The Way of St. James
The Northern Trail runs through the Geopark
The Northern Trail runs through the Geopark
The Northern Peninsular Routes of the Camino de Santiago have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since July 8, 2015, as an extension of the French Way, which was already designated a World Heritage Site in 1993.
The section of the Way of St. James that runs through the Geopark begins in Santander and passes through the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Bezana, Piélagos, Miengo, and Suances, ending in the historic town of Santillana del Mar.
The route begins in Santander, the beautiful capital of Cantabria, which we must leave behind, heading west to reach the first landmark of this stage: Peñacastillo. From there, the route continues to Santa Cruz de Bezana. This section is marked by a continuous succession of underpasses and overpasses between the train tracks and the highway.
From the church of Santa Cruz de Bezana, follow Avenida Mompía, a long promenade that winds through residential neighborhoods. If you’d like to visit the geosite, it’s a good idea to take a slight detour north to visit the beaches of Valdearenas and Canallave, and even walk a stretch of the Costa Trail to Somocuevas Beach. If you decide to do this, it’s recommended to split the stage into two and spend the night in the Boo de Piélagos area.
Our next destination is Arce, followed by Oruña, crossing the medieval bridge over the Pas River. The section from Oruña to Santillana has been the official route since 2016. Previously, the route ran further north, passing through the aforementioned Boo de Piélagos, Mogro, and Cudón.
All that’s left is to pass through the towns of Requejada, Barreda, and Viveda to reach our destination: the spectacular medieval town of Santillana del Mar, considered one of the most beautiful towns in Spain since 2013. The town is well worth a hearty breakfast featuring sobaos or quesada pasiega, followed by a leisurely stroll through its wonderful historic center.
Please note:
If you do this stage in a single day, it’s quite long (just over 37 km), so you might want to consider splitting it up and spending the night at one of the hostels that have opened along the route in recent years.