except Malpica, small supplement).
Getting to the start of the walk
page 5/9 OUTWARD Start points are Malpica (full route), Laxe (7-night route) or Camariñas (5-night route). As the bus service is a little infrequent (and no buses on a Sunday), a pre-booked taxi to get you to your first night’s accommodation is included in the holiday price. For those wishing to make their own way to the start a discount will be available.
RETURN End point is Fisterra. Regular bus from Fisterra to Santiago de Compostela (2-3 hrs) and regular shuttle bus to Santiago airport. For A Coruña, regular bus from Fisterra to A Coruña bus station (2 hrs) then local taxi (easiest) or shuttle bus.
Further nights in Santiago: From Santiago centre, A Coruña airport can be reached by either train or bus, both involving a change in A Coruña to local bus or taxi.
Pre-booked taxis available for all return journeys. For pre-bookable taxi prices, see “Prices”.
Full transfer advice, including timetables, is provided in your Walkers’ Pack. Contact us if you would like additional pre-booking information.
Where You'll Stay
As can be expected on a long-distance trail, one has to a certain extent to accept what is available, but we have done our best to select the most charming. Small pensions, large family hotels and zany hosts are all in the mix, and you can end at the former lighthouse buildings at Finisterre – now converted into a boutique hotel and restaurant!
Night 1 Camariñas – Hotel Puerto Arnela (B&B)
Comfortable hotel with good restaurant, just over the road from the port. Restaurant closed Sundays.
page 6/9 Night 2 Cereixo – Casal de Cereixo (dinner, B&B)
Lovely old farmhouse in a rural setting where a warm welcome is guaranteed. Eat well in Julio's dining room and perhaps sample his (very strong!) orujo, a source of pride for him.
Night 3 Muxia – Bela Muxia (accommodation only)
Very modern and spotlessly clean albergue with private rooms, near the harbour.
Night 4 Lires – Casa Luz (B&B)
Lovely village house with great hosts. Abuela does a rather fine cake.
Night 5 Finisterre – O Semaforo (B&B)
4* boutique hotel on the edge of the world with well-equipped rooms and good restaurant specialising in Galician dishes. No twin bedded rooms but can put an extra bed in a double room required (supplement).
page 7/9 Santiago de Compostela hotels: For those taking a further night or two in Santiago de Compostela either before or after the walk, we have a choice of two lovely hotels to offer you.
Choose either the Hotel Rua Villar (left), a centrally located hotel just 100m from the Cathedral, or celebrate in style at the Parador de Santiago (right), an ornate former pilgrims’ hospital built in 1499, situated in Santiago’s main square.
A Coruña hotel: Alternatively, make a stop in A Coruña before or after the walk. The Eurostars Blue Coruña Hotel has been recommended by one of our clients (who also wrote this blog about the town). It’s a fresh, modern, 4-star hotel, conveniently located within the central commercial district.
Prices
Price: £675
Total 5 nights in double/twin room, 4 breakfasts (nearby café when not provided), 1 evening meal, 1 picnic lunch, taxi from Santiago or Coruna (town or airport) to Camariñas at start, taxi from Fisterra back to Santiago or Coruna (town or airport) after the walk, luggage transfers between all hotels on walking route; full Walkers Pack with route directions, maps, transfer and background information; local telephone support.
All prices are per person unless otherwise indicated, and are based on a standard booking in May. Prices may vary seasonally and stays at O Semoforo at weekends and during holidays are subject to a supplement. A fixed price will be given to you before you commit.
Single Room Supplement (SRS): From £170 Lone Traveller Additional Supplement (LTAS): From £185 Large Party Saving (LPS): Groups of more than 2 people (on an identical itinerary, on the same booking and booked at the same time) – discount of at least £20 per person Maximum party size: 10 Discount of £60 total for those making their own way to the first hotel in Laxe.
Add Ons
Extra nights in Laxe, Camariñas, or Fisterra: Contact On Foot - seasonal pricing Nights in Santiago de Compostela or A Coruña: Contact On Foot - seasonal pricing Sending Walkers Packs to addresses outside the UK: £10-£40 (per pack, location dependent)
page 8/9 On Foot Holidays Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Griffin House, Malthouse Lane, Email: [email protected] Salisbury, SP2 7RF, United Kingdom
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