Santiago Plan
Picos de Europa on the Camino Vadiniense
© José Manuel Guerrero · Fotografía propia · © Todos los derechos reservados

Por los Picos de Europa

Camino Vadiniense y Lebaniego

Combines the pilgrimage to the Lignum Crucis at Santo Toribio with a spectacular crossing of the Picos de Europa on the way to the French Way.

Historic
Distance
≈ 234 (San Vicente–Mansilla) km
Days
10
Difficulty
Hard
Terrain
High mountains of the Picos de Europa

Elevation profile

Ascent

+6378 m

Descent

5594 m

-27191821060 km53 km107 km160 km213 km

It links the Camino Lebaniego (a centuries-old pilgrimage to the Lignum Crucis kept at the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana) with the Vadiniense, which continues from San Vicente de la Barquera to Mansilla de las Mulas to join the French Way.

Demanding throughout, it crosses the Picos de Europa along challenging stretches. Ideal for those seeking real mountains, a different devotional dimension and one of the oldest jubilee sites in Christendom.

Who it's for

For mountain lovers with a devotional or jubilee interest.

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. 0119 km

    Cumulative: 19 km

    450322 m5 h 16 min

    Cantabria

    San Vicente de la Barquera → Cades

    Leaving the Cantabrian coast behind, the route heads inland through green valleys on its way to Liébana.

    View stage
  2. 0221 km

    Cumulative: 40 km

    882538 m6 h 28 min

    Cantabria

    Cades → Cicera

    A short stage through the woodlands of Liébana, with the Picos de Europa already drawing near.

    View stage
  3. 0321 km

    Cumulative: 61 km

    10751234 m6 h 48 min

    Cantabria

    Cicera → Potes

    Arrival in Potes, with a side trip to the monastery of Santo Toribio and the Lignum Crucis.

    View stage
  4. 0415 km

    Cumulative: 76 km

    992258 m5 h 13 min

    Cantabria

    Potes → Espinama

    A Lebaniego stage climbing toward the Picos de Europa, with Fuente Dé an easy detour away.

    View stage
  5. 0514 km

    Cumulative: 90 km

    745528 m4 h 34 min

    Cantabria · León

    Espinama → Portilla de la Reina

    Crossing the San Glorio pass, a spectacular viewpoint straddling Cantabria and León.

    View stage
  6. 0636 km

    Cumulative: 126 km

    10891235 m10 h 23 min

    León

    Portilla de la Reina → Riaño

    A descent toward the Riaño reservoir, amid the peaks of the eastern León highlands.

    View stage
  7. 0719 km

    Cumulative: 145 km

    592248 m5 h 31 min

    León

    Riaño → Crémenes

    A stage alongside the river Esla, winding between gorges and mountain villages of León.

    View stage
  8. 0816 km

    Cumulative: 161 km

    143675 m4 h 3 min

    León

    Crémenes → Cistierna

    A short, easy mining stage into Cistierna, gateway to the central León mountains.

    View stage
  9. 0926 km

    Cumulative: 187 km

    242235 m6 h 36 min

    León

    Cistierna → Gradefes

    A descent to the Esla floodplain and the Cistercian monastery of Santa María de Gradefes.

    View stage
  10. 1026 km

    Cumulative: 213 km

    168321 m6 h 28 min

    León

    Gradefes → Mansilla de las Mulas

    The final stage into Mansilla, joining the Camino Francés beside the river Esla.

    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

10 days · ≈ 213 km in total

This split is not realistic on foot: at least one day goes over 42 effort units (kilometres plus climb). Add days or start closer to Santiago (from Sarria, for instance, if you have less than a week).

  1. Day 1Stage 1
    San Vicente de la BarqueraCadesView stage 1
    ≈ 19 km+450 m
  2. Day 2Stage 2
    CadesCiceraView stage 2
    ≈ 21 km+882 m
  3. Day 3Stage 3
    CiceraPotesView stage 3
    ≈ 21 km+1075 m
  4. Day 4Stage 4
    PotesEspinamaView stage 4
    ≈ 15 km+992 m
  5. Day 5Stage 5
    EspinamaPortilla de la ReinaView stage 5
    ≈ 14 km+745 m
  6. Day 6Stage 6
    Portilla de la ReinaRiañoView stage 6
    ≈ 36 km+1089 mNot advisable
  7. Day 7Stage 7
    RiañoCrémenesView stage 7
    ≈ 19 km+592 m
  8. Day 8Stage 8
    CrémenesCistiernaView stage 8
    ≈ 16 km+143 m
  9. Day 9Stage 9
    CistiernaGradefesView stage 9
    ≈ 26 km+242 m
  10. Day 10Stage 10
    GradefesMansilla de las MulasView stage 10
    ≈ 26 km+168 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. Cades

San Vicente de la Barquera → Cades

Hotels and guesthouses
10. Mansilla de las Mulas

Gradefes → Mansilla de las Mulas

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.

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

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🧭 How to get there

Find out how to travel from your city to San Vicente de la Barquera by train, bus, car or plane.

Open in Google MapsLinks to external planners; schedules and prices on their website.

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometres is the Camino Vadiniense y Lebaniego?
The Camino Vadiniense y Lebaniego is about 234 km and usually takes around 10 days on foot.
Is the Camino Vadiniense y Lebaniego 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 Vadiniense y Lebaniego?
Staying in hostels, budget roughly between 250 and 450 € in total (around 10 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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