Stage 5 of 5 · The arrival
O Pedrouzo → Santiago
19.4 kilometres and the end of the Camino. They pass under the airport runway, by a stream where medieval pilgrims washed before entering the holy city, and past the first sight of the Cathedral towers.
| Distance | Approx. time | Elevation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19.4 km | ~4h30 | +318 m / −345 m | 2 of 5 |
It is the stage everyone remembers, and with reason: the profile is gentle, but the anticipation weighs more than any climb. You leave O Pedrouzo, pass Amenal (3.4 km), where the Camino literally crosses under the airport runway, and carry on through San Antón and San Paio towards Lavacolla.
Lavacolla: the rite before entering
Lavacolla (9.5 km) is a small hamlet of barely 150 people, known today mostly for sitting next to Santiago's airport. But its name is centuries old: it comes from the stream where, by medieval tradition, pilgrims washed before entering the holy city, a last rite of purification before presenting themselves to the Apostle. It has a neoclassical church from 1840.
Monte do Gozo: the first sight of the Cathedral
From Lavacolla the route continues through Vilamaior and San Marcos (14.5 km) to Monte do Gozo(15 km, 370 metres above sea level), the spot where for centuries pilgrims first saw the Cathedral towers, still several kilometres away. The hill was remodelled in 1989 for John Paul II's visit during World Youth Day, and today it has a very large public hostel, a restaurant, a café and even a football pitch.
What to do when you arrive
The logical first step is the Pilgrim's Reception Office, at Rúa das Carretas 33, open every day from 9:00 to 19:00 (closed 25 December and 1 January). It runs on a ticket and QR system so you can follow the queue in real time; in high season you will not always get the Compostela the same day you arrive, so do not leave it until late afternoon.
The pilgrim's mass is held at the Cathedral's High Altar, with four services a day: 7:30, 9:30, 12:00 and 19:30. The midday one is the busiest, so go with time to spare. If you have read that the masses were moved to San Francisco, that notice belongs to the 2019-2021 restoration and no longer applies.
For the rest — the botafumeiro, the embrace of the Apostle, the Holy Door — the details are in the guide to what to do on arriving in Santiago, and for the Compostela and credential paperwork, the guide to the Compostela and the credential.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Monte do Gozo?
Because for centuries it was the first point from which pilgrims could see the Cathedral towers, still far off, after days or weeks of walking. "Gozo" is, literally, the joy of that first glimpse.
Can I stay at Monte do Gozo the night before entering Santiago?
Yes, it has a large public hostel with a restaurant and café, and it is a common choice for anyone who prefers a very short entry into Santiago the next day, almost without the pack on their shoulders.
What time is the pilgrim's mass when you arrive?
The midday one, at 12:00, is the one that draws the most newly arrived pilgrims, and it is held at the Cathedral's High Altar. The notice that it moved to San Francisco belongs to the 2019-2021 restoration and no longer applies. There are three other daily masses: 7:30, 9:30 and 19:30.
Where do I collect the Compostela?
At the Pilgrim's Reception Office, Rúa das Carretas 33, open every day from 9:00 to 19:00. In high season there is a ticket-and-QR queue, so do not leave it until the last minute.
Sigue leyendo
Stage 4
Arzúa → O Pedrouzo
A comfortable 19.3 km, with Santa Irene as an optional stop.
In Santiago now
Arriving in Santiago: mass, botafumeiro and traditions
Everything that happens after the Obradoiro, with the 2026 restoration notice.
The goal
Santiago Cathedral: hours and tickets
Pórtico da Gloria, museum, rooftops and every official price.