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Stage of the Camino

Sarria to Portomarín

From Sarria To Portomarín

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Origin

Sarria

Destination

Portomarín

Distance

22.20 km

Duration

6.00 h

Difficulty

Media

Ascent

100 m

Stage of the Camino

Stage Description

This 22.2 km stage is one of the most popular on the Camino, as it's the first full day for those starting in Sarria. The route is a continuous up and down through rural Galicia at its most typical, along "corredoiras" shaded by oaks and chestnuts. The path is dotted with countless small villages, horreos, and crossroads, offering total immersion into Galician culture. An important milestone is the milestone of the 100th km to Santiago. The stage ends with a descent to the Miño River and crossing its long bridge to enter Portomarín, a rebuilt village in a new location after the construction of an embankment, and featuring a singular church-fortress.
The stage that connects Sarria with Portomarín is one of the most iconic and traveled sections of the entire French Way. Along its 22.2 km, the pilgrim immerses himself in the heart of rural Galicia, in a landscape of green hills, lush forests, and small villages. The profile is a continuous uneven terrain, without great ascensions but with constant ups and downs that put the endurance to the test.

The path runs mostly through "corridors", old roads sunk into the ground flanked by stone walls and covered by the shade of oaks and beeches. Numerous traditional village settlements are crossed, such as Barbadelo, with its Romanesque church, or Ferreiros. One of the most anticipated moments arrives near the village of Peruscallo, where a granite milestone marks the symbolic "kilometer 100" to Santiago, a place of celebration and obligatory photography.

The landscape is a delight, with the sound of brooks and the scent of damp earth as constant companions. The final stretch of the stage involves a pronounced descent towards the Miño River, which can be seen from above, enclosed in the Belesar dam.

Entering Portomarín is done crossing a long and modern bridge. The current town is a new construction, since the old one was submerged by the waters of the Belesar dam in the 1960s. However, its most important monuments, such as the imposing church-fortress of San Nicolás, were moved stone by stone to their new location at the top of the hill. This story of resilience and its lively atmosphere make Portomarín a very special final stage.

Last updated: 12/08/2025

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