Camino del Norte Coastal
Elevation profile
Overview
The Camino del Norte Coastal is a 845km pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, typically completed in 38 days. It offers a transformative journey combining spiritual reflection, natural beauty, and cultural immersion.
Highlights
The coastal variant of the Camino del Norte hugs the sea cliffs from San Sebastián through Zarautz, Zumaia, and Deba before rejoining the main Northern route. It offers the most spectacular ocean views of any Camino route, with dramatic flysch formations and hidden beaches.
Terrain & Difficulty
The path is narrow and continuously undulating, with frequent short, steep ascents and descents along the cliffs. Some sections involve walking on beaches at low tide. The surface is a mix of boardwalks, dirt tracks, and rocky coastal paths.
History
This coastal path follows ancient fishing routes and was used by pilgrims who preferred the sea views and cooler climate of the coast over the inland route. The dramatic flysch rock formations visible along the coast near Zumaia are over 50 million years old.
Best Time to Walk
May–September. Check tide times before setting out—some beach sections are impassable at high tide.
Practical Tips
Check tide schedules carefully for the beach sections near Deba and Mutriku. The flysch formations between Zumaia and Deba are a UNESCO-listed geological wonder. Carry water and snacks—services are sparse between towns.
Towns & Waypoints
Irún
0 km cumulative
Pasaia
10 km cumulative
San Sebastián
27 km cumulative
Orio
44 km cumulative
Zarautz
52 km cumulative
Getaria
60 km cumulative
Zumaia
68 km cumulative
Deba
79 km cumulative
Markina-Xemein
96 km cumulative
Gernika
118 km cumulative
Lezama
133 km cumulative
Bilbao
150 km cumulative
Getxo
165 km cumulative
Pobeña
195 km cumulative
Castro Urdiales
215 km cumulative
Laredo
235 km cumulative
Santoña
245 km cumulative
Noja
260 km cumulative
Santander
285 km cumulative
Suances
310 km cumulative
Comillas
340 km cumulative
San Vicente de la Barquera
360 km cumulative
Unquera
377 km cumulative
Llanes
395 km cumulative
Ribadesella
425 km cumulative
Colunga
442 km cumulative
Villaviciosa
460 km cumulative
Gijón
490 km cumulative
Avilés
515 km cumulative
Cudillero
540 km cumulative
Cadavedo
565 km cumulative
Luarca
590 km cumulative
Navia
615 km cumulative
Tapia de Casariego
632 km cumulative
Ribadeo
650 km cumulative
Lourenzá
678 km cumulative
Abadín
703 km cumulative
Vilalba
724 km cumulative
Baamonde
743 km cumulative
Miraz
758 km cumulative
Sobrado dos Monxes
784 km cumulative
Arzúa
806 km cumulative
O Pedrouzo
825.3 km cumulative
Santiago de Compostela
844.7 km cumulative
Stages
Day 1
Irún → Pasaia
10 km
Day 2
Pasaia → San Sebastián
17 km
Day 3
San Sebastián → Zarautz
25 km
Day 4
Zarautz → Zumaia
16 km
Day 5
Zumaia → Deba
11 km
Day 6
Deba → Markina-Xemein
17 km
Day 7
Markina-Xemein → Gernika
22 km
Day 8
Gernika → Lezama
15 km
Day 9
Lezama → Bilbao
17 km
Day 10
Bilbao → Getxo
15 km
Day 11
Getxo → Pobeña
30 km
Day 12
Pobeña → Castro Urdiales
20 km
Day 13
Castro Urdiales → Laredo
20 km
Day 14
Laredo → Santoña
10 km
Day 15
Santoña → Noja
15 km
Day 16
Noja → Santander
25 km
Day 17
Santander → Suances
25 km
Day 18
Suances → Comillas
30 km
Day 19
Comillas → San Vicente de la Barquera
20 km
Day 20
San Vicente de la Barquera → Llanes
35 km
Day 21
Llanes → Ribadesella
30 km
Day 22
Ribadesella → Villaviciosa
35 km
Day 23
Villaviciosa → Gijón
30 km
Day 24
Gijón → Avilés
25 km
Day 25
Avilés → Cudillero
25 km
Day 26
Cudillero → Cadavedo
25 km
Day 27
Cadavedo → Luarca
25 km
Day 28
Luarca → Navia
25 km
Day 29
Navia → Ribadeo
35 km
Day 30
Ribadeo → Lourenzá
28 km
Day 31
Lourenzá → Abadín
25 km
Day 32
Abadín → Vilalba
21 km
Day 33
Vilalba → Baamonde
19 km
Day 34
Baamonde → Miraz
15 km
Day 35
Miraz → Sobrado dos Monxes
26 km
Day 36
Sobrado dos Monxes → Arzúa
22 km
Day 37
Arzúa → O Pedrouzo
19 km
Day 38
O Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela
19 km
Ready to Start?
Create your personalized itinerary for this route.
Distance: 845 km
Duration: 38 days
Stops: 44 towns
💡 View info
📍Click on the ▶ start and 🏁 finish markers to see the start and end points of the route.
📈Hover over the elevation chart to see the altitude and total distance at each waypoint along the route.
🏘️Browse the Towns & Waypoints and Stages lists below for detailed guides on each town, stage, and point of interest.
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