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Highlights
Walk the Winter Way on a slower pace with plenty of time to explore
Learn about the historical significance of the route as you walk the path traditionally chosen by medieval pilgrims during the coldest months.
Walk the challenging and rough terrain at certain points, making it suitable for experienced pilgrims who are up for a challenging journey.
Get the feeling of the rural Spain with limited services along the way, as the route may have fewer amenities compared to more popular pilgrimage routes.
Observe the spectacular landscapes as you walk among vineyards, canyons, and the wild nature of the Galicia region for a unique and beautiful experience.
Walk the Camino de Invierno from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela on this scenic 16-day self-guided pilgrimage through some of northern Spain’s most peaceful and rewarding landscapes. Originally used as a winter alternative to the Camino Francés, the Camino de Invierno offers a quieter route through the Bierzo region, the dramatic Roman gold-mining landscape of Las Médulas, the vineyards of Valdeorras, and the beautiful Sil Valley. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional Galician villages, chestnut forests, riverside paths, rolling farmland, and historic towns, while enjoying stays in carefully selected charming hotels and guesthouses.
This self-guided Camino de Invierno walking tour is designed to make the journey as seamless as possible, with daily luggage transfers allowing you to walk with just a daypack and local in-country support available throughout your trip. As the route continues through the Ribeira Sacra and inland Galicia, you’ll experience peaceful countryside, wooded hills, stone villages, and welcoming towns before reaching Santiago de Compostela. Your pilgrimage finishes beneath the towers of the famous cathedral, completing one of Spain’s most scenic and lesser-travelled Camino routes.
Walk the Camino de Invierno from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela on this scenic 16-day self-guided pilgrimage through some of northern Spain’s most peaceful and rewarding landscapes. Originally used as a winter alternative to the Camino Francés, the Camino de Invierno offers a quieter route through the Bierzo region, the dramatic Roman gold-mining landscape of Las Médulas, the vineyards of Valdeorras, and the beautiful Sil Valley. Along the way, you’ll pass traditional Galician villages, chestnut forests, riverside paths, rolling farmland, and historic towns, while enjoying stays in carefully selected charming hotels and guesthouses.
This self-guided Camino de Invierno walking tour is designed to make the journey as seamless as possible, with daily luggage transfers allowing you to walk with just a daypack and local in-country support available throughout your trip. As the route continues through the Ribeira Sacra and inland Galicia, you’ll experience peaceful countryside, wooded hills, stone villages, and welcoming towns before reaching Santiago de Compostela. Your pilgrimage finishes beneath the towers of the famous cathedral, completing one of Spain’s most scenic and lesser-travelled Camino routes.
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Camino Invierno Shorter Days Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Check in
Arriving in Ponferrada marks the commencement of the Winter Way.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ponferrada
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 First Walk to Borrenes
Your first walk from Borrenes eases you into the Camino Invierno through quiet countryside, vineyards, chestnut forests, and small rural villages. Leaving Ponferrada behind, the route gradually becomes more peaceful and scenic, with rolling hills and wide views that make this a lovely introduction to this quieter Camino route.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Borrenes
Distance: 4-5 hours, 20 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Las Médulas Loop Walk & Continue to Puente de Domingo Flórez
Sweeping views across the Bierzo region accompany you as you make your way toward Las Médulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remarkable legacies of Roman gold mining in Spain. Take time to explore this extraordinary landscape on a short 4-kilometre circular walk past La Cuevona and La Cueva de la Encantada, where the scale of Roman engineering is still evident today. From here, continue along the Camino de Invierno, descending through the countryside to Puente de Domingo Flórez, where today’s stage comes to an end.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Puente de Domingo Flórez
Distance: 3-4 hours, 15 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Walk to O Barco de Valdeorras
Follow the Sil River into Galicia on a relatively gentle stage through vineyards, Mediterranean vegetation, and villages known for their traditional black slate roofs. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Valdeorras D.O. wine region, where wines are still aged in underground cellars known as covas. Take time to explore the picturesque old town and sample some of the region’s celebrated local wines.
Overnight Location: Hotel in O Barco de Valdeorras
Distance: 4-5 hours, 18 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Walk to A Rúa
Set out on a gentle stage this morning, following the Sil River through the heart of the Valdeorras wine region. The route passes vineyards, riverside paths, and the village of Vilamartín, where traditional hillside covas are still used as wine cellars. With little elevation gain, it’s a relaxed day on the Camino, finishing with lovely views across the Sil Valley as you approach A Rúa.
Overnight Location: Hotel in A Rúa
Distance: 3-4 hours, 14 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Walk to Quiroga
The walk from A Rúa to Quiroga is a longer and more varied stage, following quiet country roads, forest tracks, and hillside paths above the Sil Valley. Along the way, you’ll pass through small rural villages, vineyards, and wooded landscapes, with several rewarding viewpoints across the surrounding mountains. The route becomes increasingly peaceful as you approach Quiroga, a small town set among the dramatic scenery of the Ribeira Sacra region.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quiroga
Distance: 6-7 hours, 26 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Walk to A Pobra do Brollón & Transfer to Monforte de Lemos
Your walk today takes you through a peaceful stretch of the Camino de Invierno, with forest tracks, quiet country lanes, and small Galician villages along the way. The route gradually climbs and descends through a rural landscape of wooded hills and open countryside before reaching A Pobra do Brollón. From here, a private transfer takes you to Monforte de Lemos, where you can settle in for the evening and explore this historic riverside town.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Monforte de Lemos
Distance: 6 hours, 23 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Transfer Back to A Pobra do Brollón & Walk to Monforte de Lemos
After a morning transfer back to A Pobra do Brollón, continue along the Camino de Invierno through quiet Galician countryside, following a mix of rural lanes, woodland paths, and small villages. The stage is relatively gentle as you make your way toward Monforte de Lemos, an attractive historic town on the Cabe River, known for its old quarter, monastery, and hilltop landmarks.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Monforte de Lemos
Distance: 3 hours. 12.5 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Walk to Vilariño
Today’s walk leads from the historic streets of Monforte de Lemos into the quiet landscapes of the Ribeira Sacra. The route winds through small villages, woodland and rolling farmland, with glimpses of traditional Galician architecture along the way. A gradual climb brings you into the hills before finishing in the peaceful hamlet of Vilariño.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Vilariño
Distance: 4-5 hours, 18 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Walk to Chantada
From Vilariño to Chantada, the Camino de Invierno continues through quiet Galician countryside, weaving between small villages, farmland, woodland, and gently rolling hills. The route feels peaceful and rural, with plenty of traditional stone architecture along the way before arriving in Chantada, a lively market town known for its historic centre and strong connection to the Ribeira Sacra wine region.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chantada
Distance: 4 hours, 15 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Walk to Rodeiro
Today’s route leaves Chantada behind and climbs into the peaceful Galician countryside, passing through farmland, woodland, and tiny rural settlements. As you cross the higher ground, wide views open across the surrounding hills before the trail gradually descends toward Rodeiro, a quiet town surrounded by the rolling landscapes of inland Galicia.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Rodeiro
Distance: 6-7 hours, 26 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Walk to Lalín
From Rodeiro, the Camino de Invierno continues through a wonderfully rural stretch of inland Galicia, following quiet lanes and country paths between small villages, farms, and patches of woodland. The landscape remains gently rolling and peaceful throughout the day, gradually leading you toward Lalín, a lively town known for its traditional Galician character and regional cuisine.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lalin
Distance: 5.5 hours, 22 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 Walk to Silleda
Today’s walk carries you through the green heart of Galicia, following quiet country lanes, woodland tracks, and rural paths between scattered villages and farmland. The route is peaceful and gently undulating, with plenty of traditional stone houses and pastoral scenery along the way before arriving in Silleda, a welcoming town set amid the rolling landscapes of the Deza region.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Silleda
Distance: 4 hours, 16 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 Walk to Ponte Ulla
The route from Silleda to Ponte Ulla continues through lush Galician countryside, weaving along quiet lanes, forest paths, and rural tracks between farms and small villages. The landscape becomes increasingly wooded as you approach the Ulla River, where a final descent brings you into Ponte Ulla, a peaceful riverside village surrounded by rolling green hills.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ponte Ulla
Distance: 5 hours, 20 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 15 Final Walk to Santiago de Compostela
Your final day on the Camino de Invierno leads through peaceful Galician countryside, with a mix of forest paths, country lanes, and small rural communities guiding you steadily toward Santiago. As the landscape becomes more urban, anticipation builds for the final approach into Santiago de Compostela, culminating at the magnificent cathedral and the unforgettable finish of your pilgrimage.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 5.5 hours, 21 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16 Check out
Check out Santiago de Compostela.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
2026 Pricing for Self-Guided Camino Invierno Tour with relaxed Pace The departures are available daily from November 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
The starting price for two people sharing a double or twin room, including luggage transfers is EUR1555 per person.
Accommodation on Camino Invierno Shorter Days Tour
During this trip you will mostly stay in hostels and pensions. These accommodations have the necessary services to cover the basic needs of cleanliness and rest. Officially, hostels and guesthouses are 1-star accommodations. However, this rating should not be taken into account when evaluating the level of comfort and quality of their services.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Camino Invierno Shorter Days Tour?
Meals
15 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 15 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
Luggage transfers are included (1 piece per person / 20 kg max). Personal transfers on day 7 and day 8 are also included.
Also included
- 24-hour emergency line
- Complete documentation and Travel Notebook
- Pilgrim pass
- VAT
Not included
- Any personal transport
- Guide services
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Travel insurance
- Tourist Tax
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, tips, extra transfers, etc.
Optional Extras
- Accommodation upgrades
- Single occupancy upgrades
- How hard is the Camino Invierno Shorter Days Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
- Are meals included on the Camino Invierno Shorter Days Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Ponferrada to start this tour?
- Where does the Camino Invierno Shorter Days Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Spain?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Spain?
We rate this tour as a 4 out of 5 in terms of difficulty. You should be comfortable walking long durations over several days, covering up to 26 km on a given stage.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
15 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover walking. Get your travel insurance.
The nearest airport to Ponferrada is Leon Airport (Leon-Benavente Airport - LEO). From the airport, you can take a taxi or use public transportation to reach Ponferrada.
The tour ends in Santiago de Compostella.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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