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]

Originally Posted by 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

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.