Stage 1519 km · up 380 mModerate

Caldas de Reis to Padrón

Distance
19 km
Walking time
4-6 hours
Ascent
380 m
Descent
380 m
High point
163 m
Difficulty
Moderate
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About this stage

Caldas de Reis to Padrón · 19 km · up 380 m, down 380 m

A moderate shared stage following river valleys through the Galician countryside towards Padron, a town of enormous significance in Camino history. The walking is pleasant with a mix of forest paths and quiet rural lanes, passing through small villages where Galician rural life continues at its own pace.

The approach to Padron follows the Sar and Ulla rivers through increasingly fertile farmland. The town sits at the head of a tidal estuary and is traditionally believed to be where the boat carrying the remains of Saint James arrived from the Holy Land, making it the origin point of the entire Camino pilgrimage tradition.

Padron is also famous for its peppers (pimientos de Padron), a tapa found throughout Spain. The town has good services and the church of Santiago contains the stone (pedron) to which the apostle's boat was reportedly moored. This is your last overnight stop before Santiago.

Terrain: Riverside paths, forest trails, rural lanes, some paved sections

Along the route6 towns and 0 highlights on 19 km

The day, stop by stop

  1. 0km

    A historic spa town with free public thermal hot springs along the riverside, a pleasant park, and a full range of pilgrim services. Known for its healing waters since Roman times.

    View town guide
    Restaurant
    Cafe
    Grocery
    Water
    Pharmacy
    ATM
    Bus
    Clinic
    Post Office
  2. 5.6km
  3. 9.7km
  4. 12.2km

    San Miguel is a small Galician hamlet in the municipality of Valga that serves as a traditional waypoint for pilgrims walking north on the Camino Portugués toward Santiago de Compostela.

    View town guide
    Cafe
  5. 15.9km

    A town of deep Camino significance where the Variante Espiritual rejoins the main route. The medieval bridge, train station, and connection to the legendary arrival of St James's body by boat make this a historically important stop.

    View town guide
    Restaurant
    Cafe
    Train
  6. 18.8km

    A historic town famous for Padron peppers and as the birthplace of poet Rosalia de Castro. According to tradition, the body of Saint James first arrived in Galicia here.

    View town guide
    Restaurant
    Cafe
    Grocery
    Water
    Pharmacy
    ATM
    Bus
    Train
    Clinic
    Post Office
Where to stay

Places to stay along this stage

Koala Picks first, then each town in walking order. Where a place does not book online, walk in, call or message them.

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