Last 100 km of the Camino de Santiago from Sarria: complete guide

Sarria is the starting point chosen by thousands of pilgrims because it sits about 115 km from Santiago, comfortably clearing the 100 km minimum the Church requires to earn the Compostela. It's covered in 5 stages of the Camino Francés, the busiest route of the whole Camino de Santiago, with a very well-established network of albergues and a festive atmosphere thanks to the crowds of last-minute walkers.

Why start in Sarria and not somewhere else?

The rule is simple: to earn the Compostela on foot or on horseback you must certify a minimum of 100 continuous km to the cathedral. Sarria is the first town with good transport links (train, bus) that clearly sits above that threshold, making it the logical starting point for anyone with about a week of holidays. Being part of the Camino Francés, it also comes with over 30 years of pilgrim tradition, flawless waymarking, and a density of albergues unmatched anywhere else on the Camino.

The 5 stages from Sarria to Santiago, real distances

The route is traditionally split into five days. These are the real distances for each one:

StageSectionDistance 1Sarria → Portomarín22.2 km 2Portomarín → Palas de Rei24.8 km 3Palas de Rei → Arzúa28.5 km 4Arzúa → O Pedrouzo19.3 km 5O Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela19.4 km

The total is around 114-115 km, just the right margin above the required minimum. Stage 3, Palas de Rei-Arzúa, is the longest and toughest of the section, so it's worth starting early. You can check the elevation profile and download the free GPX for each stage on Peregrinia's map before setting off.

Stage 1: Sarria → Portomarín (22.2 km)

Departure through oak woods and small Galician hamlets. You cross the Miño river to enter Portomarín, a village rebuilt on higher ground after the Belesar reservoir was created.

Stage 2: Portomarín → Palas de Rei (24.8 km)

A rolling stage with gentle but steady climbs, passing through Gonzar, Ligonde and Eirexe.

Stage 3: Palas de Rei → Arzúa (28.5 km)

The longest of the section. It crosses Melide, famous for its octopus, and follows the Iso river to Arzúa, the region's cheese capital.

Stage 4: Arzúa → O Pedrouzo (19.3 km)

A shorter day through eucalyptus groves, ideal for resting your legs before the final stretch.

Stage 5: O Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela (19.4 km)

The emotional stage. It passes Monte do Gozo, the first spot from which you can see the cathedral towers, before entering Santiago through the old town to the Praza do Obradoiro.

The Compostela and the mandatory 2 daily stamps

From Sarria onward, the Pilgrim's Office requires a minimum of two stamps per day on the credencial (one in the morning and one in the afternoon, usually at the albergue and at a bar or church along the way), compared to just one daily stamp on the rest of the Camino. This is how the Church verifies that the pilgrim covered the whole route on foot, by bike or on horseback, rather than simply driving into Santiago. Keep your credencial safe: without it, and without the corresponding stamps for each stage, the Pilgrim's Office will not issue the Compostela.

Where to sleep on the last 100 km

The Sarria-Santiago section has the highest density of albergues on the entire Camino network, with public, private and parish options in practically every town and many in-between hamlets. On Peregrinia you'll find over 1,900 geolocated albergues with exact locations, so you can plan every night without surprises. A few recommendations:

• Sarria: plenty of public and private albergues; a good place to stock up before setting off.
• Portomarín: several albergues near the new town centre, convenient right after crossing the Miño.
• Palas de Rei: a busy midway point with a municipal albergue and private options.
• Arzúa: a high concentration of beds, good for splitting the previous long stage if needed.
• O Pedrouzo: the last stop before Santiago, which tends to fill up early in high season.

Booking tips for high season

Between May and September, and especially during Easter week and around July 25th (Saint James' Day), this section becomes very crowded because it's the shortest and most accessible: it draws one-week pilgrims as well as school groups and associations. Some practical tips:

• Book ahead in O Pedrouzo and Arzúa, the most congested stages since they're the logical second-to-last and last stops.
• Leave early (before 7:00-7:30 am) to secure a bed in public albergues that don't take reservations.
• Consider splitting stage 3 (Palas de Rei-Arzúa) into two shorter days if you're travelling in high season and want to avoid crowds.
• Keep your credencial stamped up to date; during peak periods the Pilgrim's Office may carry out informal checks.
• Before setting off, check the elevation profile and albergues for each stage on Peregrinia's Camino Francés page.

With five days, good footwear and your credencial always at hand, the last 100 km from Sarria are the perfect way to experience the Camino de Santiago without needing weeks of holiday.