This Camino continues to dazzle with its spectacular scenery. And is proving to be a excellent Camino to undertake as part or after one’s Camino de Santiago.
Most of this Camino spanning 200 kilometers is along the northwest coast of Galicia, Spain on the Costa de Muerte (Coast of Death) so named for the many shipwrecks on its rugged rocky shores. Today’s 32K stage is the longest but follows the shores of the Estuary of Camariñas with much gentler landscapes compared to the rest of the walk.
In fact this is the only stretch not following the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. So a very different but altogether pleasant experience.
Living in Muxia without a car we opted to take an early 7:26 bus from Muxia to Camariñas arriving just before 8AM and set out with deep blue skies, scattered clouds, the sun just rising on the horizon, and still calm waters of the Bay.
Today was very different from the Muxia to Lires to Finisterre stretch of the Camino de Faros where we passed no towns or bars during the walk. Here there were a few coastal villages and bars to stop at for a cafe or tea. We chose to stop in the town of Ponte do Porto (from the bridge crossing the Rio Grande near its mouth). It was conveniently located just about halfway.
The entire walk was beautiful. Several beaches, pleasant pine forests, and grand views of the Bay made for a great walking day. We were blessed with sunny skies and temperatures in the high teens so perfect for a long saunter by the sea.
After about 26K we connected with the Camino de Santiago for the final 5.4K to the town of Muxia, which was nice as for me reaching the Camino feels like reaching home.
Muxia is really turning out to be a hikers paradise. There are four day hikes out of Muxia we have now walked, 2 going opposite directions on the Camino de Faros and 2 on the Camino de Santiago (one to Finisterre and the other to Dumbria.)
So that is 3 days of the 8 day of the Camino de Faros. I intend to bus to Malpica at the start of the Camino soon and walk back to Muxia and home via Camariñas to complete the entire journey. That will have to wait until late June though as I am heading to Italy to walk the Via Francesco (Way of St. Francis). Having completed the Rome to Assisi section in November, 2020 it has been calling to walk the Florence to Assisi stretch. Buen Camino!
