Camino del Norte

Unquera to Llanes.

July 1, 2025Posted in El Camino del Norte, HikeTagged Buencamino, Camino del Norte, El camino de Santiago, Saint James wayLeave a comment

Day 19: Unquera to Llanes – 16.86 miles (27.13 km)

Today, we crossed the border from Cantabria into Asturias, a symbolic milestone on our journey. The weather has started to cool, with temperatures in the high 70s and a soft fog hanging in the air, giving the morning a quiet, reflective mood.

Along the way, we met a young woman from Budapest. We shared stories about our Camino experiences, exchanged tips, and talked about life, one of those meaningful, spontaneous connections that make this journey so special.

Today, Monday, is our last day of hiking. Reaching Asturias brought a sense of accomplishment but also a bittersweet feeling. We’re not yet halfway to Santiago, and this journey remains unfinished…

Santillana del Mar to Comillas.

June 29, 2025July 13, 2025Posted in El Camino del Norte, HikeTagged Camino del Norte, El camino de SantiagoLeave a comment

Day 17: Santillana del Mar to Comillas – 14.68 miles (23.62 km)

Santillana del Mar was alive with celebration this morning, honoring its patron saint, Santa Juliana. At 8:00 AM, fireworks echoed through the town to mark the start of the day’s festivities. Although we were already awake, the sudden booms caught us off guard.

Today’s hike was long and intensely hot. While the temperature hovered in the low 80s, the humidity felt close to 90%, making the air thick and heavy. Despite walking near the ocean, there was no breeze to offer relief. We passed a few fellow pilgrims struggling with heat exhaustion along the way.

Comillas is an interesting town with a summer palace that belonged to the Marquis of Comillas, as well as another palace designed by Gaudí. It is definitely a town to visit again with more time.

Arce to Santillana del Mar

June 28, 2025Posted in El Camino del Norte, HikeTagged Buencamino, Camino del Norte, El camino de SantiagoLeave a comment

Day 16: Arce to Santillana del Mar – 12.41 miles (19.97 Km)

Today we met three new pilgrims—two from the U.S. who started their journey in Bilbao, and one from Romania who began in Santander.

This Camino feels different from others. Many pilgrims start or stop in various cities—some in San Sebastián, others in Bilbao or Santander—so it’s harder to form connections. El Camino del Norte has more paths than other routes, where we often walk alongside the same people for days. This time, passing through cities or villages, with short or long routes, it is very common not to see the same people for days.

Castro to Liendo

June 22, 2025Posted in El Camino del Norte, HikeTagged Camino del Norte, El camino de Santiago, Saint James wayLeave a comment

Day 12: Castro-Urdiales to Liendo – 16.8 miles (27 km)

The weather remained cloudy and refreshingly cool. Today’s route covered a moderate distance and was mostly flat, winding through charming towns and villages. We enjoyed scenic coastal views and gentle rolling hills along the way.

We got lost a couple of times. Navigating with electronic maps and yellow arrows can be tricky, as they don’t always align or point clearly. Still, it added a bit of adventure to the day!

San Sebastian to Zarautz

June 13, 2025June 17, 2025Posted in El Camino del Norte, HikeTagged Camino del Norte, El camino de Santiago, San SebastianLeave a comment

Day 4: San Sebastian to Zarautz 13.29 miles (21.38 Km)

We spent an extra day in San Sebastian and had a nice dinner in a local restaurant. San Sebastian is known for its food scene.

On our way to Zarautz, we stop in an albergue for coffee. The 12 Tribes organization owns this place, and the people running it take donations for their services.

Here, we had the opportunity to talk with other pilgrims and meet Jonathan from Oklahoma. We walked with him to Zarautz and learned about his job in Tulsa. Like me, he believes in equity in education. We had a fantastic conversation. He has a big QR code hanging outside his backpack that links to the school where he works, which helps students from challenging environments.

In Zarautz, we said goodbye and Buen Camino. Maybe we will see him again, but at least I have information about the school he supports.

Saint Jean deLuz to Hondarribia

June 10, 2025July 13, 2025Posted in El Camino del Norte, HikeTagged Camino del Norte, El camino de Santiago, north way, Santiago de compostelaLeave a comment

Stage 2: Saint Jean de Luz to Hondarribia, 9 miles (14.484 Km).

We began the hike today at Église Saint Jean Baptiste, where we received the second stamp on our pilgrim credentials.

We followed a map from the All Trails app to walk toward the Spanish border. Someone had previously completed this route and shared the map on the app. It proved helpful, as we spotted some El Camino markers along the trail. However, we encountered some challenges: the grass along the route was overgrown, and some sections were closed due to landslides, forcing us to walk along the freeway.

Finally, when we arrived at Domaine d’Abbadie, we enjoyed a pleasant walk to the sea. I should mention that a heat wave has affected the area for the past two days, with temperatures ranging from 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity at 90%. Walking on the asphalt felt like being in an oven.