The Lighthouse Way – an epic coastal trek in Northern Spain

SUMMARY

Dates: Thursday 5th to Saturday 14th September 2024

Guide: Alvina Labsvirs

Walking Grade: 4 Goats as we trek for 10 days between 18km and 32km per day along the Atlantic Coast of Galicia, Northern Spain . Known as the Camino dos Faros as we walk between lighthouses on small coastal paths that connect them. This is the wild and deserted Finisterre Coast that is known as ‘ the end of the earth”

Base: We walk and stay in small hotels each night.

Thurs 5/09 to Sun 8/09  Pension Teyma, Ponteceso for 3 nights

Sunday 8/09 Hotel Playa de Laxe, Laxe 1 night

Monday 9/09 to Wed 11/09 Hotel Stella del Mare, Camarinas 2 nights

Wed 11/09 to Thurs 12/09 Hotel La Cruz,Muxia 1 night

Thurs 12/09 to Friday 13/09 Hotel As Eiras, Lires 1 night

Friday 13/09 to Saturday 14/09 Hotel Prado da Viña, Fisterra 1 night

Arrival : Thursday 5th September approx 15.00 for a pick up from Santiago Airport or City. The trek starts early on Friday 6th September. The journey from the airport to our starting point in Pontecesco is just over 1 hour.

Departure: Saturday September 14th from Fisterra after breakfast at 9am  – you will be returned to Santiago. The airport is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from our final hotel and you can expect to be at the airport for 10.30am latest.

If you would like to spend some time in the beautiful Spanish City of Santiago de Compostela, where the Camino Way ends and with all its culture and history, we can help you. Hotels recommended are the Hotel  Gelmirez, Hotel Compostela and the Hotel Nest Style Santiago.

Price: £1600 per person for a fully inclusive epic experience:

If you bring a friend and share a room the price is £1350 pp 

• Transfer arrival and return from Santiago de Compostela
• All local transport taking luggage between stops
• 9 nights accommodation in a single occupancy room with private bathroom
• Breakfast, Packed lunches and Evening Meals
• Experienced english speaking guide
• Back up support

Not included:

• Travel to Santiago
• Any additional drinks or excursions not in the programme

Download the brochure »

DETAILS

Please read this article about the Lighthouse Way which we bring to our walking women.  We are excited to add this to our 2024 holiday programme.

Please read and be inspired…

The Lighthouse Way

This 200km hike is 8 sections and along the trail you pass 8 lighthouses, 10 small villages, fishing ports , virgin nature and  50 beach cliffs, dunes, birds, culture, history, art and at all times delicious gastronomy … this is a magical trip.

The reviews of this trail and incredible ..

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC “Camino dos Faros coastal trail is the country’s under-the-radar gem. It weaves through the rugged, wild terrain of Costa da Morte on the Atlantic coast of Galicia, Spain.”

THE GUARDIAN “Walking one of Europe’s most spectacular coastline“

ITINERARY

Itinerary – we intend to cover the trail as described but things may change depending on the weather and at the discretion of the guide. 

Thursday Sept 5th :Arrival and settle in to our hotel before Day 1 of walking begins.

Day 1: MALPICA-NIÑONS  21,9 Km/13.6 miles. APPROX TIME: 7h 30

The first stage of Camiño dos Faros leaves from Malpica’s port and walks through this beautiful fishing village. Before reaching the hermitage, the trail goes passed the Seaia’s beach and several water sources.
From San Adrián, the wide panoramic view of the Sisargas Islands is amazing. The fishing paths, which takes us to Beo, are crossing the first cliffs. From there, the ground is softened until we arrive to cross the small river of Seiruga’s beach with the water to our knees.
In Barizo there are the last houses and the last services.From here, the hard section begins in Monte Nariga until we achieve the cape where the lighthouse, which was built by César Portela, is situated. The environment of Punta Nariga is full of magic, from there are found some large rocky formations with the most varied shapes.
To the end ot this stretch the trail goes by the Penas do Rubio along a somewhat complicated stretch to the Ensenada do Lago, passing through a cliff area, ending at Niñóns’ beach which we must get to in day light.

Day  2: NIÑONS-PONTECESO 26,2 Km/16.2 miles. Approx 10 hours. This is a long day.
The second stage takes us through an infinite variety of landscapes from Niñóns to Ponteceso.
The stage starts at Niñóns’ beach crossing the cliffed coast that separates us from the Port of Santa Mariña and the beautiful Enseada da Barda. From there, it goes passing by the Costa da Tremosa along a demanding path with fabulous views that will take us to the small Roncudo’s village, which shows us architecture based on the same stone and fully adapted to the wind and storms.
At the Roncudo’s lighthouse we will spot the rocks where the percebeiros risk their lives to pluck this precious product from the sea, the barnacles.
After the Corme’s port visiting all the beaches and Monte da Facha until we reach Valarés, it will be the perfect place to stop and enjoy its beach and the pine forest.
At the end of the stage by Monte Branco is spectacular. The mouth of the Anllóns’ river, with Tiñosa Island and the Barra’s dunes that form the Estuary of Insua, a place of the greatest ornithological importance. Crossing the Malecón to the end at Ponteceso’s bridge, in front of the Eduardo Pondal’s house, poet and author of the anthem of Galicia.

Day 3: PONTECESO-LAXE: 25,2 Km/15.5 miles. Approx 9 hours.
The third stage of the Camiño dos Faros takes us through the whole county of Cabana de Bergantiños.
The path starts in Senda do Anllóns, a 3 km walk where a large number of birds can be seen in their habitat. At the end of this path, it goes inland on a climb up the Rego dos Muíños to the Castro A Cibda and the Dombate Dolmen, two archaeological jewels of Costa da Morte.
At Dombate the path leads us back to the coast again, deviating first to climb Monte Castelo, the top of this Camiño dos Faros with its 312 meters. At this higher point the panoramic views are the best of the Ría de Corme and Laxe.
Descending by Canduas towards the Costa da Mundiña to reach the Rebordelo’s beach, where we plan a stop.
The last part of the stage takes us through Punta do Cabalo, from where again the panoramic views of the whole Ría de Corme and Laxe. From that point, the path goes along the coast passing the beautiful Freixufre mountain before reaching the extensive Laxe’ beach.

Day 4: LAXE-AROU : 17,7 Km/10.5miles approx time 7.5 hours.
This fourth stage begins to approach the heart of the Costa da Morte. We start in Laxe visiting the port and the Church of Santa María da Atalaia. From here we walk to the lighthouse in the Ruta da Insua. Closer to the lighthouse, we will enjoy two curiosities of nature: Furna da Espuma and the Crystals’ beach. From there  the path begins through the Enseada da Baleeira that will take us to the Peñon de Soesto, with stunning views of the entire route.
At Soesto’s beach, a very comfortable walk begins crossing the Punta de Catasol and the Arnado’s beach, to reach the beach and the lagoons of Traba, where a great number of birds can be see all around.
From Mórdomo, end of Traba’s beach, there is a path that will take us through another spectacular landscape of this Camiño dos Faros. This entire coast on the way to Camelle takes you to the tale of Gulliver in Lilliput, in the world of big stones. We reach the Sabadelle’s Coido stones of different shapes and sizes which make this section a unique landscape .
Camelle is another key point of the route. We enter through its beach and small fishing port to reach the dock where the remains of the Man Museum are. From there, the end of the stage takes us along small coastal roads to Arou, where this short but intense fourth stage of Camiño dos Faros ends.

Day 5: AROU-CAMARIÑAS : 22,7 Km/13.6 miles approx 9 hours
This stage is one of the best hiking routes you will have ever done, on a coast that is tremendously steep and full of history. A series of shipwrecks in the late XIX, with hundreds of deaths in the Serpent, were the origin of the name of Costa da Morte.
We go through Xan Ferreiro to the viewpoint of Lobeiras and Lobeiras’ beach. From there crossing a cobbles stone beach, in the middle of a unique landscape, the path reaches the small Santa Mariña’s port.

From the Penal de Veo  is a spectacular panoramic, with the dune and the Trece’s beach, all the Punta Boi and the English cemetery. We are in the equator of Camiño dos Faros, about 100 kilometers have already been walked and another 100 km will be walked.
Trece’s beach is an environmental jewel. There, the sea breaks with force and it is the English Cemetery, where the victims of the Serpent rest. From Punta Boi to Vilán takes us through all the Reira’s beach through a comfortable path that runs along this wild coast to the Vilán’s lighthouse.
Since its implementation, Vilán’s lighthouse has been the light that guides all the ships across these seas and it is a magical place of the Camiño dos Faros.
Leaving Vilán to get closer to Camariñas along another path that runs along the coastline, passing through the chapel of the Virxe do Monte, before finishing the stage in the center of Camariñas, next to the fishing port.

Day  6: CAMARIÑAS-MUXIA : 32 Km/19.8 miles and another long day of approx 10 hours.
It is the longest stage with beautuful landscapes to be discovered of the Ría de Camariñas and Muxía. The trail takes us through the Ensenada da Basa and the mouth of the Rio Grande, calm waters where we can see the shellfish in the midst of the flocks of egrets and other birds that seek refuge and food.
Tasaraño, Dor and Allo are rural villages as a part ot the authentic Galicia. Thus we come to Ponte do Porto, another village whose name comes from the 13th century bridge that crosses the Rio Grande, and Cereixo, with its tidal mill, the Santiago’s church, an impressive oak and the Cereixo’s towers.
The path narrows arriving to the Furna do Sapo, towards the beaches of Area Grande, Leis and the spectacular Lago beach, where you can take a well-deserved dip and a rest, before walking the second part of this long stage.
Through the Merexo’s village we will go to Os Muiños and the set of rehabilitated mills of the Negro river, which connect with another beautiful beach. From there, across the Chorente’s forest we will arrive to Muxía.
The tour of Muxía takes us to the top of Corpiño’s mount to see another great view. The Punta da Barca, with the lighthouse by the Sanctuary of Virxe da Barca and all those stones that make this magical place, with one of the best sunsets of the Costa da Morte.

Day  7: MUXÍA-NEMIÑA 24,3 Km/15 miles approx 9.5 hours. One of the more difficult sections for the trail.
This 7th stage is one of the most complicated of this way, especially the beginning, with 10 kilometers from Lourido to Moreira of continuous ups and downs.
Leaving Muxía by O Coido and crossing the Lourido’s Beach to start the ascent to Cachelmo’s Mountain. From the top the view is spectacular, with Muxía and Vilán in the background, and Punta Buitra with Touriñán to West.
From there, a complicated descent begins taking us closer to Punta Buitra and the hill of the same name, from where the rest of the stage can bee seen. Cuño, O Pedrouzo, Moreira and the whole peninsula forms Touriñán’s Cape.
In Cuño we begin the ascent to the 264 meters of the Pedrouzo’s mountain and the descent by the Ribeira de Viseo to the Moreira’s beach, where the path is easier.
From Moreira, a path brings us closer to the Touriñán’s lighthouse, the westernmost point of Camiño dos Faros and the peninsula of Spain. In Castelo’s island, the last sunset of Europe happens so many days of the year.
In the last part of this stage Talon’s village reach the extensive Nemiña’s beach, the end of this penultimate stage.

Day 8: NEMIÑA-FISTERRA: 26,2 Km/16.2 miles
The last stage of this Camiño dos Faros leaves the Nemiña’s beach, crossing the entire sandy area until it reachs the estuary of the Ría de Lires, the smallest in Galicia and an ornithological paradise, which skirt along the Vaosilveiro’s bridge and the Lires’ village.
From here, the stage begins to get hard on the Canosa’s coast, crossing the cliffs of Punta Besugueira and the Mexadoira, it is one of these unique landscapes that this Camiño dos Faros offers. Rostro’s beach is another universe of sensations, with its 2 kilometers of sand and the constant noise of the sea filling everything. On the cliffs formed by Punta do Rostro and Punta do Castelo we visit the Castro de Castromiñán from where it is hard to distinguish its exterior walls. From there, the next goal of Cabo da Nave, can be seen.
From Arnela’s beach begins the ascent to Cabo da Nave, which takes us along a path between rocks through the highest cliffs of the route. At the end, a well-deserved rest before facing the stretch to Mar de Fora’s beach is recommended.
Crossing the western part of the Cape and, from the Facho’s mountain, we will see the first views of the Fisterra’s lighthouse, arriving by a path totally different from the rest: O Camiño dos Faros.

WE ARRIVE!