The Camino del Norte follows the Cantabrian coast through landscapes of cliffs, beaches and mountains. It is one of the most beautiful routes and also one of the most demanding, thanks to its relentless changes in elevation, with a constant up and down between the sea and the interior.
From Irún it crosses the Basque Country (San Sebastián, Bilbao), Cantabria (Santander, Santillana del Mar), Asturias (Llanes, Gijón, Avilés) and Galicia, where at Arzúa it joins the Camino Francés for the final stretch. At Villaviciosa the Camino Primitivo branches off towards Oviedo.
Who it's for
For those seeking coast and mountains who already have a few miles behind them; it calls for good physical condition.