S-CAPE TRAVEL - EMAIL: INFO@S-CAPETRAVEL.EU - TELEPHONE +34 985846455 - WWW.S-CAPETRAVEL.EU PILGRIMAGE WALKING style : Selfguided level : duration : 17 days comfort : period: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct code: ESSW013 Camino primitivo walking - Spain De Oviedo a Santiago de Compostela 17 days, price from 1370 The original trail between Oviedo and Santiago de Compostela Get the real pilgrim feeling completely off the beaten track Authentic villages with intimate testimonies of true devotion Vast and impressive landscapes, green and lush throughout the year The Pilgrims' Trail to Santiago de Compostela is one Europe's great historical migrations. And it all began with the Camino Primitivo! According to legend, the 9 th century saw the bones of apostle St. James, murdered in Palestine, miraculously appear in a village of what is now Galicia. Word spread round the Christian world, reaching (among others) King Alfonso II of Asturias. He undertook the pilgrimage - journeying through dark woods and daunting mountains, from Oviedo via Lugo to Santiago and invited fellow kings and noblemen to follow in his footsteps. This original route became very popular in the early Middle Ages, when pilgrims aimed to avoid areas south of the Cantabrian Range which were in constant dispute between Christians and Moors. Throughout the centuries, the Camino has been walked by millions of peregrinos. Nowadays, the Camino Primitivo reveals an area of rural beauty where villages steeped in history have stood the test of time. We ll follow ancient paths through gorgeous farmland where authentically friendly locals greet you. Near Lugo the Camino Primitivo joins the more popular French route, which we then follow to Santiago, making the requisite stop at Monte del Gozo, hilltop vista point which affords a pilgrim s first glimpse of Santiago de Compostela. During this pilgrims route you stay at comfortable hotels and rural guesthouses (rooms with en suite bathing facilities) and enjoy the luxury of luggage transport and private transfers. Route
Day 1 Arrival in Oviedo Visit of the Gothic Cathedral devoted to San Salvador, an important Saint for pilgrims going to Santiago. Enjoy the lively atmosphere in the old town centre with plenty of cafés, restaurants, bodegas and cider houses, just around the corner from your comfortable city hotel****. Day 2 From Oviedo to Grado to Sama de Grado We follow the Jacobean copper shells through narrow lanes in the city centre, then out into the green Asturian countryside. Tarmac lanes and old footpaths take us past quiet villages, some of which still have pilgrims hostels and historic inns. From Puerma we continue along the main road, to Grado. From there, short transfer to our charming rural hotel*** in Sama de Grado. Challenge: 6,5hrs, 23,5km 250m ascent & 375m descent Day 3 From Grado to Salas The first part of the route from Grado to Salas follows narrow trails and country roads through hilly countryside directly to Cornellana Monastery. Founded in 1024, this centre was of great religious and political importance throughout the early history of the Christian kingdom in Asturias. For the second part of today s route, from Cornellana to Salas, we ll have to take a few detours, as the motorway is still under construction here. Your Hotel*** in Salas is located in the historical town centre, right next to the castle and museum for Pre- Romanesque architecture. Challenge: 6hrs, 21,4km, 425m ascent and 350m descent Day 4 From Salas to Tineo After a short ascent through beautiful terrain in the fields outside Salas, you again follow the main road for about 5km (in ascent) then definitely leave it behind in La Espina. The next section on the way to Tineo takes you through quiet woodlands and fields, with very little tarmac just quiet country tracks! In Tineo s historical centre you will find your accommodation Challenge: 6 hrs, 19,8km, 575m ascent and 300m descent Day 5 From Tineo to Campiello After a hearty breakfast in Tineo you will walk through woodlands to reach the peaceful setting at Obona, with its historic Monasterio de Santa María la Real. Then you continue on to Campiello and your next accommodation Challenge: 5h-5,5hrs, 14km, 500m ascent and 500m descent Day 6 From Borres to Berducedo The taxi driver will take you to Borres to begin your walk along the original high route, or ruta de los hospitales, crossing steep slopes to reach Puerto el Palo. Several pilgrims hospitals were built here centuries ago - on either side of the mountain pass - due to the extreme weather conditions in winter. You will enjoy superb views on your way up to the highest point, the pass called Puerto El Palo. From there you ll continue for another 9,5km - mainly on the road - to reach your hostel in Berducedo. Challenge: 7,5hrs, 23km, 520m ascent and 450m descent Day 7 From Berducedo to Grandas de Salime From the tiny village of Berducedo, the Camino first makes an ascent up to the windmills above La Mesa, then it does a steep descent down to Lake Salime. You ll enjoy superb views for the first 5km, then the lovely shade of chestnut trees as you walk down to meet the road. The last 2,5km follow the tarmac road across the dam and up to your hotel in Grandas de Salime Challenge: 4,5hrs, 15,6km, 250m ascent and 800m descent Day 8 Rest day or Grandas - Castro to Hotel Grandas After your first week on the pilgrimage, you might want to take a day off and relax. You could also walk to the village of Grandas de Salime (5,5km, 300m ascent) to visit the ethnographic museum or take a dive in the local swimming pool. Or maybe you prefer to continue for another 5,5km along the Camino, to reach the village of Castro with its interesting archeological site of mixed Celtic and Roman origin, taxi transfer back to the hotel. Challenge: 5,5km, 300m ascent
Day 9 From Grandas de Salime to Castro Fonsagrada The taxi drops you of at Castro to continue your pilgrims tour with a section which more or less follows the main road to Puerto El Acebo (1165m), gateway to the province of Galicia. You walk mostly on the main road, taking frequent shortcuts, especially on the descent down into Galicia. At the end, there s one more short ascent to reach the town of Fonsagrada, not a very pretty village but friendly in its own way, with all the major services a pilgrim requires. Challenge: 6hrs, 20,5km, 530m ascent and 225m descent Day 10 From Fonsagrada to Paradavella & transfer to Fonsagrada From Fonsagrada we first descend to the village of Póboa de Burón, to pick up the oldest Camino Primitivo trail, a high route across green pastures and fields of heather on the way to the ruins at Hospital de Montouto (another pilgrims hospital of ancient origin). After an easy descent to Paradavella, a taxi drives you back to Fonsagrada, as there is no other suitable accommodation nearby. Challenge: 5hrs, 14,5km, 450m ascent and 675m descent Day 11 From Paradavella to Castroverde After a taxi transfer to Paradavella (or a bit further), today s route mainly follows rural tracks through wooded areas and open fields, with some short sections on the main road. After O Cádavo, you walk through Villabade (interesting church) before finally reaching Castroverde. Challenge: 6hrs, 20,3km, 400m ascent and 475m descent Day 12 From Castroverde to Lugo Today, we really enjoy the beauty of Galician countryside, as we walk on quiet tarmac lanes and dirt tracks from one hamlet to the next, passing gorgeous examples of traditional architecture until you walk directly up to your modern hotel*** in the heart of Lugo s historical centre, just 100m from the splendid Roman walls, a UNESCO World heritage site. Challenge: 6hrs, 22km, 150m ascent and 250m descent Day 13 From Lugo to Burgo to Mélide On our last day of walking on the original trail there are several Caminos and they all mainly follow tarmac roads. We have chosen the least travelled, quieter version via San Roman de Retorta to Palas de Rei. In the morning, you ride part-way with the luggage - to O Burgo - avoiding 8km of unattractive countryside outside Lugo. Challenge: maximum 8hr, 37,5km, 200m ascent and descent Day 14 From Mélide to Arzua You have now joined the French Route, or Camino Francés, the most popular of all the Caminos to Santiago. Suddenly you find yourself among a multitude of pilgrims from all over the world, as you follow trails, country roads and footpaths parallel to the main road. Challenge: max. 7 hrs, 30km, 300m ascent and 400m descent Day 15 From Arzúa to A Rua This section of the Camino is one of the least interesting, as it basically parallels the main road, but there are lots of new friends to make. The excitement shared with fellow pilgrims grows, combined with a weary feeling of having to soon face the end of your pilgrimage! Overnight stay at the best available hotel** with friendly owners. Challenge: 5hrs, 19,4km, 200m ascent and 225m descent Day 16 From A Rua to Santiago de Compostela The last section of your pilgrimage brings you back to modern life as you pass the regional airport, cross the highway, railway track and ring-road around Santiago. Nevertheless, it s still easy to imagine the sheer joy ancient pilgrims felt when they caught a first glimpse of Santiago and the spires off in the distance. From Monte del Gozo, pilgrims historically make one last stop at the spring in Lavacolla, to wash face and feet before presenting themselves before the Saint at the Cathedral on Plaza Obradoiro. Your hotel*** is located in the old town centre. Challenge: 5hrs, 19,8km, 175m ascent and descent
Day 17 End of your trip or Extra nights in Santiago
Accommodation A selection of different accommodations, ranging from traditional village hotels (2 nights), rural guesthouses (2 nights), charming and comfortable rural hotels (7 nights) to 3- and 4-star city hotels (5 nights), rooms with en-suite bathroom Hotel Campoamor (Oviedo) www.hotelcampoamoroviedo.com Hotel Rural Casa de la Veiga (Sama de Grado) www.casadelaveiga.com Hotel Castillo Valdés (Salas) www.castillovaldessalas.es Hotel Palacio de Meras (Tineo) www.palaciodemeras.com Casa Rural Camín Antiguo (Berducedo) www.camin-antiguo.blogspot.com.es Hotel Las Grandas (Grandas de Salime) www.hotellasgrandas.es Hostal Cantábrico (Fontsagrada) www.cantabricofonsagrada.com Casa Rural La Longarela (Castroverde) www.longarelacasarural.com Hotel Méndez Núñez (Lugo) www.hotelmendeznunez.com Pazo de Santa María (Arzúa) www.pazosantamaria.com
Hotel O Pino (A Rua) www.hotelopino.com A Tafona do Peregrino (Santiago de Compostela) www.atafonadoperegrino.com Practical info This trip can also be split into 2: From Oviedo to Fonsagrada (9 days) From Fonsagrada to Santiago de Compostela (9 days) You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between April and October. Nearest airports are Asturias airport (OVD), Santander (SDR) or Bilbao (BIO) Arrival in Oviedo If you are flying to Asturias airport-ranon (OVD), there s a regular shuttle bus service to Oviedo city centre. Departures every hour on the hour. Travel time is 45min. If you are flying to another airport ( Santander-SDR, Bilbao- BIO or Valladolid-VLL), there are good bus connections to Oviedo from those cities. For timetables and reservations, go to www.alsa.es. You can also book your bus tickets in advance through S-cape Travel. Departure from Santiago de Compostela If you re travelling back to Asturias airport (OVD), Santander (SDR) or Bilbao (BIO), there s a morning bus from Santiago that takes you to Oviedo, Santander or Bilbao. The trip to Oviedo takes about 8h30min, to Santander 9h30min and to Bilbao 11h30min. Bus tickets can be booked online at www.alsa.es or through your agent, S-cape Travel. Direct taxi transfers can be booked in advance through S- cape Travel. Prices on request. GPS tracks are available on request.
Included Included Breakfast for 16 days, 11 dinners, luggage transport, transfers as described in programme (except optional taxi on day 8), road book with logistic information and description of routes. Not included 5 dinners, pack lunches, optional taxi transfer on day 8, transfers at the beginning and end of the tour to/from first and last accommodation. Extras Single Room Supplement(s) Solo Traveller Supplement Extra nights can be booked in every accommodation included in the trip. We recommend the rural hotels in Sama de Grado, Tineo, Castroverde, Palas del Rei and Arzúa.