CaminantesCamino Primitivo
The original route, and the toughest. Mountains from Oviedo to Lugo.
- Distance
- 320 km
- Typical time
- 12 to 15 days
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Total ascent
- 8,500 m
- Starts
- Oviedo
- Ends
- Santiago de Compostela
The Camino Primitivo is the oldest of them all: the route King Alfonso II took from Oviedo in the 9th century, making him the first pilgrim to Santiago. It is short, mountainous and, for many walkers, the best of the Caminos.
At 320 km with 8,500 m of ascent, it is the steepest route per kilometre on this list. The reward is Asturian mountain walking, small albergues, and a strong sense of doing something older and less packaged.
The Hospitales route, a high alternative over open moorland past ruined pilgrim hospices, is the highlight of the whole way in clear weather. In fog or snow it is genuinely dangerous, and the valley route exists for a reason.
Who it suits
Best for: Fit walkers, hill lovers, and second-time pilgrims.
When to go: Late May to September. Snow can linger on the high sections into spring.
Watch out for: Do not take the Hospitales route in bad visibility. There is no shelter and no phone signal for hours.
Suggested stages on the Camino Primitivo
14 stages averaging 21.8 km a day, generated from the route itself rather than copied from a guidebook. Treat it as a starting point: the whole idea of planning your own Camino is that a 27 km day someone else picked might be the wrong day for you.
| Stage number | From | To | Stage | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oviedo | Grau / Grado | 25.3 km | 25.3 km |
| 2 | Grau / Grado | Salas | 19.9 km | 45.1 km |
| 3 | Salas | Tinéu | 19.6 km | 64.7 km |
| 4 | Tinéu | Borres | 15.6 km | 80.3 km |
| 5 | Borres | Montefurado | 16.7 km | 97 km |
| 6 | Montefurado | El Campín de Segundo Plano | 21.6 km | 118.6 km |
| 7 | El Campín de Segundo Plano | A Fonsagrada | 31.5 km long long stage, over 30 km | 150.1 km |
| 8 | A Fonsagrada | O Cádavo | 24.4 km | 174.4 km |
| 9 | O Cádavo | Lugo | 30.1 km long long stage, over 30 km | 204.6 km |
| 10 | Lugo | Carricova | 15.2 km | 219.7 km |
| 11 | Carricova | Melide | 31.8 km long long stage, over 30 km | 251.6 km |
| 12 | Melide | Seixas | 15.1 km | 266.6 km |
| 13 | Seixas | O Pedrouzo | 18.4 km | 285 km |
| 14 | O Pedrouzo | Santiago de Compostela | 19.5 km | 304.5 km |
Stage stops and distances are derived from the route geometry and from OpenStreetMap place data (ODbL). Distances are measured along the route line, so they will differ slightly from a guidebook.
Walking the Camino Primitivo offline
There is no reliable mobile signal on large parts of this route, and the stretches without it are exactly the stretches where you want a map. Caminantes caches the route, the stages and the elevation profiles before you leave, and tracks your distance, pace and ascent while you walk. It is free, with no paywall on any of it.
Common questions about the Camino Primitivo
How long does the Camino Primitivo take?
12 to 15 days at a typical walking pace. Our suggested plan splits the 320 km into 14 stages averaging 21.8 km a day, and you can split or join any of them.
How hard is the Camino Primitivo?
Hard. It covers 320 km with 8,500 m of total ascent, and the longest stage in our plan is 31.8 km. Do not take the Hospitales route in bad visibility. There is no shelter and no phone signal for hours.
When is the best time to walk the Camino Primitivo?
Late May to September. Snow can linger on the high sections into spring.
Where does the Camino Primitivo start and finish?
It runs from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela, a total of 320 km.
Does the Camino Primitivo count towards the Compostela certificate?
Yes. You need the last 100 km on foot, so starting at O Cádavo, which leaves 130 km to Santiago, or anywhere earlier on the route, qualifies. Collect two stamps a day over that final stretch.