O Pedrouzo – Santiago de Compostela stage: Camino Francés guide

• Distance: 19.8 km.

• Difficulty: low, gentle profile.

• Estimated time: 4.5 – 5 hours of walking.

• Highest point: 380 m (Monte do Gozo).

• Lowest point: 250 m (Santiago de Compostela).

• Water: very frequent. Being a semi-urban area, there are fountains and cafés almost every kilometre.
• Monte do Gozo (km 15): here the towers of the Cathedral appear for the first time. According to tradition, the first in the group to see them is the “king of the expedition”. The mood is one of euphoria and nerves.
• Entering the city: as you come down from Monte do Gozo towards San Lázaro you enter Santiago, and crossing the Porta do Camiño you are in the historic centre. With luck, you will hear a bagpipe.
• Highlights: reaching the Praza do Obradoiro, dropping your backpack and looking up at the façade of the Cathedral.

• Lavadoiro de Lavacolla: medieval pilgrims used to wash here before entering the holy city. It is a symbolic moment to “wash the road away”.
• Climb to Monte do Gozo: at the top you will see the towers of the Cathedral for the first time. The statue of the pilgrims pointing towards the city is the classic photo.
• Entry through San Lázaro: after days of paths, you are back on tarmac. The Porta do Camiño takes you into the historic centre.
• Before you arrive: if you pass through Arzúa before this stage, at Casa Buen Camino we welcome you with a whole house, quiet and calm, so you reach the Obradoiro rested.

It is a kind day for the legs. From O Pedrouzo there is a gentle climb to Monte do Gozo, the highest point of the stage (380 m), and then a gentle descent to the old town of Santiago.

Even if the odometer says 19.8 km, perhaps the hardest part is managing the emotions and the accumulated tiredness of the whole Camino.

It is a flat stretch, downhill after Monte do Gozo, which invites you to speed up. But it is better to go slowly and savour the last kilometres.

Take care entering the city

The move from rural to urban surroundings needs some attention. In Lavacolla you can stop to freshen up, and in the last kilometres it is worth watching the arrows carefully through San Lázaro and the historic centre up to the Obradoiro.

Recommendations for the final stage

• Eat and drink well: carry water and something to nibble. With the excitement it is easy to forget to eat.
• Check your feet: there are stretches of urban tarmac, and chafing is very annoying.
• No rush: enjoy the atmosphere at Monte do Gozo and the company of other pilgrims.
• Listen to your body: if you are tired or overwhelmed, stop for a moment. You only arrive in Santiago for the first time once.

• Point of interest	Kilometre	Altitude
  O Pedrouzo	0 km	310 m
  Lavacolla	9,5 km	330 m
  Monte do Gozo	15 km	380 m
  Porta do Camiño	17,5 km	260 m
  Santiago Cathedral	19,8 km	250 m

1. From O Pedrouzo to Lavacolla (0 – 9 km)

You leave O Pedrouzo with your heart racing. The Camino goes back into eucalyptus woods, with a gentle, gradual climb. You skirt Lavacolla airport and hear the planes go by.

2. Lavacolla (9 – 11 km)

Lavacolla is one of the places with the most history on the Camino Francés.

• Tradition: in the stream that crosses the village, medieval pilgrims washed and changed their clothes to enter Santiago clean.
• Today: it is a good place for the last coffee before climbing Monte do Gozo.

3. Climb to Monte do Gozo (11 – 15 km)

You climb a tarmac track up to San Marcos, and from there to Monte do Gozo (Mons Gaudii), where emotions overflow.

• First sight: from this viewpoint the towers of the Cathedral appear for the first time. According to tradition, whoever sees them first is the “king of the expedition”.
• What to see: the monument to the pilgrims and the sculpture commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul II, with a lively atmosphere of walkers from all over the world.

4. San Lázaro and the entry into the city (15 – 17.5 km)

As you come down from Monte do Gozo you reach the San Lázaro district, where the Camino is already urban. You walk wide avenues towards the historic centre, and the noise of the city mixes with the click of walking poles.

5. The old town (17.5 – 19 km)

You enter the monumental area through the Porta do Camiño. From here every step is on stones trodden by millions of pilgrims for over a thousand years.

• Route: you pass along the Rúa das Casas Reais and the Praza de Cervantes. The narrow streets and arcades give shade.
• The moment: under the arch of the Pazo de Xelmírez a bagpipe is often playing, and then you know there is very little left.

6. Praza do Obradoiro (19.8 km)

When you reach the Obradoiro, the square opens up and in front of you is the façade of the Cathedral.

• The moment: drop your backpack, sit on the granite and breathe. After so many kilometres, it is normal to get emotional.
• The finish: after the hug to the Apostle and the visit to the crypt, you can collect your Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office.

• Services: a stage with lots of infrastructure: fountains, bars and hostels. You can walk light.
• Stamps: the last 100 km require two stamps a day. Today you can stamp in O Pedrouzo, in Lavacolla and at Monte do Gozo.
• Energy: although it is short and gentle in profile, it is the end of many days of walking. Carry water and rest when you need to.
• At Monte do Gozo: take the photo with the statue of the pilgrims, and give yourself a while to look at the towers of the Cathedral calmly.
• In Lavacolla: some bars offer artistic stamps; it is worth asking for them.
• Proximity effect: so close to Santiago, it is easy to speed up. Better to take it calmly and enjoy the entry into the city.

• Cash machines: in O Pedrouzo (at the start) and in Santiago (at the end). There are few in the villages in between.
• Health: there are health centres with emergency care in O Pedrouzo and in Santiago.
• Pharmacies: in O Pedrouzo and in Santiago. During the stage there are few outside the larger towns.

Is it a good idea to split this stage?

At 19.8 km, this is the “final sprint” stage. Being short and gentle in profile, it is not usually split. However, some pilgrims prefer to sleep at Monte do Gozo (4.5 km from the Cathedral) so they can enter Santiago first thing in the morning, attend the Pilgrim’s Mass and see the Botafumeiro in action without rushing. Even so, starting from O Pedrouzo is the most popular option for living the triumphant entry in a single morning.

What atmosphere will I find on this stretch?

Pilgrims from all the routes come together here, and you can feel it: euphoria, camaraderie and a touch of nostalgia. It is a good moment to swap contact details with the people you have met along the way and to hear the bagpipes on arrival.

Where to stamp your credential?

Remember that for the Compostela you need two stamps a day over the last 100 km. For this stage we recommend:

• Parish of San Vicente de Arca (O Pedrouzo): before setting off.
• Chapel of San Marcos (Monte do Gozo): a very emblematic stamp before you see the Cathedral.
• Pilgrim’s Office (Santiago): the final stamp, after your route is checked.

A tip: many bars and cafés in Lavacolla have artistic stamps, don’t be shy about asking for them.

Services sheet: O Pedrouzo – Santiago