Route of the Camino Frances stage: Arzúa – O Pedrouzo (19.3 km)
This stage of the Camino de Santiago Frances is the eve of Santiago: 19.3 gentle kilometres from Arzúa to O Pedrouzo through eucalyptus woods and an endless string of hamlets, with spirits already set on the finish line, just one day from the cathedral.
KM 0
Arzúa
Leave Arzúa downhill and cross the river, entering straight away into a world of eucalyptus groves, meadows and hamlets that follow one another every few kilometres.
4.5 km
A Calle de Ferreiros
A hamlet with stone houses and a bar. The Camino continues undulating among eucalyptus trees.
9 km
11.5 km
A Salceda
Beside the road, a monument with a pair of bronze boots commemorates a pilgrim who died here in 1993, just one day from Santiago.
15 km
Santa Irene
A hermitage dedicated to Santa Irene, with a spring said to have healing properties, and a quiet Xunta hostel in the woods.
17.5 km
A Rúa
One of the prettiest hamlets on this stretch, with stone houses and hórreos. A couple of kilometres bring you to O Pedrouzo.
19.3 km
O Pedrouzo
O Pedrouzo (Arca, in the municipality of O Pino) stretches along the N-547. It is the usual last stop before Santiago, about 20 km away: a functional village with a large Xunta hostel and many private ones.
Arzúa – O Pedrouzo: Complete Guide
Stage Profile: Distance, Elevation and Difficulty
Distance: 19.3 km. Walking time: 4 h – 4 h 45 min. Elevation change: about +350 m and –400 m. Difficulty: easy-to-moderate. A short stage with no real difficulties: gentle ups and downs through eucalyptus woods and hamlets, crossing small streams. Roots and stones get slippery in the rain. It is rideable by bike.
The Eve of Santiago
After weeks — or a week — on the Camino, the end is just one stage away. It is a day of mixed feelings: joy, disbelief, tiredness, and even a strange reluctance for it to end. The eucalyptus landscape that dominates this stretch is recent — planted in the 20th century for the paper industry — and it has transformed the traditional Galician forest. “Last chance” stalls appear, and the cruceiros grow ever more laden with stones and mementoes. The best advice for today is to go slowly and stay present, rather than rushing towards the finish.
What to See: Monuments and Heritage
This is not a stage of grand monuments, but of forest and hamlet. The pilgrim’s monument at A Salceda; the hermitage of Santa Irene and its spring; the hórreos and cruceiros of A Rúa; and the many chapels and cruceiros dotted along the way, increasingly decorated with pilgrims’ mementoes.
A Bit of History
The eucalyptus groves on this stretch were planted throughout the 20th century to supply the paper industry, and they have changed the traditional landscape of oak woods and meadows. The place name A Calle de Ferreiros refers to the old blacksmiths who worked for pilgrims and muleteers. O Pedrouzo belongs to the municipality of O Pino and grew up around the road and the Camino.
Local Cuisine
Last chances to enjoy queixo Arzúa-Ulloa cheese, pulpo á feira, caldo gallego and tarta de Santiago on an unhurried pilgrim’s menu. To drink, Ribeiro wine.
Practical Tips
O Pedrouzo fills up completely in high season: book ahead, or stop earlier (Salceda, Santa Irene, A Rúa). If you want to make the 12:00 pilgrim’s Mass in Santiago, you will need to leave O Pedrouzo around 5:30–6:00 am. Take this stage unhurried: it is the eve, and the Camino will be over soon.
Services and Accommodation by Village
Listings published in our guide for the villages on this stage. A Calle de Ferreiros, A Boavista, A Salceda do not yet have accommodation or heritage listings in the guide.
Arzúa
Hostels
- Hostel de la Xunta de Galicia de Arzúa
- Hostel Don Quijote Arzúa
- Hostel Los Caminantes II Arzúa
- Hostel Ultreia
Accommodation
Churches
Santa Irene
Hostels
A Rúa
Hostels
Accommodation
O Pedrouzo
Hostels
- Hostel de la Xunta de Galicia O Pedrouzo
- Hostel Azul Cielo
- Hostel O Burgo
- Hostel O Trisquel
- Hostel Spa Cruceiro de Pedrouzo
Accommodation