© José Manuel Guerrero · Fotografía propia · © Todos los derechos reservadosPor la Ribeira Sacra
The winter alternative from Ponferrada through the Ribeira Sacra: Las Médulas, the canyons of the Sil and terraced vineyards, without the crowds.
✦ Historic↑ Ascent
+5798 m
↓ Descent
−6055 m
The Camino de Invierno leaves Ponferrada and skirts the snows of O Cebreiro by following the valley of the Sil. It is the only route that crosses all four Galician provinces.
A way of contrasts: Las Médulas (a World Heritage Site), the Ribeira Sacra with its canyons and monasteries, Monforte de Lemos and Lalín. Little travelled and wonderfully authentic. Recognised by the Xunta in 2016.
Who it's for
For those seeking wine-country landscapes and a way to avoid the crowds.
The itinerary
Classic division into stages. Distances are approximate and for guidance; each pilgrim adjusts their days to their own pace.
Cumulative: 23 km
↑544 ↓329 m⏱ 6 h 23 min
León
Centuries-old chestnut trees, the Templar castle of Cornatel and the Roman gold mines of Las Médulas.
View stage →Cumulative: 50 km
↑816 ↓1226 m⏱ 7 h 47 min
León · Ourense
Cross into Galicia over the Pedrices pass, with the Valdeorras vineyards lining the banks of the Sil.
View stage →Cumulative: 68 km
↑652 ↓92 m⏱ 5 h 22 min
Ourense
A short, easy day beside the banks of the Sil, perfect for gathering your strength.
View stage →Cumulative: 92 km
↑477 ↓1099 m⏱ 6 h 31 min
Ourense · Lugo
Views over the deep, hemmed-in valley of the Sil as you enter the Ribeira Sacra.
View stage →Cumulative: 111 km
↑701 ↓471 m⏱ 5 h 42 min
Lugo
A lovely stage through the valleys of the Lor and Sil rivers, in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra.
View stage →Cumulative: 123 km
↑47 ↓239 m⏱ 2 h 56 min
Lugo
A short walk to the capital of Terra de Lemos, home to its grand Benedictine monastery.
View stage →Cumulative: 156 km
↑764 ↓488 m⏱ 9 h 8 min
Lugo
The spectacular Codos de Belesar switchbacks and terraced vineyards above the Miño; a demanding stage.
View stage →Cumulative: 175 km
↑561 ↓508 m⏱ 5 h 28 min
Lugo · Pontevedra
The climb up to the Sierra do Faro, the high point of the Camino de Invierno, with sweeping panoramic views.
View stage →Cumulative: 192 km
↑231 ↓300 m⏱ 4 h 26 min
Pontevedra
Rolling rural landscapes and several crossings of the River Arnego over medieval bridges.
View stage →Cumulative: 208 km
↑240 ↓313 m⏱ 4 h 13 min
Pontevedra
Cumulative: 232 km
↑397 ↓617 m⏱ 6 h 23 min
Pontevedra
A descent into the Ulla valley and a final climb up to the tiny hamlet of Outeiro.
View stage →Cumulative: 249 km
↑368 ↓373 m⏱ 4 h 40 min
A Coruña
A last, short stage that lets you arrive in time for the Pilgrim's Mass.
View stage →Plan your daily stages
Choose which stage you start from, how many days you have and at what pace; we split the stages into days balanced by effort (distance and elevation). You can save, share or print your plan.
12 days · ≈ 249 km in total
One or more days exceed 32 effort units (kilometres plus climb: 100 m of ascent count as 1 km). Doable if you are fit, but consider adding a day.
An indicative split by effort (distance + elevation). It does not guarantee accommodation at each stop: check each stage and its hostels before finalising your plan.
✦ Add stamps to your digital credential
Save this route to your account, mark each stage you complete and earn your virtual Compostela when you reach Santiago. Free.
The stamps and the digital credential are a keepsake from Santiago Plan, with no official validity: they are not the pilgrim credential and do not replace the physical stamps collected at hostels and churches to obtain the Compostela at the Cathedral.
🛡 Travel insurance for the Camino
Insurance with medical assistance, baggage cover and cancellation protects you against the unexpected: an injury, a mishap or a stage you can't walk. IATI specialises in travel and offers cover valid for the Camino de Santiago.
See IATI insurance ↗Affiliate link: taking it out through it costs you no more and helps keep this guide independent.
The route
Approximate track of the route with the towns it passes through.
Layers
Use two fingers to move the map; Ctrl + scroll to zoom.
Download and offline navigation
Download the GPX track and open it in your hiking app (OsmAnd, Wikiloc, Locus…) to navigate without coverage.
Where to sleep
A selection of pilgrim hostels (albergues) along the Camino, ordered from the start towards Santiago. The municipal and parish ones are usually the cheapest and many cannot be booked (you arrive and check in in order). Confirm beds, price and opening times before relying on them.
Hostel data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). It does not include beds or price, which are not always in the source; check with the hostel. Is one missing or wrong? Write to us.
Accommodation
On the Camino, pilgrim hostels (municipal, parish and private) are the cheapest option, and many cannot be booked: you arrive and check in in order of arrival. The links below search for hotels and guesthouses, for those who prefer to secure a bed in advance.
Affiliate links to Booking.com: booking through them costs you no more and helps keep this independent guide running.
When you reach Santiago
When you finish your Camino, make the most of Santiago: a guided tour of the cathedral and the botafumeiro, a trip to Finisterre and Muxía (the end of the world), or the corners of the old town.
Affiliate link to GetYourGuide: booking through it costs you no more and helps keep this guide running.
🧭 How to get there
Find out how to travel from your city to Ponferrada by train, bus, car or plane.
Xacobeo 2027
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