Camino del Norte

The Camino del Norte is a challenging trail that offers a remarkable experience for hikers of varying skill levels, from experienced trekkers to enthusiastic beginners seeking a rewarding challenge. This is a long-distance trail with long walking days and the elevation and terrain require a good level of fitness.

Before your tour, we recommend hiking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The Camino del Norte follows a combination of farm and dirt tracks, minor roads, and footpaths. Discover coastal paths, green forests, and charming villages on a diverse route with ocean views and serene landscapes.

This route ranges from moderate to challenging. Each tour variant has its own grade, and within that tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

Accommodation along the Camino del Norte is a mix of rural hotels and hostals (the Spanish term for small hotels and guesthouses), always with a private, en-suite room. In the large towns and cities such as San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Gijón, Santiago de Compostela you'll typically stay in comfortable, standard hotels. Wherever you stay, you can expect a warm welcome, traditional hospitality and delicious local food.

We'd recommend booking well in advance, as this is a popular route and accommodation along the way can fill up quickly, especially in high season.

Many travelers choose to add extra nights along the route, either as a rest day or to fit in some extra sightseeing. Extra nights at the end, in Santiago de Compostela is highly recommended.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

A simple continental breakfast is included each morning - usually coffee, bread and orange juice.
Only 1 night, in Bustio (stage 2 from Santander to Gijon) there is no breakfast, so you’ll need to pick something up en-route.

Lunch and dinner aren't included, which leaves you free to choose from the local cafés, bars and restaurants as you go.

Every stop along the way has evening meals available, and a pilgrim menu - usually three courses with wine and water included - is widely available for a modest price.

You can start your tour on any day of the week, from the beginning of March through to the end of October.

Spring (March to June) brings pleasant temperatures, blooming landscapes and fewer crowds than summer, though you should still be prepared for the odd shower. Summer (July and August) can bring intense heat to much of Spain, but the north's coastal climate keeps conditions milder, and the trails are at their busiest with fellow pilgrims, making for a lively, sociable atmosphere. Fall (September into early November) is another excellent choice, with milder temperatures, colorful scenery and quieter trails, although rain is still possible.

Outside the main season, temperatures can drop sharply and some accommodation along the route closes for the winter, so the spring and fall shoulder months tend to offer the best balance of good conditions and fewer crowds.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It’s vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

The Camino del Norte is marked with yellow painted arrows, although it's worth taking extra care at intersections. In some sections the route briefly joins the red and white stripes of the GR trail network.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

The Camino del Norte follows the north coast of Spain, from San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela, so how you get there and away depends on which stage or combination of stages you book.

SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN

Closest airport: Bilbao (BIO)

Flying in. Fly to Bilbao Airport (BIO), the best way to reach San Sebastián, with direct flights from the UK. From Bilbao, take an ALSA bus to San Sebastián (around 1.5 hours).

From outside Europe. Madrid (MAD) is a good hub. From there, an ALSA bus to San Sebastián takes around 6.5 hours.

BILBAO, SPAIN

Closest airport: Bilbao (BIO)

By air. Bilbao Airport (BIO) has direct flights to and from the UK, so it works for both arriving and flying home.

From outside Europe. Madrid (MAD) is a good hub. From there, an ALSA bus to Bilbao takes around 4.5 hours.

To and from Santander. An ALSA bus connects Bilbao and Santander in around 1.5 hours, so you can also fly to or from Santander (SDR).

SANTANDER, SPAIN

Closest airport: Santander (SDR), or Bilbao (BIO)

By air. Santander Airport (SDR) has direct flights to and from the UK, and is the best airport for flying home at the end of Stage 1 & 2 and Stage 2. Bilbao Airport (BIO) is also easy to use, with an ALSA bus between the two cities (around 1.5 hours).

From outside Europe. Madrid (MAD) is a good hub. From there, an ALSA bus to Santander takes around 5.5 hours.

GIJÓN, SPAIN

Closest airport: Oviedo (OVD)

Flying in. Fly direct from the UK to Oviedo Airport (OVD) in Asturias, then take an ALSA bus to Gijón (around 30 minutes).

From outside Europe. Madrid (MAD) is a good hub. From there, you can take an internal flight to Oviedo, or travel to Gijón by RENFE train (around 5.5 hours).

RIBADEO, SPAIN

Closest airport: Oviedo (OVD)

Flying in. Fly direct from the UK to Oviedo Airport (OVD), then take an ALSA bus to Ribadeo (around 2.5 to 3 hours). The same bus runs in reverse at the end of Stage 4.

From outside Europe. Madrid (MAD) and Paris are good hubs. An ALSA bus from Madrid to Ribadeo takes almost 9 hours, so an internal flight from Madrid to Oviedo is usually the better choice.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN

Closest airport: Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)

Flying home. Fly directly from Santiago Airport (SCQ) back to the UK. For the rest of Europe or the US, fly from Santiago via Madrid (MAD) or Paris. Check the Santiago Airport website for other options.

By train. RENFE trains run from Santiago to Madrid (around 3 hours on the fast service), with timetables and fares available through RENFE.

Private transfer. We can also arrange a private transfer to Santiago Airport.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Trip Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

Book as far ahead as you can - the Camino is extremely popular and numbers on the trail swell considerably during busy periods.

Once you've started walking, it isn't possible to change your accommodation bookings or itinerary, since alternative accommodation is generally not available at such short notice, so it's worth planning your route carefully before you set off.

Your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino) and scallop shell will be waiting for you at your first accommodation. The Passport is a record of your Camino journey, officially issued by the Church of St James, and along the way you'll collect stamps (sellos) from albergues, churches, cafes and other stops en route.

To earn your Compostela Certificate in Santiago, you'll need to walk at least the final 100km of the Camino, with the stamps in your Passport serving as proof of this. For any other section of the Camino del Norte, your Passport makes a lasting keepsake of the stamps you collect along the way.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation