Santiago to Finisterre by bike

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many kilometres are cycled per day on the Camino de Santiago?

  Doing the Camino by bike allows the ‘bicigrino’ to cover more kilometres per day than a pilgrim on foot, easily double. The number of kilometres cycled per day depends on several factors:

  • physical capabilities of each person;
  • time available;
  • route and section chosen (technical difficulty of the terrain);
  • availability of accommodation.

  A priori, a pilgrim can cycle between 50 km and 100 km per stage. In flat stages, such as those of the Meseta, you can easily cover up to 100 km per day, although in stages with slopes, such as the arrival at Roncesvalles or O Cebreiro, it is perhaps more convenient to establish shorter stages.

• Why is it called Finisterre?

  Finisterre, which in Galician is called Fisterra, is so called because in Roman times it was considered the known “end of the world” or the “end of the earth”. The word would derive from finis and terrae, that is, “end of the earth.”

• What do pilgrims do when they arrive in Finisterre?

  Upon arriving in Finisterre, pilgrims usually visit the Lighthouse, watch the ocean and the sunset, and participate in symbolic rituals such as throwing a stone into the sea. Although clothing was burned in the past, this is currently prohibited. They also visit the Church of Our Lady of the Sands and can obtain the "Fisterrana" as a certificate of their arrival.

• Which Camino passes through Finisterre?

  The Camino de Finisterre and Muxía reaches Finisterre from Santiago de Compostela. Outside the routes of the Camino de Santiago, it is also the end of the Camino de los Faros.

• What kind of bicycles can I rent to do the Camino de Santiago?

  We have high quality mountain bikes and electric bikes that you can rent during the whole Camino. Check the details here.

• Where will I leave the bicycle each night at the accommodations?

  Do not worry, most accommodations on the Camino have secure spaces for bicycles. They are usually garages or enclosed areas with security measures. When we organize your trip, we ensure that each accommodation guarantees this service. Additionally, if it is an e-Bike and you need to charge it overnight, the accommodations will provide you with a power outlet and electricity.

• How many stages does the Camino to Finisterre by bike have?

  Two. The first, from Santiago to A Picota, is the long one: 54 km via Ponte Maceira and Negreira. The second, from A Picota to Fisterra, is 34 km via Olveiroa and Cee to the Atlantic. In total, 88 km to the lighthouse.

  It is the bike version of a route that is usually walked in four stages: ideal if you have already finished your Camino and want more.

• What is there to see in Ponte Maceira and Negreira on the way to Finisterre?

  Ponte Maceira is a must-stop: a hamlet of just over 60 residents on the river Tambre, part of the network of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain. Its great stone bridge, of Roman origin, is full of legends, such as the one about the bridge that collapsed under the Romans chasing the Apostle's disciples.

  A few kilometres later, in Negreira, visit the Pazo de Cotón and the chapel of San Mauro. Before reaching A Picota you will enjoy views over the A Fervenza reservoir.

• How far is it from the village of Fisterra to the lighthouse?

  About 3 km of climbing separate the village from the Cape Finisterre lighthouse, the real finish. Before that, it is worth strolling around Fisterra's harbour and food market and visiting the 18th-century Castle of San Carlos.

  Save some energy to ride up to the lighthouse at the end of the day: the sunset over the Atlantic is one of the most spectacular in the world.

• Where does the Camino to Finisterre by bike start in Santiago?

  In the Plaza del Obradoiro. With the cathedral behind you, go down the street that leaves opposite the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos. At first there are no waymarker stones, only yellow arrows on the ground: follow Rúa das Hortas, Rúa Poza de Bar and Rúa de San Lourenzo, at the end of which you will see the first marker showing the distance to Finisterre.

  Then you cross the river Sarela and leave the city through meadows and woods towards Ponte Maceira.

• Where should I stop on the A Picota to Finisterre bike stage?

  In the village of Hospital, past the Castrelo reservoir and the viewpoint over the river Xallas, because what follows is lonely rural paths up to the fork between Fisterra and Muxía. There, keep left and ride down to Cee, where you see the Atlantic again.

  Before Finisterre, stop in Corcubión: stroll around its old quarter, a listed historic site, and if the weather is good, take a dip at Quenxe beach, sheltered from the wind.