Stage 31: Ribadiso do Baixo - O Pedrouzo Distance: 24.5km
Ribadiso do Baixo
From Ribadiso follow the countryroad uphill through suburbs before reaching the town of Arzúa
Arzúa
Arzúa is the last major town before Santiago, with a population of around 7,000.
It is famous for it's cheese, Quiexo, a smooth creamy cheese made with cows milk and weighing around 1kg.
The annual cheese festival, Fiesta de Quiexo, with over 100,000 varieties of cheese on display, is held on the first Sunday of March.
The main monuments of Arzúa incluse the 14th century Capilla de la Magdalena and the modern 20th century Igelsia de Santiago with it's statue of Santiago Matamoro.
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal, Cimo do Lugar 6. Tel: (0034) 981 50 04 55
Beds: 46. Open all year. Has cookng facilities.
Albergue Don Quijote, Calle Lugo 130. Tel: (0034) 981 50 01 39
Beds: 50. Open all year. Has dining facilties.
Albergue Via Lactea, Calle José Antonio 26. Tel: (0034) 981 50 05 81
Beds: 60. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities as well as internet access.
Albergue Ultreia, Calle Calle Lugo 126. Tel: (0034) 981 50 04 71
Beds: 36. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities as well as internet access.
Albergue Santiago Apostal, Calle Calle Lugo 126. Tel: (0034) 981 50 04 71
Beds: 84. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Hostal Rúa *, Rúa de Lugo, 130. Tel: (0034) 981 50 01 39
Hotel Teodora **, Avenida de Lugo 38. Tel: (0034) 981 50 09 40
Hotel Suiza **, Carretera Santiago-Arzua. Tel: (0034) 981 50 09 08
Website: www.hsuiza.com
The camino runs through the old part of Arzúa along the Calle del Carmen before crossing a stream into a wooded area.
The route passes through many small hamlets including Raído, Cortobe, then through Calzada into Calle where you'll find two cafés.
Continue on for another 1.5km through Boavista and Alto before reaching Salceda where there's a bar and a shop.
After Salceda, pass a monument to pilgrim Guillermo Watt, who died here on route to Santiago, and cotinue on through Xen and Ras into Brea
Brea
Accommodation
Albergue O Meson. Tel: (0034) 981 51 10 40
Beds: 10. Open all year. Has dining facilties. Also offers private rooms.
After Brea you have a choice to continue along the road into Santa Irene or to take a right along a path through a wooded area to Alto de Santa Irene. Here you'll find a fountain and a picnic / rest area.
From here cross the road onto a track that leads through woods, then a tunnel before arriving at Santa Irene with it's 18th century Iglesia de Santa Irene.
Santa Irene
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal, on main road. Tel: (0034) 660 39 68 25
Beds: 36. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Albergue Santa Irene. Tel: (0034) 660 39 68 25
Beds: 15. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Proceed on the camino along the road leading into A Rúa
A Rúa
Accommodation
Casa Rural O Acivro *. Tel: (0034) 981 51 13 16
Casa Rural Calvo *. Tel: (0034) 981 81 44 01
Hotel O Pino *, Rúa de Arca. Tel: (0034) 981 51 11 48
To reach O Pedrouza / Arca de Pino, continue through A Rúa along a small country road which leads to the main road (N-547).
If you want to continue on to Santiago go straight ahead over the main road and back onto the track to San Antón.
Else turn left here and after about 600m you'll come to O Pedrouza / Arca de Pino
O Pedrouza / Arca do Pino
Information
O Pedrouza / Arca do Pino has a lot of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from.
Located not too far from your final destination of Santiago de Compostela.
The Pllgrim mass is held at 12:00 each day in Santiago Cathedral so to make it on time you may need to leave a little earlier than usual.
Accommodation
Albergue Municipal, beside the supermarket. Tel: (0034) 660 39 68 26
Beds: 126. Open all year. Has cooking & laundry facilities.
Albergue Porta de Santiago, on the main street. Tel: (0034) 981 51 11 03
Beds: 86. Open all year. Has internet access.