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'El Camino del Norte' originates from the 9th Century and was one of the original Camino routes for pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostela. Sheltered from the rest of the Muslim dominated Iberian Peninsula by the Picos de Europa and Cordillera Cantabrica, it was considered the safest route for Christian pilgrims making their way to the tomb of St James. The full route starts in Irun near the French border and joins the French route at Arzua. This stage, from the bustling city of Bilbao, home to the iconic Guggenheim Museum, takes you through a variety of landscapes and architecture, both ancient and modern, while staying in small hotels with local character. The dramatic coastline and mountain paths make the northern way both challenging and rewarding, whilst the quieter trails offer a great alternative to the more popular French route.
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20kg of CO2-e PP per day
(118kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
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Day 1
Arrive Bilbao
Bilbao is a wonderful city filled with art, history and flavour of Northern Spain. Spend time walking the old city exploring the cobbled streets filled with fashion, food and charming shops. For art lovers a visit to the Guggenheim Museum is not to be missed.
Meals: Nil
Day 2
Metro to Portugalete & walk along the coast to Castro Urdiales (7.5hrs)
This morning you take the Metro from Bilbao to Portugalete (travel time approx 35-50 minutes, 20km) to leave the city. The walk from Portugalete will take you towards the Cantabrian coast and out of the Basque region. From La Arena there are two options to Onton and Castro Urdiales. Following the coast line is a stunning walk. Part of the route also follows the track-bed of the former railroad that carried iron ore to waiting ships. Castro Urdiales is a long-inhabited town, with human remains dating back to 12000 BCE. Be sure to visit the Gothic church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion with its strange iconography on the main entrance's frieze, which dates from Templar times. Distance: 27km/16.7mi, highest point approx 180m Option: It's possible to walk Bilbao to Portugalete - this must be requested at time of booking as an extra night is required in Portugalete. Distance approx 19km/12mi, highest point approx 200m, undulating terrain.
Meals: B
Day 3
Walk to Liendo (6hrs)
From seaside Castro Urdiales the trail takes you on winding paths between cliffs and sandy beaches. You'll pass through small fishing villages including Islares, were you can see the ruins of the 16th century Hospital de la Vera Cruz. Head inland to La Magdelena and follow a beautiful dirt path to Liendo, a quiet rural village surrounded by nature in the heart of the Valle de Liendo. Distance: 24km/14.9mi, highest point approx 230m
Day 4
On foot and by boat to Noja (6.5hrs)
This morning you will head to Laredo, which was an important Roman site known as Portus Luliobrigensium. Today it is Cantabria’s largest resort town - its beach is around 5km long at low tide. Continue walking to the end of Laredo's peninsula, at El Puntal, following the signs to the Santona ferry (payable locally, approx EUR3 per person. If you prefer to walk, its an extra 10km/6mi via the Colindres bridge). Continue north to the coast and the Playa de Berria, before ascending to the Punta del Brusco for impressive coastal views. Continue to the modern coastal resort town of Noja. Distance: 23km/14.5mi, highest point approx 200m
Day 5
Continue to Galizano (5hrs)
This stage takes you from the Cantabrian Sea to the Güemes Valley. There are two walking options - one via Isla and Ajo nearer the coast, the other via San Miguel de Meruelo and Güemes, leading gradually towards the Cantabrian Sea once again. Overnight in the town of Galizano. Distance: 19km/11.8mi, highest point approx 120m
Day 6
Final stage to Santander (4hrs)
From Galizano you head to the coast, where the route is along beautiful cliffs and beaches. At Somo you take the ferry to Santander. (It runs every half hour on weekdays and hourly on weekends - payable locally, approx EUR4 per person). Santander is the capital of Cantabria and a major city on the Camino del Norte. Whilst the harbour area is modern, as a result of a disaster explosion in 1893 and a fire in 1941 which destroyed much of the historical heart, the town has a lovely vibe and the beaches are a great place to relax after the camino walk. Distance: 15km/9.4mi, highest point approx 50m
Day 7
Trip concludes
Trip concludes in Santander after breakfast. We can assist with booking extra nights, or continue on the next stage to Gijon.
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GRADE 3 - Daily walks are between 15 and 27km (9.4 to 16.7mi) on well marked trails over diverse terrain – from relatively flat to coastal rocky to mountainous. Part of the route is on paved surfaces – you should pay particular attention to your footwear to ensure that it is suitable to avoid blisters. This is a well worn path where route finding will be reasonably straight forward (refer below for further details on self guided adventures). The main areas to concentrate on route finding are arriving and leaving towns and cities. The accent is on keeping a steady pace to take in all of the attractions, with time to stop and take photos. You will need a good level of fitness to participate fully in this adventure
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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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We offer different levels of accommodation and comfort so that even the most budget conscious can treat themselves to active holidays on Europe's most celebrated tracks and trails. Our trips are great value for money because you only pay for what you want.
Our wide range of self-guided itineraries embody the UTracks philosophy of exploring Europe your way. We handle the logistics so all that's left for you to do is enjoy exploring Europe at your own pace. Most depart daily with a minimum of two people, meaning maximum flexibility.
With close to 400 trips in almost 50 countries, including the largest range of bike & boat holidays in Europe, we're confident that we can organise an Alps walk, Camino de Santiago or Via Francigena experience, Food Lovers' trip or a tour in a lesser-known pocket of Europe that you will love.
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