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The Finisterre-Muxía Way is an ancient route full of magical sites, rites and legends. Unlike other Jacobean routes, it does not lead to Santiago de Compostela, but starts from there, offering pilgrims the opportunity to extend their experience beyond the holy city. This route has two possible destinations: the lighthouse of Finisterre, 87 km away, or Muxía, 114 km away.
This route is characterised by its route through spectacular coastal landscapes, beaches and cliffs that contrast with the more inland and mountainous views of other routes of the Camino.
As a peculiarity, those who finish the Finisterre-Muxía Way, in addition to the Compostela, will be able to obtain two lay accreditation documents of having completed the route: the Finisterrana and the Muxiniana.
The Finisterre-Muxía Way starts in Santiago de Compostela. This route is the extension of the Way that links Santiago de Compostela with the amazing Costa da Morte, in the northwest of Spain. This route passes through towns such as Santiago de Compostela, Corcubión, Finisterre and Muxía.
Santiago de Compostela, a place where spirituality, history and culture converge, is one of the most important centres of Christian pilgrimage along with the cities of Jerusalem and Rome.
Its historic centre of cobbled streets was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, and is home to numerous monasteries, temples and stately manor houses that reflect the very essence of the city. In the heart of the Old City you will find the emblematic Obradoiro square. The end point of the Camino de Santiago, this is where all the pilgrim routes converge and is a meeting place for pilgrims and locals alike. Here you will find the Cathedral of Santiago, where the remains of the Apostle rest.
Leaving Santiago behind, you will arrive at Ponte Maceira. This town was built around a millenary bridge of Roman origin over the river Tambre. Surrounded by an incomparable natural environment, legend has it that the Apostle’s disciples crossed this bridge when they were fleeing from the Romans, and once they had crossed it, the bridge collapsed just to drop their pursuers into the river.
Opening the estuary with its own name, we find the municipality of Corcubión. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages and it was an important commercial and fishing port. Its historic centre, declared a Historic-Artistic Site, preserves numerous buildings from past times. At 13 km from Fisterra, many pilgrims make a stop to discover this municipality on their final stretch of the pilgrimage.
Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and close to Finisterre, Cee is a place of legend. This town is located near the mouth of the river Corcubión and is surrounded by hills and mountains. This makes it an attractive place for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts.
Considered by the Romans as the end of the world, Finisterre is a magical place of legend. It is a very attractive destination as it is the meeting place between land and sea forming stunning coastal scenery and incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Finisterre is one of the most significant destinations for pilgrims on the Camino de Finisterre-Muxía. It is loaded with symbolism, as it was also associated with purification and rebirth and many pilgrims burned their old clothes as an act of spiritual renewal at the end of the Camino de Santiago.
Birthplace of fishermen and legends, this coastal town is one of the most mystical places on the Costa da Morte. Its historic centre retains all its charm thanks to its narrow streets and stonework houses, and is home to monuments as important as the Pedra de Abalar or the Sanctuary of Virxe da Barca.
Muxía is the last stop on the Finisterre-Muxía Way.
One of the reasons why people make the pilgrimage to this town is because of its great religious symbolism. Legend has it that during her journey to Hispania, the Virgin made a stop in Muxía to encourage the Apostle Santiago in his preaching.
Located in the heart of the town of Corcubión, this temple has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest. It dates back to the 12th century and its style combines seafaring Gothic, Baroque in its cruceiro chapels, and the neo-Gothic style of the facade.
This is a historic crossroads located in Dumbría. It consists of a platform with three steps on which the pedestal of the cruceiro sits. On the front is the figure of Christ and on the back is the figure of the Virgin with the body of Christ in her lap. Located in the middle of the route, the pilgrims who pass by pile stones next to it, covering the steps.
Langosteira is a white sandy beach with turquoise and crystal clear waters located at Cape Finisterre. From the beach, one of the best panoramic views of the territory can be seen, with the massif of Mount Pindo as the main protagonist. This beach is a place of passage for many pilgrims on their way to the end of their route, Cape Finisterre.
In an environment where the Atlantic Ocean and the river Xallas converge, we find the Ézaro waterfall, a unique landscape in Europe. The granite formations that surround this natural landscape in Dumbría form a spectacular view of colours and shapes.
In ancient times, it was described as a huge smoke that could be seen from several kilometres out to sea, so it acted as a real lighthouse for sailors crossing this coastline.
On the slopes of O Castelo in Dumbría, at an altitude of almost 440 metres, is the Pena do Braza, a curious and unknown natural phenomenon in Galicia. Its silhouette shows the balance of two enormous rocks that have been stacked on top of each other for thousands of years. This formation is located just 400 m from the Camino de Finisterre, but goes unnoticed by many pilgrims due to the scarce signage.
In the middle of Finisterre Bay, we find Monte Pindo, a group of peaks located between the municipalities of Cee, Dumbría, Carnota and Mazaricos and the estuaries of Corcubión, Muros and Noia. Also known as the Celtic Olympus, a multitude of stories have revolved around it for centuries. Legends tell that the arrangement of the stones are actually the spirits of druids and Celtic heroes and that this mountain is the resting place of the remains of Queen Lupa.
In an environment of indigenous trees and a few minutes from Santiago de Compostela, is the Bosque do Peregrino. With a viewpoint overlooking the Val da Maía, it is a place of rest and reflection for pilgrims on the Camino de Finisterre.
The Camino de Finisterre is a very affordable route for those who are new to the Camino. It has little difficulty compared to other routes of the Camino de Santiago, which facilitates its route.
The Finisterre Way has a distance of 87 km from Santiago de Compostela if your goal is Finisterre. On the other hand, if you want to continue to Muxía, the total distance will be 114 km.
Most pilgrims who walk this route walk an average of 20 km per day, but it will be important to plan the stages according to your level of fitness so that the sense of difficulty is not affected.
The Camino de Finisterre is generally flat and characterised by short stretches with moderate elevation. Along the route, you will encounter various types of terrain such as country roads, paved roads, hills and trails. In some sections, it is possible to encounter uneven paths, mainly located between Santiago and Mazaricos, but they will not pose any difficulty to continue the route.
Galicia is characterised by mild temperatures on the coast (with strong winds) and regular and more extreme rainfall inland due to the oceanic climate characteristic of this region. The diversity of the Galician climate varies according to a maritime northern and western zone, and a more Mediterranean southern zone.
Winter averages between 6º and 10º in the coldest months and between 18º and 24º in the warmest months.
The cairns and the yellow arrows path can be glimpsed throughout the route. The first sign is in the park of San Lorenzo in Compostela and from this point, the signs include the remaining km to both Fisterra and Muxía. Thanks to the good signage, pilgrims who make the Camino de Finisterre-Muxía can follow this route very easily.
The route of the Camino de Finisterre has a total of 87 km from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre. And 30 km more if you add the section Finisterre – Muxía. Our recommendation is to divide the Camino de Finisterre in 5 stages. This way you will walk about 15-20 km/day (3-6h approx). Following this recommendation the stages of the Camino de Finisterre would be as follows:
If you wish to continue to Muxía, the stages would be:
If you are worried that the stages are too long or if you prefer a more relaxed pace, we can split them in two or add extra nights for you to rest. Remember that the Camino is not a race, but a unique experience. Enjoying the journey should be the main concern of the pilgrim on this route of the Camino de Santiago.
Our recommendation is that you do the Camino de Finisterre in spring or summer, as temperatures are more pleasant.
In spring, temperatures are mild but there is a higher probability of rain. Nevertheless, it is together with autumn, the best time to do the route.
The summer months are the most popular time for pilgrimages, as the temperatures make long walks easier. The north of Spain, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Galicia’s own latitude, has milder temperatures, preventing it from getting too hot. You will be grateful for this during the long walks!
In ancient times, the Romans considered Finisterre as the place where the world ended and the sun died. This belief, together with the powers attributed to this star, led to the construction of an altar at Cape Finisterre to worship the sun. As a result, the Celts began to follow the sun on pilgrimage to Finisterre, where they held various purification rituals. Muxía, for its part, was also the site of megalithic cults of the Celtic culture.
Thus, unlike the other routes of the Camino de Santiago, the Finisterre-Muxía Way was born as a pagan route, but soon became part of the network of roads that pilgrims travelled to Santiago de Compostela.
However, it was not only pagan rites that encouraged pilgrims to follow this route. According to the history of the Finisterre-Muxía Way, it was the apostle who destroyed the altar built at Cape Finisterre, asking, instead, for the construction of the chapel of San Guillermo, now disappeared.
The Christianisation of the Finisterre-Muxía Way contributed to the route becoming more popular during the Middle Ages. However, as happened with the other routes to Santiago, this route experienced a significant decline from the 16th century onwards until its recovery in the 20th century.
Good hydration and nutrition is essential. Make sure you stay hydrated during the Camino and eat healthy and energetic food to maintain your energy level.
Bring a raincoat. The weather conditions on the Atlantic coast are varied so we recommend that you always carry a rain jacket in your backpack.
Clothing should be light, breathable and insulating. As for footwear, we recommend waterproof trekking boots, with good cushioning and that you have not worn before to avoid chafing.
If you need detailed information to start preparing your trip, you can access here.
¡Buen Camino!
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