Camino Primitivo Map

The Primitive Way links Oviedo and Santiago in 317 km and 14 stages through the Asturian mountains and inland Galicia. On the map you will see its stages, the elevation profile, the stretches with few services and where to start: Oviedo or Lugo.

Here is the map of the Primitive Way, the route that, according to tradition, King Alfonso II the Chaste followed from Oviedo to visit the newly discovered tomb of the Apostle St. James. That is why it is considered the oldest pilgrimage route to Santiago. It is an intimate, secluded Camino through the mountains, with outstanding scenery.

How do I read this map of the Primitive Way?

On the map you will see the complete route from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela, with the towns where each stage ends: Grado, Salas, Tineo, Pola de Allande, La Mesa, Grandas de Salime, A Fonsagrada, O Cádavo, Lugo, Ferreira, Melide, Arzúa and O Pedrouzo. In our proposal for the Primitive Way it is 317 km in 14 stages.

The route crosses 2 autonomous communities and 3 provinces: Asturias and Galicia (provinces of Lugo and A Coruña). It crosses the western Asturian mountains, enters Galicia over the Alto del Acebo, passes through A Fonsagrada and the walled city of Lugo, and at Melide it joins the French Way to cover the last stages to Santiago together.

At the bottom you will find the elevation profile. The most demanding part is in Asturias: the highest point is the Puerto del Palo, at 1,146 m, and from Lugo onwards the profile is much easier.

Stretches with few services: keep this in mind

Along almost the whole route you will find villages where you can eat and stock up, but on some stages it is wise to set out with water and some food in your backpack. These are the ones we recommend marking on your map:

• Pola de Allande – La Mesa: the climb to the Puerto del Palo, with very few services along the way.
• La Mesa – Grandas de Salime: a stage through the hills, with very few places to stop, that descends to the Salime reservoir.
• O Cádavo – Lugo: after Castroverde, services become scarce.
• Ferreira – Melide: long stretches between hamlets until you get close to Melide.

Another particularity of the Primitive Way is the Hospitales variant, which runs from Borres to the Puerto del Palo along the high ridge of the mountains instead of descending to Pola de Allande. It is one of the most beautiful stretches of the route, but there are no villages, no services and no water sources, and in fog or bad weather it is best avoided. If you have no mountain experience, the route via Tineo and Pola de Allande is the safest option.

Where do I start the Primitive Way?

The original starting point is Oviedo, the place you should mark on your map if you want to follow in the footsteps of Alfonso II. You can walk the complete Primitive Way from Oviedo, in 14 stages to Santiago, or split it into two trips: first from Oviedo to Lugo (about 218 km in 9 stages), with the most mountainous part, and the final stretch on another trip.

If you have fewer days, the Primitive Way from Lugo is 100 km in 5 stages. Remember that to obtain the Compostela you must cover at least the last 100 km on foot to Santiago (200 km by bike), so you earn it both with the complete route and by starting from Lugo. Also, in Lugo you can receive the daily plenary indulgence at its cathedral.

And if you love cycling, the Primitive Way by bike is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life. You can ride the Primitive Way by bike from Oviedo in 7 stages, but bear in mind the elevation gain and arrive with some bike training.

A Camino to be savoured slowly

The Primitive Way is one of the most secluded and intimate Caminos you can walk, one of the few that still keeps the introspective essence of pilgrimage. In return, you will face a significant cumulative elevation gain, especially in Asturias, so prepare well and choose stages at your own pace. If you want to learn about its origins, read the history of the Primitive Way.

Would you rather walk beside the sea? Take a look at the Northern Way. And if you want to compare it with the most popular route, here is the map of the French Way or all the Camino de Santiago routes.

Once you know where you want to start and how many days you have, calculate the price of your Primitive Way here and get ready for a challenge that will mark a before and after in your life.