Leg 2: The Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela
- Ben
- Jun 8, 2023
- 2 min read
On this leg of the journey we cycled a large part of the classic Camino de Santiago route from Burgos to Santiago de Compostela.
Day 4: Burgos to Castrojeriz
After a day off chilling out in Burgos, we embark on Day 4 of cycling - the first day on the Camino Frances route. Our destination is a very atractive hillside village called Castrojeriz.
43km / 230m uphill
Day 5: Castrojeriz to Carrion de los Condes
A fairly easy cycle through pleasant (if a little unchanging) wheatfields and low hills. Carrion de los Condes is nice little town: our hostel was above a cafe on the busy main square. This cafe was where my dad discovered platos combinados, which became his consistent food order for the rest of the trip.
45km / 175m uphill
Day 6: Carrion de los Condes to Berciano del Real Camino
More pretty little towns and villages. A lot more walkers (many of them VERY footsore) on the route now. But also, thankfully, a lot of places to get good tortilla.
52km / 198m uphill
Day 7: Bercianos to Leon
A slightly longer day today, but with the bright lights and big city of Leon at the end. Great food, wine and buzzing plazas full of people! And we have a rest day to follow too!
54km / 150m uphill
Day 8: Leon to Astorga
After a very enjoyable rest day in Leon, we start hitting foothills on our way to O Cebreiro. But tonight we stop in Astorga, which is a small but beautiful town.
53km / 260m uphill
Day 9: Astorga to Acebo
Heading out of Astorga we start to leave the heat of the mesa and head into the hills through small rustic villages. And a lot more uphill.
39km / 720m uphill
Day 10: Acebo to Villafranca del Bierzo
Cycling down from Acebo into a sort of caldera valley. This area (like a lot of Spain) has a small but persistent seperatist movement. The town of Villafranca del Bierzo is perched at the bottom of the hills on the far side.
40km / 190m uphill
Day 11: Villafranca del Bierzo to Portomarin
After a rest day in Villafrance del Bierzo, during which we frantically tried (and failed) to get accommodation in O Cebreiro, we took a taxi there instead. It is a steep climb and likely to take a whole day by bike, so we decided to replan and start from there instead. It was still a long ride to Portomarin.
70km / 730m uphill
Day 12: Portomarin to Melide
After a hearty breakfast in Portomarin, an attractive if slightly tacky riverside town, we spent the morning slogging uphill. Our destination at the end of the day is the quaint municipality of Melide.
40km / 592m uphill
Day 13: Melide to Santiago de Compostela
This day is a bit of a grind, but the excitement is rising as we see ever more pilgrims on the road. And at the end of today we will have completed the first half of our trip. Destination: Santiago de Compostela!
65km / 670m uphill
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