Route to Finisterre and Muxía2025-04-11T12:14:49+02:00

Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía

5 Stages | 120 km

The most mystical and spiritual route of the Camino de Santiago.

It is an iconic itinerary that extends the Camino de Santiago to the most symbolic points of the Galician coast: Finisterre and Muxía. This route, full of history and spirituality, has witnessed the journey of pilgrims who sought to reach the End of the Known World and pay homage to the Atlantic Ocean and the sanctuary of the Virgin of the Boat.

The Camino to Finisterre and Muxía is the extension or Epilogue of the Camino de Santiago, connecting Santiago de Compostela with the enigmatic Costa da Morte. An ancient route towards its wild waters, symbolizing the purification and healing of the pilgrims’ souls.

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Our trips to the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía

Map of the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía

The map illustrates the route of the Camino de Finisterre and Muxía, a natural extension of the Camino de Santiago that starts from Santiago de Compostela and culminates in the iconic destinations of Finisterre and Muxía, on the Galician coast. This route, approximately 90 km to Finisterre and another 30 km to Muxía, stands out for its spectacular coastal landscapes, rural areas, and picturesque villages such as Negreira, Olveiroa, and Cee.

At the bottom, the elevation profile of the route is shown, highlighting the mountainous stretches and the gentle undulations characteristic of this region. This journey offers a unique experience, with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, allowing pilgrims to connect with nature and history on a physical and spiritual journey that culminates at “the end of the world“, with its exceptional last sunset of continental Europe.

Map of the Way of Finisterre and Muxia

Information about the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía.

Why choose the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía?

The route that takes you to the Atlantic Ocean and the End of the World.

The Camino to Finisterre and Muxía is a peaceful route with no significant elevation changes. You will find very interesting towns, such as Ponte Maceira, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain. You will pass through picturesque rural villages, pazos, cruceiros, and countless hórreos. Once you reach A Costa da Morte, you will enjoy beautiful landscapes framed by the wildest and most rugged coast. Important towns with maritime traditions, paradisiacal beaches, lighthouses, and steep cliffs from which to watch the most beautiful sunsets in Spain.

In addition, this trip has its own Credential and certificate, the Finisterrana in Finisterre, and the Muxiana in Muxía, which you can add to your pilgrim collection and take home a very special memory of a route that, no matter what, you will never forget.

What to see and do on the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía?

A route to the Costa da Morte, the fearsome, mystical, and wild Atlantic coast of Galicia.

Where to start the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía?

From Santiago de Compostela

The great peculiarity of the Camino to Finisterre and Muxía is that, unlike other routes, it does not lead pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, but instead starts from the very Plaza del Obradoiro and heads towards the legendary Costa da Morte.

For this reason, many of the pilgrims who arrive in the city of the Apostle decide to extend their pilgrimage and complete the 4 or 5 stages that separate Compostela from Finisterre and Muxía. Some even continue walking back to Santiago after visiting both final destinations of the Camino, creating an almost circular route.

Many pilgrims even incorporate it into their journey to Santiago de Compostela. After completing any route and arriving in the city of the Apostle, they continue on this Camino, which is why it is called the Epilogue. Thus, you can do the Camino to Finisterre, Camino to Finisterre and Muxía or the Camino to Finisterre in an organized group.

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Stages of the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía

The Camino de Finisterre and Muxía is a unique and special extension of the Camino de Santiago, filled with history, spirituality, and stunning landscapes. Over its approximately 120 kilometers, from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre and Muxía, pilgrims go through charming stages, crossing hills, lush forests, and coastal villages. Upon reaching the village of Hospital in the third stage, the pilgrim must decide whether to go to Finisterre or Muxía. Thus, this itinerary culminates in two symbolic points: the Cape of Finisterre, considered in ancient times to be the End of the World, and the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Barca in Muxía, surrounded by the magic of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Villages of the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía

History of the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre and Muxía

Its history begins many centuries ago, when the Romans were convinced that the Earth was flat, a kind of solid plate floating on a mysterious and enigmatic ocean, called Mare Tenebrosum. Finisterre, or Finis Terrae, was considered the last place on Earth.

Ancient Origins

However, this Camino was already considered a place of pilgrimage for the Celts, who chose it as an important site for sun worship, the Ara Solis. Here, the sun was seen for the last time every day, marking the beginning of the great mystery, the world of the dead or the island of eternal youth. Therefore, the route was born as a pagan path, unrelated to Christianity.

The Preaching of the Apostle James

However, with the discovery of the remains of the Apostle James and the Christianization of the peninsula, it soon became part of the network of roads frequented by pilgrims heading to Compostela. After the consolidation of the Camino de Santiago in the Middle Ages, more and more pilgrims chose to continue their journey to Finisterre, in search of the supernatural mysticism that surrounded A Costa da Morte. But Christianity is also part of the history of the Camino to Finisterre. It is said that the Apostle himself destroyed the altar of the Ara Solis during his pilgrimage across the peninsula, building in its place the chapel of San Guillermo, which is now gone.

In the Middle Ages

The Calixtine Codex also mentions that the apostle’s remains were moved to Duio, a village near Finisterre, to request the king’s consent to bury them. According to legend, the passing of the Apostle’s disciples through this place was a trap set by Queen Lupa to prevent the saint from being buried in Galicia. Like the other Caminos de Santiago, the Camino to Finisterre experienced significant development in the Middle Ages.

Decline and Revival

However, it also experienced a major decline from the 16th century onward. It wasn’t until the 20th century when local administrations, associations, and regional entities once again brought the Camino to Finisterre to the forefront. They carried out important dissemination and promotion tasks and created their own pilgrimage certificates, such as the Fisterrana and Muxiana, which certify the pilgrim’s completion of the route.

Frequently asked questions about the Route to Finisterre

Why is it called Finisterre?2024-10-15T20:27:17+02:00

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?2024-10-15T20:43:17+02:00

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?2024-09-25T13:17:15+02:00

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 long does the Camino de Santiago to Finisterre take?2024-09-25T13:02:31+02:00

The Camino de Santiago to Finisterre lasts approximately 4 days, with 90 km divided into 4 stages. It can be extended to Muxía in 1 or 2 more days, adding 30 km. The stages may vary according to the pace and physical condition of each pilgrim.

How many stages are there from Santiago to Finisterre?2024-09-25T11:24:58+02:00

The Camino de Santiago to Finisterre has 4 stages and covers about 90 km. It can be extended to Muxía in 1 or 2 more stages, adding 30 km. The stages vary according to the pace and physical condition of the pilgrim.

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