How many days for Ponferrada to Santiago?

[rebecca ward]

Hi everyone

I am doing my first Camino this summer. I don't have anything booked yet but I'm hoping to go from either Ponferrada or O Cebreiro to Santiago. Does anyone know how many days I should allow to get from Ponferrada to Santiago? Also if I go from O Cebreiro, does that go through the mountains? And last question, what is the best airport to fly into? Madrid is the cheapest but I know its quite far away. I would be very grateful of any information. Thank you so much.

Rebecca

 

[shubertj]

Rebecca from Ponferrada you are looking at about 200km, so 10 days of walking would be a good estimate. If starting in O'Cebreiro you save 2 days and a long climb which is near the top of the mountains. Madrid would be my choice of airports to fly into plenty of choices of trains and bus schedules.

 

[Tincatinker]

A good friend has just returned from this trip. Fly to Madrid, train to Ponferrada, walk to Santiago. The mountain is a challenge but so is getting to O'thaybray-eeyo by public transport.

Buen camino

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Hi everyone

I am doing my first Camino this summer. I don't have anything booked yet but I'm hoping to go from either Ponferrada or O Cebreiro to Santiago. Does anyone know how many days I should allow to get from Ponferrada to Santiago? Also if I go from O Cebreiro, does that go through the mountains? And last question, what is the best airport to fly into? Madrid is the cheapest but I know its quite far away. I would be very grateful of any information. Thank you so much.

Rebecca

madrid is your best option.

then perhaps an ALSA bus from madrid to ponferrada +5 hours, or piedrafita do cebreiro (taxi or walk up the ill to o cebreiro) to start walking. there are trains to ponferrada but less frequent than buses (none to piedrafita)

some pilgrims do ponferrada to o cebreiro in three stages because of the difficult and long ascent. typically ponferrada to villafranca, then villafranca to o cebreiro (or stopping somewhere before o cebreiro, then perhaps not spending in the night in o cebreiro but continuing downhill to triacastela the next day).

from cebreiro, it's a classic 7-8 days to santiago

Buen Camino

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Rebecca, welcome to the forum. My husband and I walked from Ponferrada to Santiago in 9 days. We are in our 50s and of average fitness.

We flew into Madrid and travelled to Ponferrada by train from Chamartin station. It was all very simple. You can also take a bus (www.alsa.es) from Madrid airport to Ponferrada, so it's worth checking that out too.

Buen Camino!

 

[soozansings]

Hi everyone

I am doing my first Camino this summer. I don't have anything booked yet but I'm hoping to go from either Ponferrada or O Cebreiro to Santiago. Does anyone know how many days I should allow to get from Ponferrada to Santiago? Also if I go from O Cebreiro, does that go through the mountains? And last question, what is the best airport to fly into? Madrid is the cheapest but I know its quite far away. I would be very grateful of any information. Thank you so much.

Rebecca

Rebecca....what are your travel dates. I'm flying into Madrid but i start my Walk in Ponferrada on 6/3.