Route of the Vilanova de Arousa – Padrón stage (35 km)
The stage that gives the Spiritual Variant its meaning: the journey of the Traslatio, the tradition that says the Apostle’s body arrived by sea, sailing up the Arousa estuary and the River Ulla. You can do it by boat as far as Pontecesures and walk from there to Padrón, or do all of it on foot along the edge of the estuary, through Vilagarcía and Catoira: 35 km (21.7 miles), the longest on the variant.
KM 0
1.6 km
5.1 km
6.3 km
9.0 km
Vilagarcía de Arousa
Fountains and toilets at Compostela beach. You can follow the unmarked seafront promenade or the official route through the Botanical Park.
11.3 km
O Carril
Restaurants on Rúa da Mariña and a public albergue: this is the place to split the stage in two. Its listing is on the Vilanova de Arousa page.
19.8 km
25.3 km
32.7 km
Pontecesures
The boat lands here and here the variant rejoins the Central Route. There is a public albergue.
35 km
Vilanova de Arousa – Padrón: stage guide
Stage profile
Distance: 35 km (21.7 miles) on foot. Estimated time: about 9 h. Difficulty: medium-high because of the distance, as the terrain is almost flat. By boat, the day changes completely: the crossing to Pontecesures and about 2.3 km on foot to Padrón.
By boat: the Traslatio along the Arousa estuary and the Ulla
The boats leave from the Vilanova Maritime Station and land at Pontecesures, already on the Central Route. Along the way you see the cruceiros that were put up on the banks and on the islets of the estuary and the Ulla, a unique maritime and river Way of the Cross. The best-known operator, La Barca del Peregrino, publishes a price of €30 per person on its website and sets the departures each week according to the tide, so there is no fixed timetable: you have to book a place on its website or at its office next to the harbour, and it is wise to do so in advance because the boat needs a minimum number of passengers to sail.
On foot: through Vilagarcía and Catoira
If you prefer to walk, follow the edge of the estuary through Vilaxoán, Vilagarcía de Arousa and O Carril, and then the Camino Real along the Ulla valley, passing through Catoira and Valga to Pontecesures. It is 35 km: many pilgrims split it by sleeping in the public albergue in O Carril, at km 11.3. Some stretches of the Camino Real before and after Catoira flood in the rain and may be closed off by vegetation.
What to see
- Torres de Oeste in Catoira, rebuilt in the 10th century to hold back the Vikings who sailed up the Ulla towards Compostela. Since 1961, on the first Sunday of August, the Romería Vikinga has re-enacted a landing.
- Cruceiros of the estuary and the Ulla, which you see mainly from the boat.
- Pontecesures, with two 14th-century cruceiros and the old Roman port beneath the present one.
- O Pedrón, under the altar of the church of Santiago in Padrón: the Roman altar stone that tradition turned into the mooring of the Apostle’s boat.
A bit of history
Tradition says that, after the martyrdom of Saint James in Jerusalem, his disciples carried the body by sea to Iria Flavia, today Padrón, sailing up the Arousa estuary and the Ulla. There are no documents to prove it, but the legend gave Padrón its name, from the pedrón (stone) where the boat was tied, and gave this stage its meaning. The first modern crossing of the estuary was organised in 1965, and in 1999 the foundation that promotes the maritime route was created.
Food and drink
When you reach Padrón, you must try its peppers, grown mainly in Herbón and with protected designation of origin: some are hot and some are not. The Ulla valley is also a sub-zone of the Rías Baixas designation, and the Arousa estuary is the great mussel-raft area.
Practical tips
- If you are going to take the boat, book it in advance and confirm the departure time the day before: it changes with the tide.
- On foot, the stage is very long: consider sleeping in O Carril and continuing the next day.
- At Baltasar, cross the PO-548 with great care.
- From Padrón it is 24.4 km (15.2 miles) to Santiago on the last stage of the Central Route.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilometres is it from Vilanova de Arousa to Padrón?
35 km (21.7 miles) on foot. By boat you sail to Pontecesures and from there it is about 2.3 km on foot to Padrón.
How much does the Traslatio boat cost?
La Barca del Peregrino publishes €30 per person on its website. Confirm it when you book, because the price may change from one year to the next.
What time does the boat leave?
There is no fixed timetable: departures are set each week according to the tide. Check the operator’s website and book before you arrive in Vilanova.
Does the boat section count towards the Compostela?
The Pilgrim’s Office does not publish anything specific about this crossing. What is certain is that, to request the Compostela, you must have walked at least the last 100 km, and from Pontevedra there are fewer than that: if you do the Spiritual Variant, start at Tui at the very least.