Arzúa → O Pedrouzo

After the long Melide day, this one is welcome: it is short, with no serious climbing, and runs largely on forest tracks through eucalyptus woods. The only real care needed is at the crossings of the N-547 road, which the route cuts across several times — nothing serious if you are paying attention.

The route, village by village

Out of Arzúa you string together Pregontoño, A Peroxa, As Quintas and Burres, on to A Calzada and Boavista. Around kilometre 8-9 is A Salceda, the settlement with the most bars in the whole first half and a good place for the mid-morning stop. Then A Brea and O Empalme before reaching Santa Irene.

From Santa Irene you pass A Rúa on the way to O Pedrouzo, officially Arca-O Pino, the end of the stage.

Where to sleep in O Pedrouzo

The Xunta's public hostel charges the usual rate, 10 €. Among the private ones: Mirador de Pedrouzo (15-16 €), O Burgo (17 €), O Trisquel (15-16 €, depending on the date) and Porta de Santiago (14 €). O Burgo and O Trisquel confirmed their 2026 rates to us in August of that year; at O Burgo the bunk includes a sheet, a blanket, a locker and a socket.

One detail that matters more here than the price: what time you can leave. At O Burgo check-out is 8:30 at the latest, but you can get up earlier and go out the back door, which in summer is the sensible move. They serve no breakfast — only a coffee machine and something to nibble — and there are cafés open from 6:00 a step away.

Being the second-to-last stage, this is where many people settle their strategy for the next day — the stage planner helps decide it with time to spare. Some break the final leg at Santa Irene; others, wanting a short entry into Santiago with room to breathe, push on to Amenal or even Lavacolla and Monte do Gozo. Both tactics are after the same thing: dodging the crowds of the last day. Stamp on the way out of Arzúa and again in Santa Irene or O Pedrouzo, and if you are travelling in high season, leave before 7:30-8:00: public hostels take no bookings.