Arousa Sea and Ulla River Route

It is the only Camino route that recalls, by sea and by river, the Apostle’s last journey. According to tradition, after his martyrdom in Jerusalem around the year 44, his disciples brought his body to Galicia by boat: they entered the Arousa estuary, sailed up the Ulla river and landed at Padrón, the old Iria Flavia. The route follows that same course and ends on foot in Santiago de Compostela.

Stages

The Xunta de Galicia divides the route into three stages: two by sea, one along each shore of the estuary, and one on foot to the Cathedral.

1. Arousa South, by sea
   Along the southern shore, from Sanxenxo and O Grove to Pontecesures: Meaño, Meis, Cambados, Ribadumia, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Illa de Arousa, Vilanova de Arousa, Catoira and Valga. Medium difficulty.
2. Arousa North, by sea
   Along the northern shore, from Ribeira, opposite the island of Sálvora, to Dodro: A Pobra do Caramiñal, Boiro and Rianxo. Medium difficulty.
3. Padrón – Santiago de Compostela, on foot
   About 24.8 km on foot from Padrón, through Rois, Teo and Ames, to the Cathedral. It is the same final stretch as the Portuguese Way. Medium difficulty.

The Traslatio

The arrival of the Apostle’s body in Galicia by sea is known as the Traslatio. It is told by ancient Christian traditions and several medieval texts, above all Book III of the Codex Calixtinus: the body of Saint James left the port of Jaffa, in Palestine, crossed the Mediterranean, sailed along the Atlantic coast and reached the far end of the West, where the Apostle had preached.

He was accompanied by his disciples Theodore and Athanasius. They entered the Arousa estuary, sailed up the Ulla and moored the boat at Padrón, the river port of Iria Flavia. Tradition speaks of a “stone boat”; the church of Santiago in Padrón keeps the “Pedrón”, the stone where, according to tradition, the boat was moored.

The summer river procession

Since 1965, every summer a sea and river procession recalls the Traslatio: decorated boats leave several ports of the estuary and sail up the Ulla to Pontecesures and Padrón. It was promoted by José Luis Sánchez-Agustino together with the Fundación Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Ulla, which awards the “Traslatio Xacobea” diploma to the boats that complete the route.

Over the same years, stone crosses (cruceiros) were placed on the shores and islets of the estuary. Today there are 17, forming the only maritime Way of the Cross in the world.

What to see

An estuary of beaches, islands and vineyards: Ons, Sálvora, A Toxa, Arousa and Cortegada; the mussel rafts (bateas) where mussels, oysters and scallops are grown; the Albariño wines; and a land linked to Valle-Inclán, Camilo José Cela, Rosalía de Castro and Castelao. In Padrón, see the church of Santiago, the shrine of O Santiaguiño do Monte, Iria Flavia and Rosalía de Castro’s house.

The 22 municipalities on the route

Sanxenxo · Meaño · O Grove · Meis · Cambados · Ribadumia · Vilagarcía de Arousa · Illa de Arousa · Vilanova de Arousa · Catoira · Valga · Pontecesures · Ribeira · A Pobra do Caramiñal · Boiro · Rianxo · Dodro · Padrón · Rois · Teo · Ames · Santiago de Compostela

Does it count for the Compostela?

The Pilgrim’s Office grants the Compostela to those arriving by sea if they sail at least 100 nautical miles and complete the final stretch to the Cathedral on foot. The crossing through the Arousa estuary and the Ulla is about 40 miles, so on its own it is not enough: check with the Pilgrim’s Office how to meet the requirement before you set off.

When to go

The best time to sail is summer, when the river procession takes place. The stretch on foot, from Padrón to Santiago, can be walked all year round. From Chile, remember that the Spanish summer coincides with our winter.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Arousa Sea and Ulla River Route?

It is the Camino route that recalls the arrival of the Apostle’s body in Galicia by sea: you sail through the Arousa estuary and up the Ulla river to Padrón, and walk from there to Santiago.

How far by sea and how far on foot?

About 40 nautical miles from Ribeira or O Grove to Padrón, and then about 25 km on foot to Santiago de Compostela.

What is the Traslatio?

It is the transfer of Saint James’s body from Jaffa to Galicia, carried out by sea by his disciples Theodore and Athanasius, according to tradition.

When is the Ulla river procession?

Every summer since 1965, with a procession of decorated boats sailing up the river to Pontecesures and Padrón.

What are the stone crosses on the route?

There are 17 stone crosses on the shores and islets of the estuary. They form the only maritime Way of the Cross in the world.

Does it count for the Compostela?

By sea, at least 100 nautical miles plus the final stretch on foot are required. The crossing through the estuary is about 40 miles, so check with the Pilgrim’s Office how to meet the requirement.

Official documents

Guides and files from the official website of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia (Xunta de Galicia), to download before you travel.

• Emergency guide for pilgrims (PDF, 8.8 MB)
• Official guide to the Arousa Sea and Ulla River Route (PDF, 4.5 MB)
• Guide to the stone crosses of the sea route (book, Spanish) (PDF, 3.7 MB)
• Guide to the stone crosses (leaflet, Spanish) (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• Public and private albergues (official list) (PDF, 32.3 MB)
• Physiotherapy on the Camino (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Camino de Santiago advice guide (PDF, 0.8 MB)
• The route on the Xunta de Galicia website

Useful links

• Fundación Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Ulla
• Fundación Rosalía de Castro
• Parque Natural de Carreirón (Illa de Arousa)

Source: official Camino de Santiago website of the Xunta de Galicia (caminodesantiago.gal). Texts by the Círculo Chileno.

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