Camino del Norte from Santander to Gijón

Santander is the capital of Cantabria, a city marked by its maritime and commercial activity! On arrival, settle into your hotel, then head out to visit Sardinero Beach, the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, and the Palacio de la Magdalena.

Fuel up at breakfast this morning in Santander, as you have a long day ahead of you! Although the route starts in an urban section, you soon find yourself in one of the most monumental cities in the Cantabrian Sea, Santillana de Mar. Nearby are the Altamira Caves, where the museum is a must see!

The route that awaits today runs away from the sea and is mostly paved. In general, today’s walk consists of moderate climbs without any major challenging sections. You’ll trek through cities like Cóbredes, where you can see the Cistercian monastery. The day ends as soon as you reach Comillas, a charming city, well worth exploring on foot. Top sights include Gaudi's Capricho and the Palace of Sobrellano.

Start today’s rural walk with a peruse through the Oyambre Natural Park near the coast as you head towards San Vicente de la Barquera. As soon as you cross the Ría de San Vicente, you will reach this charming fishing village. You can go to the old town of San Vicente to see the church, the castle and the remains of the old wall.

Later, continue towards Unquera and gradually leave Cantabria. You will cross the bridge over the Deba river to end the stage in Colombres, already on Asturian land!

A day with beautiful landscapes awaits you as you walk to Llanes! The challenge really begins when you pass Andrín, but fear note, as just a few kilometers away, you’ll find Llanes. Llanes has a monumental complex of particular interest, but the "Cubes of Memory", an artistic work in the port, should also be noted as a mandatory stop!

Fuel up this morning at breakfast, as you prepare for a longer stage today. Rest assured, you will be rewarded with beautiful landscapes on the walk to Ribadesella! The first half of the route takes you to the coast, where you’ll gaze out over beautiful beaches such as Torimbia and Barro. Before reaching the beaches, you will also pass Celorio, with is home to a stunning monastery. Cross the Bedón River and continue towards the second part of the day, which leads inland where the rural landscape dominates. The stage ends as soon as you arrive in Ribadesella, a fishing village at the mouth of the Sella River

Cross the Sella River this morning as you set out towards Santa Marina Beach. Today's walk is characterized by several stretches of sandy shoreline. Go uphill towards Vega de Ribadesella and cross the Vega River to discover La Vega Beach. Pass Berbes and follow the path through the beach of Arenal de Morís and Playa de la Espasa, and then press on to your destination today -- Colunga!

One of the shortest stages of the entire journey awaits today! You leave the coast completely to take a tour inland and combine the mountainous landscape of the north with asphalt paths. The most important climb of the stage leads from Pernús to Priesca. The day ends in Villaviciosa, a city known as Comarca de la Sidra.

It’s time to face another challenging day on the trail, but today is your last day on the Camino Norte, so be sure to soak up every moment! An undulating, but surprisingly urban environment paves the way to Gijon, with two significant climbs along the way.

Buen Camino & see you next time!