Stage 1: Sarria → Portomarín
Distance
Estimated time
Difficulty
Ascent
Descent
Day's Summary: Here's where the rock & roll begins!
Welcome to your first real day! Today you leave the preparations behind and immerse yourself completely in the magic of the Camino. The route from Sarria will take you through the most authentic Galicia: a rolling landscape of green hills, lush forests, and small stone villages that seem frozen in time. From what the pilgrims who stop here for their last sandwich tell us, this is one of the most popular stages. It is relatively simple and the landscapes, especially when you start to see the Miño River in the distance, are ones that will stay with you.
Points of Interest (and an honest confession)
Here comes our confession: it's been many years since we've walked the Camino ourselves (we have to pay the bar's mortgage, hahaha!). That's why we're not going to show you a bunch of photos of every church and every bridge. First, because we don't want to get sued for using other people's photos and have our business shut down. And second, because we think it's much more exciting for you to discover them with your own eyes. But we will tell you what you can't miss. Take note!
- The Old Town of Sarria: Spend a few minutes there before you leave. Its stone streets and medieval atmosphere are the perfect starting signal.
- The 100km Marker: The photo moment of the day! You will find the milestone that marks the last 100km to Santiago. It's an incredible morale boost.
- Church of San Silvestre: A small Romanesque treasure from the 12th century that you will find along the way.
- The Miño River: The prelude to your destination. Its beauty will give you strength for the last effort of the day.
- The Steps of Portomarín: The final climb to the town. Take it easy, it's the "final boss" of the stage.
- Church of San Nicolás in Portomarín: An impressive church-fortress with an incredible history: it was moved stone by stone to save it from the flooding of the reservoir in the 60s.
Survival Tips for the First Day
The Most Important Tip: The Accommodation "Plan B"
As we warned you in Stage 0, the Camino is crowded. If you arrive in Portomarín and the public albergue is full, don't panic! You are forced to move on, but there are options. Nearby towns like **Gonzar** or **Castromaior** have albergues. They are not large, but they can be your salvation. The ideal is to have their phone numbers handy or ask in the bars of Portomarín, there is always someone who knows where there is a free bed.
Other Tips for Surviving the First Day:
- Get up early, but not crazy early: Leaving early will help you avoid the midday heat, but you don't need to leave at night.
- "Grandma's" pace: Start slowly. Your body needs to get used to it. The first few kilometers are not a race.
- Stamp, stamp, stamp!: Remember your two daily stamps. It's easy to forget with the excitement of the first day.
- Try the "Aguardiente": In the square of Portomarín, if you dare, try a shot of aguardiente (orujo). It's the local drink, but be careful, it "scratches"!