Camino Finisterre
Walking the Camino Finisterre to the 'End of the World'
The Camino Finisterre route runs from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre on the coast of the Atlantic and covers approximately 91km (54.8 miles) with a further 2 day walk to Muxia. It can also be walked direct to Muxia with a further 2 day round trip walk to Finisterre.
The Camino Finisterre route, sometimes referred to as the End of the World trail, is a stunning, spiritual journey that follows the coastline of Galicia, Spain. Starting in Santiago de Compostela and winding through towns, villages, and nature reserves, the trail leads you to a rocky outcrop at the end of the world.
The Camino Finisterre is one of the shorter routes of the Way of St James and is a lot quieter that the busy Camino Frances.
FACT: It is also the only Camino that walks away from Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.
Along this route, you will traverse through meadows and hillsides and take in views of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. The pilgrimage takes around five to seven days to complete, depending on your pace and how often you take breaks.
Whether you are looking for adventure or a spiritual journey, the Camino Finisterre offers something for everyone. It is a perfect extension walk after the completing the Camino Ingles, Frances, Del Norte or Portuguese.
It would also be a good walk for a beginner wanting to have the Camino experience but not the busy crowds.
I did my 3 day pilgrimage on the Camino Finisterre after walking The Camino Ingles in 4 days and made for a perfect walking week.
Camino Finisterre Table of Contents
Where does the Camino Finisterre start ?
The Camino Finisterre starts in Santiago de Compostela and the traditional starting point is from Obradoiro Square in front of the Cathedral.
To start on the way so to the right hand side of the square by the Parador hotel and walk down Rua das Hortas. Take the road all the way down and cross the busy main road then follow the Run da Poza de Bar.
You will find the first Camino Finisterre distance markers towards the end of this road. Follow these to Finisterre, the end of the world.
If you like the camaraderie of being around lots of Pilgrims you’ll love this Camino route.
I used the Camino de Santiago forum extensively as part of my research and was a great aid in my planning regime as well as the American Pilgrims on the Camino website.
I used the Camino de Santiago forum extensively as part of my research and was a great aid in my planning regime as well as the American Pilgrims on the Camino website.
Camino Finisterre Map
How long is the Camino from Santiago to Finisterre
The Camino Finisterre route is 91km (54.8 miles) long from Santiago de Compostela to Cabo Finisterre on the coast of the Atlantic.
A lot of pilgrims decide to walk direct from Santiago to Muxia and this route is 86km (53 miles)
My recommendation is to walk to Finisterre and then on to Muxia which takes another 2 days walking. The overall distance if you decide to walk to Finisterre and on to Muxia is approximately 115km (71 miles).
The Camino Finisterre Terrain
Most days walking the Camino Finisterre have some ascents and descents as well as road and path walking through glorious woods, golden wheat fields and lush Galician eucalyptus forests.
There are some really nice traditional villages and towns along the way along with a few gorgeous beaches that appear at turns in the road.
There are no significant climbs or descents on this Camino and it is a relatively easy walk to accomplish even for a beginner.
Weather on the Camino Finisterre
Preparing for a journey on the Camino Finisterre is an exciting experience, but it’s important to be aware of the weather conditions along the route. The Galicia region in northwestern Spain, where the Camino Finisterre takes place, has a temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers.
The weather along the Camino Finisterre can vary greatly, depending on the time of year and location. In the spring, temperatures average between 11-13 degrees Celsius during the day, dropping to 5-6 degrees Celsius at night.
In summer, temperatures reach up to 24-26 degrees Celsius during the day and 10-12 degrees Celsius at night. During the winter months, temperatures typically range from 6-8 degrees Celsius during the day and 0-3 degrees Celsius at night.
Rainfall is common throughout the year in Galicia, but especially in the fall and winter months.
Pilgrims should prepare for periods of rain and misty conditions during their journey. It’s also important to pack layers to ensure you’re comfortable in all temperatures.
No matter when you decide to walk the Camino Finisterre, it’s important to be prepared for any kind of weather. Pack wisely and make sure you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store!
I walked the Camino Finisterre and Camino Ingles in May and got very wet. Here the annual rainfall stats
When is the best time to walk The Camino Finisterre
I walked The Camino Finisterre in late May and the weather was pretty wet for the first few days. We walked The Camino Ingles before heading out to Finisterre and it had rained for 4 days straight.
Galicia is a lush part of Spain and it can rain quite a lot as well as being warm for the most part. In my experience walking the route in May through September would be the best time to enjoy this amazing camino experience.
Waymarking on the Camino Finisterre
Like the Camino Frances waymarking on the Camino Finisterre is really good. I always walk with a guidebook but after my first Camino I use them mainly for planning my daily routes and accommodation choices.
As long as you follow the yellow shell or the distance markers you cant go wrong.
Accommodation on the Camino Finisterre
When you set out to walk the Camino Finisterre, accommodation is an important consideration. The route is known for its varied terrain, so you’ll need to find comfortable and secure lodging to rest your weary feet and plan your daily walking schedule.
There are a variety of options along the Camino Finisterre route, including traditional guesthouses and albergues (hostels). These range from basic and budget-friendly establishments to the odd hotel along the way.
Be sure to research the different accommodation types available on the Camino Finisterre before you set out. Depending on your budget and personal preferences, you may want to make advanced bookings for some of the more popular stops.
This will help ensure that you have a comfortable place to rest each night on your journey.
Do I need a Camino Finisterre Guidebook ?
I have walked numerous Camino’s and always take a guidebook on the walk with me. After days walking I always like to plan out my route and destination for the next day as well as choosing my accommodation.
Top Tip: Talking with other pilgrims is also a great source of information to help with planning. If you are struggling with your planning every Albergue has a Hospitalero who can help with any questions and point you in the right direction. I find them invaluable.
On The Camino Finisterre I used “A Pilgrims guide to the Camino Finisterre & Muxia” by John Brierley. In my opinion its the best guidebook on the market.
I have also written an article on the Best Camino Frances guidebook that is really useful should you be walking that route.
TOP CHOICE
9.7
A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Finisterre: Including Muxía Circuit: Santiago ― Finisterre
- Author - John Brierley
- Finisterre and Muxia routes
- 96 pages
- 4.4 ounces
- This guidebook describes the only camino that departs from Santiago
Is there a backpack transfer service on the Camino ?
Whilst the majority of pilgrims walk with their backpacks the whole way to Finisterre there are services to help walkers who need some help getting their backpack or luggage from town to town. Its a simple service and works effortlessly.
All you need to do when leaving your Albergue or Hotel is fill out a form letting the delivery service know which Albergue or Hotel you are heading for and then tag your bags with the fee as well. The delivery service will pick up the bags and deliver to your destination leaving you to walk at your leisure. A couple of these services are as follows:
Pilbeo, JacoTrans and Camino Comodo all have a luggage transfer service for the Camino Finisterre.
Camino Finisterre Walking Stage Itinerary
I’ve detailed day by day walking stages of The Camino Finisterre from my experience and you can read about each stage, distances and accommodation recommendations as I walked from Santiago de Compostela to Cabo Finisterre.
Camino Finisterre Stages
My stage profile walking this Camino is as follows:
- Day 1 – Santiago de Compostela to Ventosa
- Day 2 – Ventosa to Santa Marina
- Day 3 – Santa Marina to Cee
- Day 4 – Cee to Finisterre
Completion Certificate
Once you have completed the Camino Finisterre you can obtain the official certificate of completion, which is known as the Fisterrana. This can be obtained at the local tourism office in Finisterre.
If you have walked the Camino to Muxia you can obtain the Muxiana from the municipal albergue in town for a small fee.
You will need to have all your stamps in order within your Camino passport, from Albergues, bars, cafes and churches along the routes.
Fiesta in Finisterre
Every Pilgrim loves a fiesta and being able to immerse yourself in local culture is fantastic. In Finisterre Holy week is the largest and busiest fiesta in.
Many thousands of tourists and local Galicians descend on the village to take part in the celebrations and processions and it gets very busy.
The Fiesta Patronales del Carmen en Fisterra. is celebrated from the 8th / 10th of September. If you are walking and your planned arrival day in Finisterre is one of these days my recommendation is to book your albergue or hotel ahead of time.
Details of other Fiestas and festivals in Finisterre can be found here.
Getting back to Santiago de Compostela
Whist walking to Finisterre is 3/5 days away and is an amazing experience getting back to Santiago afterwards is a relatively easy task to accomplish and can be done within a couple of hours.
How much is a taxi from Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela
The quickest way to get from Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela is to taxi which costs about €150 and takes anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. We took a taxi back and it took 70 mins and dropped us outside our hotel in Santiago.
How much is a bus from Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela
MonBus operate a service to Santiago do Compostela from the bus station in Finisterre. The journey takes just over 3 hours and costs about €7
Details of the bus and taxi journey and tickets can be found on the Rome2Rio website.
Not every pilgrim has the time to walk the Camino Finisterre and if you have run out of time and only have a few days left after your pilgrimage, there are day trips out to Cabo Finisterre and the 0 mile maker.
If you have a spare day its well worth the time to do. Check out the day trips from Santiago.
FAQ
Can a beginner walk the Camino Finisterre
Absolutely. The Camino Finisterre is a perfect Camino for any Pilgrim that has’nt walked a camino before.
Is Finisterre the same as Fisterra
Yes. Fisterra is the Spanish name for Finisterre
Which is better Finisterre or Muxia
They are both beautiful places to visit and I recommend you visit both
Finisterre meaning
In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like that of Finistère in France, derives from the Latin finis terrae, meaning “end of the earth”. It is sometimes said to be the westernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula but actually isn’t.
Want to walk The Camino Finisterre
I’d like to hear from you and let me know when and which route/section you are going to walk.
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below. Any questions drop me a line.
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