Santiago Plan
Ría de Arousa on the Ruta do Mar de Arousa
© José Manuel Guerrero · Fotografía propia · © Todos los derechos reservados

La traslatio por mar

Ruta del Mar de Arousa y Río Ulla

A one-of-a-kind maritime itinerary: sail the Ría de Arousa and the Ulla River to relive the arrival by sea of the Apostle's body at Padrón.

✦ Historic
Plan my daily stages ↓
Distance
≈ 74 náuticos + 25 a pie (Padrón–Santiago) km
Days
1–2
Difficulty
Easy
Terrain
Sailing along the ría and river + a final stretch on foot

Elevation profile

↑ Ascent

+572 m

↓ Descent

−317 m

-401343070 km13 km25 km38 km50 km

The Ruta do Mar de Arousa e Río Ulla does not retrace a route on foot, but rather the legendary maritime translatio of the body of Santiago from Jerusalem to Iria Flavia (Padrón). It was officially recognised by the Xunta's Law 3/1996.

You sail up the ría by which, according to tradition, the Apostle arrived, with Cambados, O Grove and Catoira as milestones, before completing the final Padrón–Santiago stage on foot.

Who it's for

For those who want to experience the Camino's founding legend by sea.

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. 0123 km

    Cumulative: 23 km

    ↑183 ↓185 m⏱ 5 h 47 min

    Pontevedra · A Coruña

    Ría de Arousa → Pontecesures (by boat)

    A sea-and-river route that reenacts the maritime traslatio: some forty nautical miles up the Ría de Arousa to the River Ulla, setting sail from the estuary itself (Vilanova/Vilagarcía, or the harbours of O Grove and Ribeira). You glide past Catoira with its Torres do Oeste and follow the world's only maritime Way of the Cross (17 stone wayside crosses) before coming ashore at Pontecesures and Padrón, the ancient Iria Flavia.

    View stage →
  2. 0227 km

    Cumulative: 50 km

    ↑389 ↓132 m⏱ 7 h 5 min

    A Coruña

    Padrón → Santiago de Compostela

    The final stage on foot from Padrón, home to its church of Santiago and the pedrón stone beneath the altar; on past the collegiate church of Iria Flavia, A Escravitude and O Milladoiro, until you enter Santiago and the Praza do Obradoiro, closing overland the journey the Apostle once made by sea.

    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

2 days · ≈ 50 km in total

  1. Day 1Stage 1
    Ría de Arousa → Pontecesures (by boat)View stage 1 ↗
    ≈ 23 km+183 m
  2. Day 2Stage 2
    Padrón → Santiago de CompostelaView stage 2 ↗
    ≈ 27 km+389 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. Pontecesures (by boat)

Ría de Arousa → Pontecesures (by boat)

Hotels and guesthouses ↗
2. Santiago de Compostela

Padrón → Santiago de Compostela

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 ↗Vilanova de ArousaHotels and guesthousesBooking.com ↗PadrónHotels and guesthousesBooking.com ↗Santiago de CompostelaHotels 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 Ría de Arousa 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 Ruta del Mar de Arousa y Río Ulla?
The Ruta del Mar de Arousa y Río Ulla is about 7425 km and usually takes around 1–2 days on foot.
Is the Ruta del Mar de Arousa y Río Ulla hard?
Its difficulty is easy. 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 Ruta del Mar de Arousa y Río Ulla?
Staying in hostels, budget roughly between 30 and 90 € in total (around 1–2 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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