Santiago Plan
Mountains of the Camino de San Salvador
© José Manuel Guerrero · Fotografía propia · © Todos los derechos reservados

De León a Oviedo

Camino de San Salvador

From the Camino Francés in León to the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo, over the mountains: "Whoever goes to Santiago and not to the Saviour visits the servant and forsakes the Lord."

✦ Historic
Plan my daily stages ↓
Distance
≈ 120 km
Days
4–5
Difficulty
Hard
Terrain
High mountain of the Cantabrian Range

Elevation profile

↑ Ascent

+2795 m

↓ Descent

−3407 m

-7084417570 km30 km61 km91 km122 km

The Camino de San Salvador links León with Oviedo, crossing the Cantabrian Range to venerate the relics of the Cámara Santa in the Cathedral of San Salvador, a detour that medieval pilgrims considered essential.

Short but demanding, with the tough climb to the Pajares pass, it rewards you with spectacular mountain landscapes and plenty of solitude. In Oviedo it connects with the Camino Primitivo towards Santiago.

Who it's for

For those who want to link up with the Primitivo and love the mountains.

The itinerary

Stages of the route

Classic division into stages. Distances are approximate and for guidance; each pilgrim adjusts their days to their own pace.

  1. 0128 km

    Cumulative: 28 km

    ↑261 ↓154 m⏱ 7 h 6 min

    León

    León → La Robla

    You set off from León's cathedral beside the Bernesga; the going is flat by the end, but there are no bars once you leave Carbajal.

    View stage →
  2. 0226 km

    Cumulative: 54 km

    ↑557 ↓290 m⏱ 7 h 7 min

    León

    La Robla → Poladura de la Tercia

    A demanding stage that climbs steadily alongside the Bernesga and ends in a peaceful mountain haven.

    View stage →
  3. 0313 km

    Cumulative: 67 km

    ↑414 ↓649 m⏱ 3 h 47 min

    León · Asturias

    Poladura de la Tercia → Pajares

    The queen stage: two passes above 1,500 m, utter solitude, and the most beautiful scenery on the whole route.

    View stage →
  4. 0422 km

    Cumulative: 89 km

    ↑648 ↓1333 m⏱ 6 h 19 min

    Asturias

    Pajares → Pola de Lena

    A long descent through woods and meadows, crowned by the pre-Romanesque jewel of Santa Cristina de Lena.

    View stage →
  5. 0513 km

    Cumulative: 102 km

    ↑377 ↓386 m⏱ 3 h 43 min

    Asturias

    Pola de Lena → Mieres

    A recovery stage, flat and easy along the Lena and Caudal rivers, perfect after the mountain pass.

    View stage →
  6. 0620 km

    Cumulative: 122 km

    ↑538 ↓595 m⏱ 5 h 40 min

    Asturias

    Mieres → Oviedo

    A few last climbs and cobbled Roman roads before entering Oviedo to embrace the Cámara Santa.

    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.

Pace

6 days · ≈ 122 km in total

  1. Day 1Stage 1
    León → La RoblaView stage 1 ↗
    ≈ 28 km+261 m
  2. Day 2Stage 2
    La Robla → Poladura de la TerciaView stage 2 ↗
    ≈ 26 km+557 m
  3. Day 3Stage 3
    Poladura de la Tercia → PajaresView stage 3 ↗
    ≈ 13 km+414 m
  4. Day 4Stage 4
    Pajares → Pola de LenaView stage 4 ↗
    ≈ 22 km+648 m
  5. Day 5Stage 5
    Pola de Lena → MieresView stage 5 ↗
    ≈ 13 km+377 m
  6. Day 6Stage 6
    Mieres → OviedoView stage 6 ↗
    ≈ 20 km+538 m

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

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.

Download GPX

Where to sleep

Accommodation and services, stage by stage

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.

1. La Robla

León → La Robla

Hotels and guesthouses ↗
2. Poladura de la Tercia

La Robla → Poladura de la Tercia

Hotels and guesthouses ↗
3. Pajares

Poladura de la Tercia → Pajares

Hotels and guesthouses ↗
4. Pola de Lena

Pajares → Pola de Lena

Hotels and guesthouses ↗
5. Mieres

Pola de Lena → Mieres

Hotels and guesthouses ↗
6. Oviedo

Mieres → Oviedo

Hotels and guesthouses ↗

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

Hotels and guesthouses

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.

Booking.com ↗La RoblaHotels and guesthousesBooking.com ↗Pola de LenaHotels and guesthousesBooking.com ↗OviedoHotels and guesthouses

Affiliate links to Booking.com: booking through them costs you no more and helps keep this independent guide running.

When you reach Santiago

Experiences and guided tours in 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.

See experiences in Santiago ↗

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 León by train, bus, car or plane.

See routes and prices
Open in Google Maps →Links to external planners; schedules and prices on their website.

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometres is the Camino de San Salvador?
The Camino de San Salvador is about 120 km and usually takes around 4–5 days on foot.
Is the Camino de San Salvador hard?
Its difficulty is hard. On Santiago Plan you have every stage with a map, elevation profile and hostels, so you can prepare it calmly.
How much does it cost to walk the Camino de San Salvador?
Staying in hostels, budget roughly between 100 and 230 € in total (around 4–5 days), including bed, food and the odd extra. It varies with the season and your travel style.
Do you need to book the hostels?
In low season it's usually not necessary, but in summer and during a Holy Year it's wise to plan ahead and, in many cases, book your accommodation. We can't guarantee bed availability.

Xacobeo 2027

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