Santander onwards

[seanmcauley]

I'm starting in Santander having finished there last year on the 6th July. The first section appears very long for a first day toSantillana. Should I do 10k after I arrive at 5.00pm to e.g.Santa Cruz and make the next day easier?

 

[Tia Valeria]

Sounds like a good idea. Either there or else Boo de Pielagos, which is 14kms from Santander. There is an albergue there and the Hosteria de Boo, which is also an eating house/restaurant.
Buen Camino
TerryB and Tia V

 

[Dave]

Should I do 10k after I arrive at 5.00pm to e.g.Santa Cruz and make the next day easier?

I think it's wise to avoid the full walk to Santillana, though it might be more manageable if you work in the different shortcuts that get it down to ~30km. Keep in mind that the "stages" are fictions, really. You can slice these kms up however you want. There are now a bunch of albergues along this stretch: http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/etapa-de-santander-a-queveda

If you're comfortable with getting in 8km (and skipping past Santander), it might make for a decent evening stroll. If you do this, I'd probably reserve a bed at Albergue Nimon in Santa Cruz, just to play it safe.

 

[seanmcauley]

Sounds like a good idea. Either there or else Boo de Pielagos, which is 14kms from Santander. There is an albergue there and the Hosteria de Boo, which is also an eating house/restaurant.
Buen Camino
TerryB and Tia V

Have you stayed in the hostel in Boo?

 

[Tia Valeria]

Terry stayed there in 2009 (see his post) and we had a meal there this year. He arrived on the ferry at lunchtime and walked straight out of Santander. Not sure how you are arriving but if it is 5pm it might take another hour to clear the ferry-port or airport!. Booking your first night where-ever you decide to aim for could be a good idea. If you do book I suggest that you give them your estimated arrival time so you don't figure as a 'no -show'. The ferry company says to advise any arrival after 6pm, which seems. IMO, to be good advice for any booking

 

[TerryB]

Have you stayed in the hostel in Boo?

I stayed there back in 2009 and we ate in the restaurant this year in May, a good Menu del Dia. They have their own web page.
:-http://www.hosteriadeboo.com/inicio_68892.html
An e-mail would find out the price of a night.

Blessings on your planning
Tio Tel

 

[LTfit]

Or you can just enjoy Santander once again and leave the following morning.

I just finished the Santander - Ribadesella stretch and found when arriving in Santillana that many people "shortened" the stage by taking the carretera rather than visiting all the little pueblos along the coast. If you do the long version it is 37 km according to Gronze.