The Way of St. James, stage 3
Dificulty level
Medium
Landscape rating
Medium
Cultural rating
High
Departure
El Burgo Ranero
Arrival
O Cebreiro
Duration
8 days – 7 nights – 6 riding days
PAX max per group
6 to 9 PAX
Accomodation
Hotels and Boutique Hotels hb.
Time of the year
May and October
Itinerary
Day 1
Transport from Madrid airport to El Burgo Ranero (3h) airport pick up 3pm
Day 2
El Burgo Ranero – Arcahueja (León)
After breakfast we start the ride from El Burgo Ranero for 19 km through dry open landscape of Leon and alongside national road to Mansilla de las Mulas where we stop for lunch. After lunch we ride 11km to Arcahueja and skip the 14 km of concrete road by car to Virgen del Camino where we stop for diner and night.
Day 3
Virgen del Camino – Hospital de Órbigo
After breakfast we start the ride14 km through open fields that may provide opportunity for some pleasureable canters to Villar de Mazarife where we have lunch, later after lunch we ride on 15km through monotonic plain landscape and over stone bridge over Orbigo river to Hospital de Orbigo where we stop for dinner and night.
Day 4
Hospital de Orbigo – Castrillo de los Polvazares
After breakfast we start the ride from Hospital de Orbigo and ride 17 km through small villages to a monumental town of Astorga with its Palacio Episcopal, museum of Caminos, Santa Maria Cathedral where we stop for lunch. After lunch we ride 6,5km to beautifull stone village Castrillo de los Polvazares, great example of local malagateria architectonical style with characteristic round, heavy doors and ornamented locks, here we will stop for diner and night.
Day 5
Castrillo de los Polvazares – Foncebadon
After breakfast we start our ride out from big plains towards mountains of Leon. We can enjoy the view on Picos de Europa for 16 km until we reach Rabanal de Camino where we stop for lunch. After lunch we ride 6km to Foncebadon, the highiest located village on the Irago mouintain where we stop for diner and night.
Day 6
Foncebadon – Molinaseca
Today we only ride in the morning. After breakfast we pass emblematic Cruz de Fierro a place to leave your rock symbolizing private intentions to walk the Camino, this is also the place where the pylgrims ask for the protecion on the way. After the cross we start 19 km descent through picturesque hills to lovley Molinaseca where we stop for lunch. After lunch we drive 30 km to Villafranca where we stay for diner and night.
Day 7
Villafranca del Bierzo – O Cebreiro
After breakfast we cross the Galician border and ride alongside river Valcarce for 17 km to Vega de Valcacel where we stop for lunch and in the afternoon we have some serious climbing to do for another 12 km to O Cebreiro (1300m), stone Galician village with a stunning views where we finish the ride.
Day 8
END OF THE ROUTE
O Cebreiro – Madrid airport
Transfer to Madrid Airport (4h)
This route includes
Hotel, breakfast and dinner
Single/double rooms
Liability insurance
Experienced Spanish and Spanish mix trail horses
Guide and minibus transfer
Picnic lunch
Traditional Spanish saddle: Silla vaquera
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