Walking to Finisterre

[Brendan]

I'm arriving in Santiago with a group of 11 others on Sat 17th May. We arrive in the evening very late. Has any one experience of the route to Finisterre - useful information would be where to collect a passport on the Sunday, places to stay, buses bck on the Friday to Santiago - any advice welcome

Brendan

[Leslie]

Hi Brendan welcome to the forum. I have not walked this part from Santiago but have a bit of it back from Finisterre. I already had my passport, but I would suggest the pilgrims office in Santiago, it does seem to be open all the time.

From what I remember the buses back from Finisterre were fairly early, cheap, and ran on time. I think we got our bus at 9 or 10 in the morning. Hope some of this helps.

[John Hussey]

I'm arriving in Santiago with a group of 11 others on Sat 17th May. We arrive in the evening very late. Has any one experience of the route to Finisterre - useful information would be where to collect a passport on the Sunday, places to stay, buses bck on the Friday to Santiago - any advice welcome

Brendan

Walking to the 'End of the World', as it was known in antiquity, is quite easily done in 3-4 days. It is just as well-marked as the other Caminos so little chance of becoming lost. It is not as heavily traveled, at least not in November when I did it, as the Camino Frances and a beautiful "Compostela" ilike document is given out at the Alberque in Finisterre when you arrive. It is actually more beautiful and ornate than the one issued at the Pilgrim office in SdC. Buses back to Santiago run every hour or so and are quite reasonable, as I recall.

I would highly recommend the journey as a very enjoyable postscript to a successful Camino, much like dessert after a fine meal. I would further recommend the additional day's journey on to Muxia, or perhaps to Muxia first and then on to Finisterre. There is a fork in the Camino past Santiago where the walker can opt first for one or the other city first and just follow the markers towards it..

[Pavel]

Most of the way is well-marked, but marking in Santiago and first ten kilometers is terrible. I was lost for first few hours of my journey to Finisterre. I just followed the road and I met a mark (single mark, usually) only when I decided to ignore the way and go to Negreira along the road

The Finisterre (the cape with the lighthouse) itself is a beautiful place, I liked it most from my whole journey. I suggest watching the sunset there, especially from the hill near the lighthouse. I slept in an abandoned quarry, so it's O.K. to sleep there, at least when it's not raining. I got wet from the dew, but it wasn't so cold and I went home the next day, so I didn't need my sleeping bag dry

[irlandaamigo]

Pavel, you slept in an abandoned quarry in Finisterre...if the weather holds up when I'm going it in late April-May, then I think I'll sleep out for it as well...I've always wanted to sleep in a quarry...after your description of the place, I'm definitely adding it to my itinerary. I was going to go earlier that SjPdP but I think I'll just do Finisterre as the add on...can't wait for this!!

[micky]

I am planning to go on to Finistere from Santiago..but really need to know that I can get back to Santiago Airport for about 9.30 in the morning,as my flight back to the UK at 1130...how can I find out when the service starts in a morning...am I right in saying that by bus it takes about 1 and a half hours,meaning setting of from Finisterre at 8am latest,can anybody help...??

[murphydog201]

I just took the bus from Finisterre to Santiago Tuesday morning. The earliest bus leaves 8:20am, and I think it arrived about 10:30. It stops at every stop along the way, so it's quite slow. The next bus is 11:45. The cost for one-way was 12.05 euros. I think your only hope of getting to Santiago by 9:30 is to take a cab or shuttle. Maybe you can find other pilgrims to share the ride and cost.

I agree that Finisterre is the perfect way to end one's Camino. When the sun sank into the Atlantic, my pilgrimage was over. It felt wonderful.

[ken huocj]

Following up on Mickey's bus questions;
a. where is the Finisterre Bus Stop situated>
b. and where does the airport bus leave from? Price ?

Buen Camino

[Covey]

The bus stop in Finisterre is about 10m from the front door of the official Albergue which is at the beginning of the harbor front area and surrounded by a number of bars. Cost in August was ?12.50 single.

There is also a mini bus service run by a local guy who picks up at the various albergues and takes 8 passengers to Santiago. He charges the same as the bus, but you get to Santiago in 1 hour instead of the 3 hours on the bus. The bus route follows the scenic coast road and stops at virtually every house on the way to Santiago, but the mini bus goes on the direct inland route and will drop you off at the Santiago Bus Station or the middle of town.

The airport service goes from Santiago Bus Station to the airport and then on to Lugo. There is also a direct Santiago to Lugo service by the same company, Empresa Freire which does NOT stop at the airport.

Ryanair have an arrangement with Freire to schedule a bus service to Santiago to fit with the arrival times of their flights. See the Ryanair web site.

[Covey]

The official albergue at Finisterre will only allow you to stay if you have walked from Santiago and have the stamps in your pilgrim passport for the albergues between Santiago and Finesterre. If you catch the bus from Santiago to Finesterre you will have to stay in one of the private hostels or the hotel.

[Villagejonesy]

I walked from Oloron in France to Santiago, but then took the bus the last 95 kilometers to Fisterra, so I couldn't stay in the official albergue. I stayed in the albergue around the corner from the official one (go up the hill from the official one and take the first left, and it's 200 meters up, I think). It was 10 euros, and was a superior place.

I highly recommend going to Fisterra. I, and some of my friends along the way, found Santiago itself to be a bit of an anti-climax, for some reason. Fisterra, however, is in such a beautiful setting. Also, I think that simply being by the sea naturally encourages a contemplative, reflective state of mind. It was a good moment of resolution, summing up before heading back. It absolutely wouldn't have been the same if I hadn't gone.

Make sure, when you go, that you go to the big crescent beach. There's one waterfront by the official albergue; but if you stand at the albergue and look at that waterfront, then to your left (I guess that'd be east), there's another beach. It's a bit difficult picking your way there over the rocks and tidepools (though we did it), so you want to wind through the city streets a few blocks to get there. Once there, we found St. Jacques shells bigger than our hands, and even a sea urchin shell or two. A nice, relaxing way to wander and let our thoughts carry us.

[dutchee]

What do you guys recommend:

Arriving in Santiago, hanging out there a day or two, then hiking to Finisterre? Or arriving in Santiago, leaving for Finisterre the very next day, and then spending a bit of leisure time in Santiago after I return there from Finisterre? And how many days/nights do you recommend staying in Finisterre?

[Covey]

It really depends why you are going to Finesterre. Most want to see the sunset, but that rather depends on the weather. In 2008 we did not get a really nice sunset until the fourth night, and on the other three nights there was low cloud and rain.

Most seem to walk to Finesterre, spend one night there hoping for a nice sunset and then back to Santiago the next day by bus.

There is very little to do in Finesterre!! A couple of hours takes care of the sightseeing. It is nice to go to the supermarket in town, stock up for a picnic, and then walk up to the lighthouse where they have built a small pit for the ceremonial burning of clothes (socks are favorite!) then drink wine and watch the sun go down, or for a better sunset, picnic at the lighthouse in the afternoon and then walk around to the beach for a swim and watch the sunset.

Funnily enough, many say that arriving at Santiago Cathedral does not really give closure to their Camino, but going to Finesterre does.

Finesterre is literally the end of the trail and was in ancient times, the End of the Known World.

If you walk from Santiago (3-4 days) then you are entitled to stay at the official albergue in the main street of Finesterre AND you receive another Compostella which is nicer than the Santiago one. If you arrive by bus, then there are other private albergues you can stay at.

[bagtown]

Covey, I also plan to finish my Camino at Finistere and was wondering the same thing. Is it best to continue on the next day from Santiago and leave the chuch service on return from Finistere. Or is it, to each is own? Starting my journey mid march from Saint Jean. It seems the church service is the final note. Thanks, Edward

[Covey]

I always prefer to take a couple of days break in Santiago before lacing up the boots again for the trip to Finesterre. The last few days from Sarria are a bit of a scrum usually and a couple of days to relax, eat some decent food and catch up on your sleep are well worth it, and Day1 out of Santiago to Finesterre is not as easy as it looks!

The main advantage of taking a few days off is to wander down to the Cathedral in the mornings and see which of your friends you met further back along the trail are finishing. I would do the Pilgrim Mass when you arrive in Santiago, but sunset at Finesterre is the real closure for a Camino, and after that, one is ready for home and a lifetime of memories.

Unless of course you are already planning your next Camino!!!

[bagtown]

I like it. Good sound reasons.
Also, do you feel 40 days would be enough to complete the full journey from Saint Jean - Finistere, allowing for a few days rest as you mentioned. (in Santiago and a couple along the Way, if required.) Thanks again, Edward

[Covey]

ish!!

40 days should be OK but if you have the time then plan on 42. One year I went to Finesterre and we had to wait three nights for a sunset!!

[bagtown]

Thanks again.