Prepare your Way - Ribadeo Camiño Norte

Prepare
your
Way

Ribadeo is the gateway in Galicia of the Northern Route, and as such, it becomes a point of reference for the pilgrim, either as a starting place of the route towards Compostela, or as a stop point to rest on their journey, offering an attractive and dynamic setting to those users who decide to choose this Saint James way.

As a starting point, Ribadeo is one of the main Galician towns chosen year after year by pilgrims. The geographical location of Ribadeo, on the Mariña (‘coast’) of Lugo, its condition as a communications hub by road with Asturias and the richness of its marine and terrestrial ecosystems make this town one of the most prosperous in the province and a very attractive and thriving starting point for pilgrims who choose to make the Northern Route.

How to get here

By car

Getting to Ribadeo in your own car or renting a car at any of the airports is a very good option, as it will give you the freedom to discover many places that will surely make your stay in our town much more enriching.

The Autovía del Cantábrico (A8) makes very easy to arrive at Ribadeo by car from any point. It connects us to the whole north of the state and at the same time it links us with the rest of Galicia thanks to its connection with the A6.

In the same way, the N-642 is the principal road of all the Mariña, through which we reach Ribadeo from any point in the north of the province of Lugo; on the Ribadeo-A Veiga section, it also allows the connection with the capital city of the province through the N-640.

You can either reach Ribadeo from different points or you can choose it as a stopping place to discover places like Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña and Avilés, which are approximately at one and a half hour drive, or Lugo which a little more than an hour drive.

By bus

Ribadeo has a bus station located on Avenida Rosalía de Castro. It connects the town centre with other cities of Galicia and part of the country. The following bus companies operate:

Arriva that connects with a great part of Galicia.

Alsa that connects Ribadeo with the rest of the country, especially the Cantabric coast and Madrid.

Useful telephone numbers:
Bus station: 982 130 805
Alsa: 982 131 060

By train

Train – FEVE: Along the coast of the town council passes the Ferrol-Gijón FEVE line, with stopping places in Esteiro (the nearest to the beach of As Catedrais), Os Castros, Rinlo and Ribadeo. This is a very good option to enjoy the striking landscapes and if you have enough time to know the different towns it passes by.

In this way Ribadeo is connected by train with all the town councils of the coast of Lugo and the west of Asturias.

Fill your rucksacks with new sensations

Catalogue of useful products and services for the pilgrim

In every corner you will find a shop or establishment that defines the day-to-day routine of the local population and its commercial dynamism.

The local commerce stands out for its quality and diversity with an extended and flexible opening times, adapted to the needs of pilgrims.

Here you can find everything you need to plan and start the route (sports shops, acquisition of credentials, guidebooks of the Way in Galicia, etc.); or to make a small stop on the way and relax enjoying a wide range of services (pharmacies, chiropody clinics, physiotherapy centres, laundry facilities, bike repair shops), complemented by a quality local gastronomy.

In addition, Ribadeo has a public hostel for pilgrims that remains open throughout the year, as well as hostels in private ownership, that together with the important existing lodging infrastructure, offer pilgrims numerous options during their visit to our town.

The Way of Saint James

Stage 1

0 km

Ribadeo
|
Vilanova de Lourenzá

Stage 2

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Vilanova de Lourenzá
|
Abadín

Stage 3

0 km

Abadín
|
Vilalba

Abadín | Martiñán | Goiriz | Vilalba

Stage 4

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Vilalba
|
Baamonde

Stage 5

0 km

Baamonde
|
Sobrado dos Monxes

Stage 6

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Sobrado dos Monxes
|
Arzúa

Stage 7

0 km

Arzúa
|
Arca (O Pino)

Stage 8

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Arca
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Santiago de Compostela

The weather on the Way

On the Meteogalicia website you can consult the weather forecast for every stage of the Way. You will be able to see the forecast for the morning or the afternoon of the same day or the day after, consult the temperature, thermic forecast or relevant meteors.

The pilgrim's credential

If you are going to start the Saint James Way you will need to get your credential. The Pilgrim’s Credential or certification is the successor document of that given to pilgrims in the Middle Ages as safe-conduct.

It is a personal document that proves your condition as a pilgrim and that will be required in many hostels to stay the night or in other establishments be entitled to certain benefits.

In addition, in the credential you will be able to collect the stamps along your journey in order to verify you have done the Way. You should keep in mind that for the expedition of the Compostela in the ‘Oficina de atención al peregrino’, you will need to stamp at least twice a day in the event of making the minimum kilometres required or making the Camino in odd stages.

Remember that, to receive the Compostela, it is important to have 2 stamps per day at least in the last 100 km on foot or on horseback and in the last 200 km by bike.

Where to stamp it

Where to get it

The pilgrim's credential

Where to stamp it

Where to get it

The pilgrim's credential

Online system to register the pilgrims data

In order to speed up the process of obtaining the Compostela, and following the health recommendations to avoid the use of paper, the ‘Oficina de Acogida al Pregrino’ has brought into operation an online system to fill in the data of every pilgrim, as a previous step to collect the Compostela. In this way, the pilgrim can enter his personal data in advance, as well as the distance covered or the motivation of the pilgrimage.

Useful links

For the purpose of helping to compile information to plan the journey and settle any doubt it is shown below a little selection of recommended webs and guides:

caminodesantiago.gal

Official web of the Saint James Way that includes information, news and a planner that makes you easier the process of the route.

oficinadelperegrino.com

Official web of the ‘Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino’ of Santiago de Compostela, depending on the Santiago’s Cathedral.

caminosantiago.org

Official web of the ‘Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino de Santiago’ that helps to prepare the route.

amigosdelcamino.com

Official web of the ‘Asociación Galega de Amigos do Camiño de Santiago’.

gronze.com

Digital guide specialized in the Saint James Way with useful, updated and participative information about the main routes of the Saint James Way.

editorialbuencamino.com

Web, specialized guidebooks and the application of the publishing house ‘Buen Camino’ entirely devoted to the Saint James Way.

consumer.es

Information about the routes, hostels, maps and guidebooks.

vivecamino.com

It is a digital magazine with information about how to prepare your journey, the routes, the news about the Way and a social network to know and contact other pilgrims.

Mobile applications

CaminoSantiago

They are the official free applications of the Saint James Way and they are available for iOS and Android platforms.

Camino de Santiago

It is an online and off-line guide about the Saint James Way that includes cultural and practical information of the stages.

Buen Camino de Santiago

Route guide with maps and location, stages planner, weather information. In Spanish, French, German and Italian.

amigosdelcamino.com

It has all the information about the different routes and stages, tourist sites and some advice to start the journey, together with a social network that allows pilgrims to share the experience and settle any doubt or incident.

Camino Assist

With Camino Assist you will be able to plan your journey, know the different itineraries, the stages, lodgings and interesting sites.

Camino de Santiago Erosky

It allows to consult the kilometres of every stage and see detailed descriptions of itineraries to organize yourself. It also includes information about the hostels of the Saint James Way, with the users opinions and comments.