Camino dos Faros: The Lighthouse Way

You have the choice of arriving in either A Coruña or Santiago, where you will spend the night before an early transfer tomorrow to take you to the start of the walk.

A Coruña is a bustling port city where the lively streets are lined with fine restaurants, and the historic city centre buzzes with life.

Santiago de Compostela, famed for being the final destination of the Camino pilgrim routes, is a fascinating city bristling with life, crowned by the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

If you have the time, we highly recommend extra nights in either of these cities.

After a short transfer from either A Coruña or Santiago (1h) to the small fishing village of Ponteceso this morning, continue on foot to Laxe.

The first part of your walk takes you inland through scented pine forests and along the estuary of the River Anllons, home to a plethora of birdlife such as wintering ducks and waders. Continue to the ancient village of Castro a Cibda and the impressive megalithic tomb, Dolmen Dombate, which dates to the 3rd Century BC.

From here return to the coast and enjoy spectacular views from the Castle of Lourido before passing a couple of beautiful beaches and reaching the fishing port of  Laxe with its huge sweeping sandy bay.

Explore the Church of Santa Maria of Atalaya and the quaint Galician village of Arou before heading to the first lighthouse of your walk, Laxe lighthouse. Walk past the ‘beach of glass’, La Playa de los Cristales, before stopping to feast on a delicious seafood lunch in Soesto.

Next up is the village of Camelle, home to the fascinating open-air sculpture museum, Museo de Man, which tells the story of the intriguing German sculptor who once lived here as a hermit. Shortly after you will reach the small village of Arou, where a taxi transfer will be waiting  to take you back to Laxe.

Enjoy one of the most wonderfully wild and rugged sections of the walk today. As you walk along the Atlantic-battered coastline, witness to many shipwrecks over the centuries, you will soon see why it has been named the Costa da Morte (Coast of Death). This is a part of Spain far removed from the busier, more well known ‘Costas’ of Spain.

Enjoy spectacular views from the top of the Monte Blanco dune before reaching Cabo Vilán lighthouse, the most iconic photographed lighthouse of the way. Continue along the coast to the fishing port of Camariñas, a charming little port town where lobster and crab pots line the harbour and fishing is a way of life.

Head inland at first today through forests, past river estuaries, and pretty windmills.

Returning to the coast, climb to the summit of Mount Corpino and enjoy panoramic views from its bell tower before descending to la Punta da Barca lighthouse and Muxia.

A must-see in Muxia is the magical sanctuary of ’A Virxen da Barca’, which enjoys spectacular sunsets.

If you would like to shorten todays walk it is possible to take an optional taxi transfer to take you the first 10km.

Today is a long, challenging day with a number of steep ascents and descents—however your efforts are  rewarded with panoramic views over the deep blue Atlantic and white sandy beaches. You also visit the lighthouse of Faro Tourinan, the westernmost point of the Camino dos Faros. Continue past Nemiña beach to the village of Lires.

It is also possible to shorten this day by approx 5km by missing out the walk to the Cape Tourinan.

Today you will reach Cape Finisterre, commonly referred to as the “end of the world” and the final destination for many pilgrims who on reaching Santiago wish to walk until they can walk no further! On arriving in Finisterre it has become tradition for pilgrims to burn their boots— a fitting end to their long pilgrimage!

On the perfect finale to your Camino dos Faros adventure, walk along the dramatic cliffs of Point Besugueira, Mexadoira and Point of Rostro with the sound of the waves crashing around you until you reach the Ligthouse Finisterre.

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and transfer back to A Coruna (2.5h) or Santiago (3h) for your flight home.

Alternatively if you have extra time, we highly recommend booking some extra nights in Finisterre or Santiago de Compostela.