Triacastela – Sarria (18.4 km)

Route of the Camino Frances stage: Triacastela – Sarria (18.4 km)

This stage of the Camino de Santiago Frances links Triacastela with Sarria. The official route lists it as 18.4 km via the San Xil variant; the route described here, via Samos, is somewhat longer — about 25 km — but lets you visit one of the oldest monasteries in Spain. Sarria is the most popular starting point for earning the Compostela.

Triacastela – Sarria: Complete Guide

Stage Profile: Distance, Elevation and Difficulty

The official route lists this stage as 18.4 km via the San Xil variant (with the climb to the Alto do Riocabo, around 900 m, and a gentle descent). The route described here, via Samos, measures about 25 km: first a descent into the Oribio valley, then a steady up-and-down through villages as far as Sarria, with moderate elevation change (about +400 m and –600 m). Both variants are easy-to-moderate difficulty. Walking time: 4 h via San Xil, 5 h 30 min – 6 h 30 min via Samos. By bike, the Samos route is preferable, with more paved road.

The Monastery of Samos

The Mosteiro de San Xulián de Samos is one of the oldest monastic communities in the West: monks have lived here almost without interruption since the 6th–7th centuries, Benedictine since the 12th century. The complex has been rebuilt many times — the current church dates from the 18th century, and a 1951 fire forced its frescoes to be repainted — and it has two cloisters, one of the largest in Spain. The monks still pray here and welcome pilgrims; the guided visit ends with the Salve. It is worth the extra kilometres.

What to See: Monuments and Heritage

The Mosteiro de Samos (two cloisters, a church with frescoes, the centuries-old cypress tree); on the San Xil route, the Romanesque church of Santiago de Montán and the Calvor hillfort; and in Sarria, the Rúa Maior, the Romanesque church do Salvador, the Mosteiro da Madalena, the castle tower and the Ponte Áspera on the way out.

A Bit of History

Samos was a cultural centre in the early Middle Ages; the essayist Fray Benito Jerónimo Feijoo was linked to it as a child. Sarria was reorganised by King Alfonso IX of León, who died here in 1230 while on pilgrimage to Santiago; its Romanesque churches and the Mosteiro da Madalena date from that period.

Local Cuisine

Inland Galician cooking: caldo gallego, lacón con grelos, pulpo á feira and empanada, with requeixón con miel for dessert. To drink, mencía and godello wines from the Ribeira Sacra.

Practical Tips

Choose Samos if you want to see the monastery (check the guided-tour times) or San Xil if you prefer a shorter, more rural stage. From Sarria onwards the Camino fills up: it is the starting point for most pilgrims aiming for the Compostela (100 km minimum). Book accommodation in advance during high season, and from here, stamp your credencial twice a day.

Services and Accommodation by Village

Listings published in our guide for the villages on this stage. San Cristóbal do Real, Renche, San Martiño do Real, Teiguín do not yet have accommodation or heritage listings in the guide.

Triacastela

Hostels

• Albergue Berce do Camiño
• Albergue de la Xunta de Galicia de Triacastela
• Albergue Pensión Complexo Xacobeo
• Albergue Pensión Lemos

Accommodation

• Hotel Alda Triacastela
• Pensión Casa Simón

Churches

• Iglesia de Santiago de Triacastela

---

Samos

Hostels

• Albergue Monasterio de Samos

---

Sarria

Hostels

• Albergue Credencial Sarria
• Albergue Monasterio de La Magdalena Sarria
• Albergue Oasis Sarria
• Pensión Albergue A Pedra

Accommodation

• Pensión O Camiño Sarria
• Pensión Río Sarria

Churches

• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario Sarria
• Iglesia de San Salvador de Vilar de Sarria
• Iglesia de San Salvador Sarria
• Iglesia de Santa Mariña