21 km | 6-9 hours | +1337m / -1970m
A spectacular mountain stage crossing the highest ridges of the Galician mountains before a long, steep descent to Triacastela. The route climbs initially to Alto do Poio (1,337m), one of the highest points on the Frances, before descending through increasingly lush Galician countryside.
The ridgeline walking offers extraordinary panoramic views on clear days. The descent is long and sustained, dropping nearly 2,000 metres across the stage. The landscape transitions from exposed mountain grassland to dense forests and green pastoral farmland characteristic of Galicia.
Triacastela is a small Galician town named for three now-vanished castles. It sits in a green valley and has adequate services including accommodation and restaurants. Pilgrims historically collected limestone here to carry to the kilns at Castaneda for building the cathedral at Santiago.
Terrain: Mountain ridgeline paths, steep descents, rural Galician lanes, forest trails
O Cebreiro is the first Galician village on the Camino, at 1,300m on a mountain pass. Famous for pre-Roman palloza thatched stone houses, the 9th-century pre-Romanesque church, and the 14th-century Eucharistic miracle. Has albergues, hotels, restaurants
Linares is a tiny Galician hamlet on the high plateau just past O Cebreiro. Name from lino (flax), historically a flax-growing village. Limited services. Most pilgrims walk through on the way to Alto de San Roque and Hospital da Condesa.
Hospital da Condesa is a small Galician Camino hamlet after O Cebreiro, with a Xunta pilgrim albergue, mountain scenery, and very limited services.
Alto do Poio is a 1,335m mountain pass on the Camino, the second-highest point of the Camino Frances after Cruz de Ferro. A small cluster of mountain albergues and a bar-restaurant sits at the top. Brutal short climb up from Padornelo.
Fonfria is a mountain village in Lugo at around 1,290m. Name means cold fountain. Has albergues. Bar-restaurants. No shop, pharmacy, or ATM.
O Biduedo is a tiny Galician hamlet in Lugo named for the birch trees (bidueiro) that grow on the mountainside. Has a small chapel dedicated to San Pedro, an albergue, and a bar-restaurant. No shop, pharmacy, or ATM.
Filloval is a tiny Galician hamlet in Lugo on the descent from the high passes toward Triacastela. Limited services.
Pasantes is a tiny Galician Camino hamlet before Triacastela, with rural mountain scenery, traditional houses, and very limited pilgrim services.
Triacastela is a Galician town in Lugo, named for three medieval castles that once stood here (now gone). Pilgrims traditionally carried a stone from the local quarry to Castaneda for the firing of lime at Santiago Cathedral. Has full services.
2 places to stay between O Cebreiro and Triacastela
Accommodation at the start of this stage (useful for booking the night before)
No accommodation options available
Accommodation at the end of this stage
No accommodation options available
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