After exiting Ponferrada, we enter right into the heart of the region of El Bierzo, among mountains and forests. We should be careful in the summer, since temperatures rise easily. We pass through the villages of Columbrianos, Fuentes Nuevas, Camponayara and Cacabelos, where the road starts climbing towards Pieros. Here we can choose to continue through the “official” route, that goes along the N-VI motorway, or take a variant through a rural road.

Villafranca del Bierzo, our destination, is known for the church of Santiago and its “Puerta del Perdón” (Forgiveness Gate), which opens only during Holy Years. Pope Calixtus III gave to sick or disabled pilgrims the privilege of getting the same indulgences when reaching this gate than if they had walked all the way to Santiago.

We are getting closer to Galicia, but before we’ll have to cross during this stage the Valcarce river valley. The road follows during some zones the same path than the old N-VI motorway.

Many guidebooks take O Cebreiro as the destination of this stage, but the climb to it is one of the most complicated ones in the Camino, so we’ll stop in Las Herrerías, right before its beginning.

This stage consists almost entirely in the famous climb to O Cebreiro, where we’ll ascend almost 700 m. in 12 km. At the end we’ll find ourselves at Galicia’s entry gates in O Cebreiro, town where the father Elías Valiña is buried. Valiña was the great promoter of the Camino de Santiago in the XX century, and responsable for the current revival of the Camino.

O Cabreiro is also known for a miracle that reportedly happened in the XIV century, when the wine of a Mass turned into blood.

The first galician stage of the Camino goes through meadows, forest paths and small villages: Liñares, Padornelo, Fonfría... Starting from O Biduedo, we’ll find a steep descent until we reach Triacastela, one of the many towns that grew around the Camino.

After leaving the town, we’ll have to pick between two paths: through San Xil valley or through the monastery of Samos. The first option takes us through beautiful forests and small villages, while the second one is 5 km. longer, but will allow us to visit the historic monastery, founded in the VI century.

In either case, our final destination is Sarriá, known for being the starting point chosen by most pilgrims to begin their Camino, and thus full of all kinds of hostels and services for traveller.