Camino to Finisterre - 89 km

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it necessary to book the luggage transfer in advance?

  On group trips, trips with a dog and VIP trips luggage transport is included, so you don't need to book it. On all other trips it is an optional service: just request it when booking and we will leave it all arranged. And if during the Camino you need to add extra luggage, you can call us and we will arrange it without any problem.

• 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.

• How many kilometres is the Camino to Finisterre via A Picota?

  It is 89 km in four stages: Santiago–Negreira, Negreira–A Picota, A Picota–Cee and Cee–Fisterra. The trip lasts 6 days and 5 nights, including the day you arrive in Santiago. The longest stage is the second one, between Negreira and A Picota; the last one, to Fisterra, is the shortest and runs close to the sea.

• What is the difference between the Camino to Finisterre via A Picota and the Olveiroa route?

  What changes is where you sleep on the second night and the type of accommodation. Olveiroa is a small village with centuries-old hórreos but few beds, so this version ends the second stage in A Picota, a few kilometres earlier, and the next day you walk through Olveiroa on your way to Cee. The stages are more evenly balanced and you stay in guesthouses, rural houses and small hotels with a private room; the Olveiroa route, by contrast, lets you sleep in hostels. The rest of the Camino is the same: Negreira, Cee and the Fisterra lighthouse.

• Are there any climbs on the first stage of the Camino to Finisterre?

  Yes, one. Between Santiago and Negreira, after Augapesada, you face the climb towards Trasmonte: about 200 metres of ascent in roughly 2 km. Halfway up there is a fountain where you can cool off, and the reward comes afterwards, on the way down to Ponte Maceira. Take it easy: it is the toughest section of the day.

• Is it worth stopping in Ponte Maceira?

  Definitely: it is the highlight of the first stage and it lies right on the Camino. This small village belongs to the network of Most Beautiful Villages in Spain and overlooks the river Tambre with a large stone bridge. Legend has it that the bridge collapsed by divine intervention when the Romans were chasing the Apostle’s disciples. From there it is only a few kilometres to Negreira, where you can see the Pazo de Cotón.

• Do you get the Compostela on the Camino to Finisterre via A Picota?

  No. The Compostela is given to those who arrive in Santiago after walking at least the last 100 km, and this route starts in Santiago. If you do it after another Camino, collect your Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office first. When you reach Fisterra you can ask for the Fisterrana, the certificate for reaching the end of the world, by showing your pilgrim passport (included in the trip) stamped since Santiago.

• Can I extend the Camino to Finisterre as far as Muxía?

  Yes. From Fisterra there is one more stage, 31 km long, to Muxía and the sanctuary of A Virxe da Barca. If you already know you want it, the easiest option is to book the Camino to Finisterre and Muxía via A Picota, which keeps this same route and adds that stage. If you would rather stay in Finisterre, you can add an extra night and enjoy the town and the lighthouse at your own pace.