Help with Camino Frances: Sarria - Santiago (Santiago - Fenisterre)

[Rafael Pujols]

Hi,

Im planning to walk the camino on Jul 2017, from Sarria to Santiago (and if possible Santiago - Fenisterre), and i have some questions about it.

As I'll arrive to Madrid,
- I don't see any airport in Sarria, Which is the best / fast way to get to Sarria? to start walking as soon as possible.
- Should i flight from Madrid to Santiago and take a bus back to Sarria? or is there any other option?

- Which is the best / fast way to get back to madrid from santiago / fenisterre?

Any suggestion with a different route with a least 100km in order to get the compostela?

thanks

Rafael

 

[SYates]

There isn't any airport in Sarria ;-) For various travel options try http://www.rome2rio.com

Another option would be the Camino Ingles, there is a good up to date guide in the resources section of this forum here about it.

Buen Camino, SY

 

[Deanpf]

If you are taking the few days it takes to get to finisterre maybe consider adding those days to teh front of your route and startng before Sarria. The landscapes are beautiful and once you are in Sarria it really starts to get crowded. Then you could take a bus to Finisterre to see it and the ocean.
Just an option.
Buen Camino,
Dean

 

[Rafael Pujols]

There isn't any airport in Sarria ;-) For various travel options try http://www.rome2rio.com

Another option would be the Camino Ingles, there is a good up to date guide in the resources section of this forum here about it.

Buen Camino, SY

Thanks SYates,

I'll check Camino Ingles route

 

[Rafael Pujols]

If you are taking the few days it takes to get to finisterre maybe consider adding those days to teh front of your route and startng before Sarria. The landscapes are beautiful and once you are in Sarria it really starts to get crowded. Then you could take a bus to Finisterre to see it and the ocean.
Just an option.
Buen Camino,
Dean

Thanks Dean

 

[Castilian]

I don't see any airport in Sarria, Which is the best / fast way to get to Sarria? to start walking as soon as possible.

You have several options:

• To take a train from downtown Madrid (Chamartín train station) to Sarria. To go from Madrid airport to Chamartín train station take a Cercanías (commuter) train out of Terminal 4. For info about trains www.renfe.com
• To take a bus from Madrid airport to Lugo (with www.alsa.es/en) and another one from Lugo to Sarria (with www.monbus.es).
• To fly to Santiago de Compostela airport. Once in Santiago de Compostela airport, you can take a bus to Lugo with www.empresafreire.com and another one from Lugo to Sarria with www.monbus. Some days, you can take a bus from Santiago de Compostela airport to downtown Santiago de Compostela with Empresa Freire and a bus from downtown Santiago de Compostela to Sarria with Monbus but direct buses from Santiago de Compostela to Sarria don't run daily so check availability on your travel date and if the schedule suits you.

Compare all the options, travel times and prices and decide by yourself which one suits you better. Be aware train schedules for July 2017 won't be available till sometime in 2017. The same may be true for some bus schedules like Monbus' ones.

Which is the best / fast way to get back to madrid from santiago

Fastest? A flight back from Santiago de Compostela airport.

Best? It depends on your personal preferences. You can take a bus from downtown Santiago de Compostela to Madrid (either downtown or airport) with Alsa. You can also take a train from downtown Santiago de Compostela to Madrid (Chamartín train station) with RENFE.

Any suggestion with a different route with a least 100km in order to get the compostela?

You may consider the Camino Inglés out of Ferrol. To reach Ferrol from Madrid, you can take a bus out of the airport or out of the downtown with Alsa. You can also take a train out of Chamartín station with RENFE. And you can fly to A Coruña, take the bus linking A Coruña airport with downtown A Coruña (operated by http://autoscalpita.com) and another bus from downtown A Coruña to Ferrol (operated by www.arriva.gal).

Or you could walk the last 100 kms of the Camino Sanabrés (in which case you would start in Ourense) or of the Camino Primitivo (in which case you would start in Lugo). Both Lugo and Ourense are easy to reach from Madrid by bus or train or a mix of flight to Santiago de Compostela and bus(es) onwards.

 

[Rafael Pujols]

There isn't any airport in Sarria ;-) For various travel options try http://www.rome2rio.com

Another option would be the Camino Ingles, there is a good up to date guide in the resources section of this forum here about it.

Buen Camino, SY

Thanks SYates,
I've found train that takes me to Sarria from Madrid, and seems a good option (for now). For you, which rout do you think is most beautiful to walk, Sarria - SDC or Camino Ingles.?

 

[Rafael Pujols]

If you are taking the few days it takes to get to finisterre maybe consider adding those days to teh front of your route and startng before Sarria. The landscapes are beautiful and once you are in Sarria it really starts to get crowded. Then you could take a bus to Finisterre to see it and the ocean.
Just an option.
Buen Camino,
Dean

Thanks Deanpf,

Your advise sounds good for me, because im getting into nature and landscape photography as a hobby. At what point do you think i could star before Sarria.

 

[SYates]

I am the wrong one to ask about the Camino Ingles, as I said there is a free guide in the resources section. The CI will be certainly much quieter than the last 100km on the CF. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Rafael Pujols]

If you are taking the few days it takes to get to finisterre maybe consider adding those days to teh front of your route and startng before Sarria. The landscapes are beautiful and once you are in Sarria it really starts to get crowded. Then you could take a bus to Finisterre to see it and the ocean.
Just an option.
Buen Camino,
Dean

Hi Deanpf,

Thanks for your advice. I've been analyzing it, and i found that starting in Astorga (Leon) i will see Cruz the ferro, a place that i will like to visit. I will keep you posted.

 

[Jennifer from Colorado]

Hi,

Im planning to walk the camino on Jul 2017, from Sarria to Santiago (and if possible Santiago - Fenisterre), and i have some questions about it.

As I'll arrive to Madrid,
- I don't see any airport in Sarria, Which is the best / fast way to get to Sarria? to start walking as soon as possible.
- Should i flight from Madrid to Santiago and take a bus back to Sarria? or is there any other option?

- Which is the best / fast way to get back to madrid from santiago / fenisterre?

Any suggestion with a different route with a least 100km in order to get the compostela?

thanks

Rafael

Rafael, this doesn't answer your question but I have to put in my 2 cents.
I started my Camino on 23 May and today I am in Palas de Rei, passing through Sarria 2 days ago.
I have loved my Camino, until Sarria.

I am now depressed and miserable, and for the first time, want my Camino to be over. It's crowded beyond belief. Not just crowded but mobbed by the rudest young people I've ever seen. They lock arms, 6 abreast, and won't let you pass. They sing rude, crude music, at the top of their lungs. This morning in Portomarin about 300 kids started at one time, yelling through the town.

I was prepared for a vast increase in tourists. I wasn't prepared for the kids, DOZENS of them to barge in during Mass and ask in loud voices to the congregation where the sellos where kept. DURING the mass!

I wasn't prepared for watching the kids graffiti the churches and markers and sides of houses...while we watched! We tell them to stop and they respond (in Spanish) to "f!#$ off. "

No more friendly "Buen Caminos" anymore. If you exchange a BC to the mob, they laugh at you.

I am only three days from entering Santiago and for the first time, I want to quit.

I cannot imagine anymore why anyone would want to start their Camino in Sarria. This is a most depressing experience.

Good luck in your planning but I'd suggest any other stage.

A sad pilgrim,
Jennifer

 

[leicoppes]

Dear Jennifer,what you tell sounds very familiar to me,but in 2013 it was perhaps not that bad as it is now.For me was it after Sarria not that nice as before.To crowded and just another typ of pelgrims!!

 

[Montana Jayne]

We encountered a few large groups of kids last fall on the CF. They seemed to be organized school groups. They weren't as rude as what Jennifer described, but obnoxious behavior in the albergues. Real negative for me ... but I hope you can press on inspite of this experience as ugly as it is.

 

[MeliCunn]

Rafael, this doesn't answer your question but I have to put in my 2 cents.
I started my Camino on 23 May and today I am in Palas de Rei, passing through Sarria 2 days ago.
I have loved my Camino, until Sarria.

I am now depressed and miserable, and for the first time, want my Camino to be over. It's crowded beyond belief. Not just crowded but mobbed by the rudest young people I've ever seen. They lock arms, 6 abreast, and won't let you pass. They sing rude, crude music, at the top of their lungs. This morning in Portomarin about 300 kids started at one time, yelling through the town.

I was prepared for a vast increase in tourists. I wasn't prepared for the kids, DOZENS of them to barge in during Mass and ask in loud voices to the congregation where the sellos where kept. DURING the mass!

I wasn't prepared for watching the kids graffiti the churches and markers and sides of houses...while we watched! We tell them to stop and they respond (in Spanish) to "f!#$ off. "

No more friendly "Buen Caminos" anymore. If you exchange a BC to the mob, they laugh at you.

I am only three days from entering Santiago and for the first time, I want to quit.

I cannot imagine anymore why anyone would want to start their Camino in Sarria. This is a most depressing experience.

Good luck in your planning but I'd suggest any other stage.

A sad pilgrim,
Jennifer

Well, geez Jennifer.........I already have my airfare for September to walk from Sarria to SDC! Should I cancel and stay home? You make it sound absolutely miserable. And I have really been looking forward to this journey.

 

[Castilian]

I already have my airfare for September to walk from Sarria to SDC! Should I cancel and stay home?

If you are worried about crowds between Sarria and Santiago, you can always walk 100 kms on another route heading to Santiago. You could walk, for example, the Camino Inglés out of Ferrol, or the Camino Sanabrés out of Ourense...

 

[MeliCunn]

If you are worried about crowds between Sarria and Santiago, you can always walk 100 kms on another route heading to Santiago. You could walk, for example, the Camino Inglés out of Ferrol, or the Camino Sanabrés out of Ourense...

Thanks for the information Castilian!
I was being a bit facetious, I don't intend on cancelling or letting someone else's bad experience sway me from going. Since this is my first Camino and nothing to compare it to, how will I know that it is crowded or not crowded? I intend to walk and enjoy the journey moment by moment with no expectations!

 

[Castilian]

I intend to walk and enjoy the journey moment by moment with no expectations

Great! That way you won't be defrauded! Enjoy every step and every stop of your camino and try to make the most of it! ¡Buen Camino!