Camino de Invierno a Santiago | Canadian Company of Pilgrims

The “Winter” Route

The Camino de Invierno is a way marked alternative to the Camino Frances route to Santiago.Beginning in Ponferrada, it follows riverbanks, climbs mountains, and passes through wilderness, farmlands, and small towns of the Bierzo region of León and all four of Galicia’s provinces. It merges with the Camino Sanabrés in A Laxe, about 50 km away from Santiago. In total, the Camino de Invierno is approximately 260 km from Ponferrada to Santiago, 50 km longer than walking along the Camino Frances.

The route primarily uses the old Roman route used for transporting ore from the mines which follows the Sil River. This route was preferred in winter – hence the name (Invierno) than crossing the snowy heights of O Cebreiro on the Camino Frances.

The Spanish association Camino de Invierno has both english and Spanish information about the route including guidebooks in both Gastilian and English.

Our own Geoff Travers based in Victoria BC, walked the route in August 2016 and details of his journey can be found here: