Why the Primitive Way?
The Camino Primitivo de Santiago is one of the most charming options, and that can show us the true essence of the Camino de Santiago.
It is considered the oldest of all the Caminos to Santiago: it is the first historical route of which references are preserved and which was the one taken in the 9th century by King Alfonso II the Chaste, to visit the tomb of the Apostle James, which had just been discovered.
It spent many years in oblivion, forgotten in favor of its older brothers, the French Way and the Coastal Way. But in recent years it has begun to be one of the most interesting and desirable choices of all the Caminos.
And why do we say this? Because for mountaineers, walkers and adventurers like us, the other Caminos have lost a little of their initial spirit. Precisely that spirit of adventure, in which you don’t spend the day surrounded by hundreds of people. Thanks to the forgetfulness of the Camino Primitivo, today the infrastructure is much less than on the other roads. We will have a good cocktail for a good adventure: few people, less asphalt, many roads (I wish we knew all the original ones but many are already destroyed), many diverse landscapes, good typical food, accommodations run by people passionate about the Camino. In many cases they are walkers who have decided to settle and open their hostel, hotel, rural house or bar, restaurant.
The Camino is just that, an adventure and the Primitivo gives us a little more than the other adventures. Then the reasons can be very diverse, religious, personal, spiritual, sports, physical challenges, ……. But what we can assure you is that it does not leave anyone indifferent, whatever their motivations.
And now that we know why the Primitivo, would you like to know its numbers?:
– 330 kms of fun from Oviedo (capital of Asturias) to Santiago de Compostela (the people of Compostela say it is the capital of Galicia).
– Around 7400 m of positive slope and as many negative.
– We are talking about 13 stages in its softest option ( which is not very gentle with all this unevenness) and about 10 stages in its most mountainous option in which you walk through the oldest paths way.
And what will we do?
– 150km, we will walk the last most exciting kms, from A Fonsagrada (Lugo) to Santiago de Compostela.
– 7 fantastic stages in which you walk through the oldest paths of the Camino.
– Regarding the climate, generally mild in terms of temperatures but which can soon have a Amazing sunny day like a rainy day. In Galicia we already know!
– This route is the one with the fewest kilometers of asphalt, and all pilgrims greatly appreciate it. The Primitive Way to Santiago is surrounded by imposing landscapes full of beauty that include mountains, cliffs, rivers, forests and, in general, everything you could expect to give you an unforgettable experience.
– We love challenges and this route has frequent unevenness and is considered the most difficult Jacobean route. If what you are looking for is to challenge yourself physically, this is your route!
– And gastronomy are you interested? Excellent traditional food will await us with octopus, padrón peppers and other delicacies that will not leave us indifferent. We could give you much more information, but we know that you are already as curious and eager as we are.
Holy Jacobean Year 2021-2022
Easter Week 2024. From April 9 to 16. Consult more dates for 2024
7 days of activity
From 6 to 20 people.
1*, 2** and even 3*** hotels with a lot of charm. Double rooms with private bathroom and with all the necessary services to guarantee good comfort and safety. Extra of +120€/person total if you choose a single room.
Easy. For a person used to walking and playing sports.
The entire group will meet at our Hotel in Fonsagrada for a delicious dinner where our Guide will introduce us to the stages and we will meet the rest of the group of pilgrims.
We take the original Camino that moves away from the national highway and passes through A Proba de Burón, former capital of the Council of Burón until 1834. We enter Galicia and the province of Lugo.
Paths and tracks in the middle of the mountain take us to the old Montouto Pilgrims Hospital. Imagine in those times when Compeed did not exist and diseases were more common. These hospitals were distributed along the entire route to care for the pilgrims.
A little further down we will have the first bar, in Pedrobella. A super cool bar with some very delicious sandwiches.
We will go up and down again, crossing the road several times, but following a path that does not go very far from it. After Lastra we only have a small climb left and after this, the trend will almost be downhill until O Cádavo.
Initial climb that will give way to a fantastic route today. The path follows an old path almost parallel to the road with some river crossings over small stone bridges.
We will pass towns such as Castroverde, Vilar de Cas, Gondar, As Casas a Viña before arriving at Lugo and being able to enjoy its wall, its cathedral and the entire city walled. The return trip to the wall is only about two km, do you have the strength to go around it at least once?
We discover Lugo, one of the main cities of Galicia, characterized by its 3 km of Roman wall that surrounds the city center. From the Cathedral we will pass under one of the gates in the wall. The descending path takes us to one of its medieval bridges. A little flat asphalt to get some air. Warning, the next two km are uphill and from there today we will have plenty of asphalt.
We are now in the Galician farming area, the landscape is super beautiful. Meadows, towns, livestock, churches follow one another.
A stage with many ups and downs, but we must keep in mind that as we approach the French Way we have more and more bars and restaurants where we can have a drink and regain our strength.
Our destination is Ferreira.
We are still on the Primitive Way. Tomorrow upon our arrival in Mélide, we will join the French Way.
A word of advice: Enjoy this relative calm!
Quite a relaxed stage to take with your time. Very gentle climb until km 9 after passing O Hospital and from there downhill and flat to Mélide.
We will leave behind towns such as Augas Santas, A Seixas, Cascacamiño and Villamallor. Asphalt predominates, but always on secondary roads with a landscape that will make us forget that we don’t tread as much dirt today.
And once we arrive in Mélide, what do we do?
Well, something typical to do: go to Casa Ezequiel to eat octopus with cachelos. Long wooden tables and plenty of them to accommodate all the pilgrims who make their stop there. Economical and with a very delicious octopus.
Here we already meet the Frenchman. We will join forces and triple the number of pilgrims.
This stage must be done calmly, enjoy the kilometers, the people, the landscape, yourself. It is not long but entertaining with its small paths and tracks.
We are not in a hurry, in fact, the path is to enjoy each step, savor it, and each one has to be clear about the pace they need to do it.
We will arrive at Arzúa. You will already realize that bars and hostels multiply here. Here there are opportunities almost at every corner to recharge your batteries.
We always get the feeling that people are also multiplying. We will have a drink and enjoy this small city and its people.
Begin today a comfortable journey with easier slopes and along tracks always close to the national highway N-547.
We leave Arzúa passing through a cobblestone street where the doorways and facades are covered in wood to arrive in a wonderful rural environment. We face a slope, between meadows, corn crops and with views towards Arzúa. Eucalyptus trees increasingly populate the Galician landscape and meadows, necessary for the survival of livestock and the rural world. They follow one after another with their family laundry drying in the sun.
After several villages, we arrive at Rúa and shortly after at O Pedrouzo.
Last stage. Today we arrive at our destination, the Plaza del Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela. What a thrill!
Don’t relax! We know that the excitement of arriving overcomes you, but the climb of Amenal and Lavacolla are still waiting for us to remind us that getting to Santiago is not easy.
But what are these two little rises for you?
Well, after doing the second of the two, we arrive at El Monte do Gozo and from there we can see Santiago and the tips of its Cathedral. Only 5 km separate us from our goal. 5 km almost entirely through the city. First large avenues with the path marked on the ground, then small streets until entering the historic center. A right turn and a descending street bring us closer to the staircase under the arch that leads to the Plaza del Obradoiro. We are entering it, the Cathedral on our left and we go directly to the center of the square. There are a lot of km left behind, a lot of conversations, a lot of new friends. That is the adventure of the Camino, but we are not done yet.
Let’s go for the Compostelana, right?
The Compostelana is a certificate that certifies that you have done the Camino, you have had to put at least two stamps in each stage on your Credential and with this they give you the diploma that certifies your Way.
Now it’s time to celebrate. For the religious there are masses for the Pilgrims. It is super interesting for everyone to visit the Cathedral museum and the Cathedral. And without hesitation you have to get lost in Santiago, a beautiful city. A city made of stone, with low-story streets and alleys. Don’t miss the market to have a drink.
CONGRATULATIONS WALKERS!
Some decision-making may be consensual, but in the end, for safety reasons, the guide who accompanies us is the one who has the last word.
In all stages, daily Yoga and Meditation practices will be carried out.
**The route may be suspended due to weather or force majeure that the organization cannot foresee**
Payment of 40% of the total amount as payment and deposit. The rest of the amount, 30 days before the first day of the trip.
Transfer: Santander Bank
ES86 0049 3079 80 2114287700
Owner: Manaslu Adventures, SL
You can find out our reservation and cancellation conditions through this LINK.
If you want to live unique experiences in the mountain and enjoy our advantages
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If you want to live unique experiences in the mountain and enjoy our advantages