Camino del Norte: Stage 11

This stage start in the Plaza de la Constitución square, near the Convento de San Francisco convent where the city council is housed. You will have to go through the Calle López Saña street to get to the seafront where you can rest for a while. This beach has approximately four kilometers and has a port in one of its sides. In summer the best option will be cross the estuary by boat, this service is available from March to December so if you are traveling in winter you will have to travel by bus or go walking through an alternative route that goes through Colindres. After crossing the estuary you will have to cross the city; first through the Plaza de la Concordia square and then you will go through the Calle de Santander street, always straightforward.

Once you get to the Plaza de San Antón square you will have to go through the Calle del Manzanedo street, and then straight to get to La Alameda, near the Playa de Berria beach. In ancient times, Santoña was practically an island, but little by little it became an isthmus. This is considered a natural space of great importance due to the existence of a broad sea fauna and migrating birds from North and Middle Europe. Continuing through the beach you will get to El Brusco that divides Berria and Trengandín, it belongs to Noja. You will get to it through the Plaza de la Villa square, where the Iglesia de San Pedro is located. This temple has a big gothic tower and also a chapel. Then you will walk through the Calle de Los Cuadrillos street. Then you will have to turn left and then right through El Valle. Then, again to the left and once you have crossed a soccer field you will get too Cabanzo After some crossings, you will get to the CA-147. You will continue and cross some streets. Finally get to the Ermita de San Pantaleón hermitage and then you will go through La Pedrosa and El Castillo that has a church devoted to San Pedro with a tower.

Here you will meet again the other pilgrims, the ones that decided to go through the alternative route. Just after the church, you will have to go to the right through Monar, near Meruelo. Then you will cross the Iglesia de San Miguel church and then continue again through the road. Once you get to Solorga You will have to cross the river and then get to Bareyo. You will see the Ermita de San Roque hermitage; then, the Iglesia de Santa María de Bareyo church that is from the 12 or 13 century. The Way goes on to the left side, but if we follow the opposite direction, we will find the Saint Mary of Bareyo Romanesque church, of Cultural Interest. Despite of lacking a concrete date of origin, it is estimated that this could be set by the end of the 12th Century and beginning of the 13th. Its apse, presbytery, cross and structure over the dome are original, allowing the light to enter the temple. After this short diversion, we will go back towards the upward road to the camping, where we will finally start descending. We will go across Villanueva, in Güemes, to continue by Moraza’s way and cross the road to the right. After some small villages you will get to the end of the stage, Güemes.

Bear in mind

As we explained, if you are traveling in winter we recommend you to go by bus from Laredo to Santoña or go through the variant. It is well indicated and before getting to the end of the stage you will meet again the other pilgrims. Treto will be the next village we will walk by, and conditions will be the same as in the previous stage. We must pay attention when leaving this village, as there will be a diversion a few meters away towards Santoña. Then, just around 300 m forward we will turn again to the left, to Barrio de Cicero. When reaching San Pelayo’s church, dated from the 17th century, we will take a paved road. At its end, we will pass by the palace and church of Rugama, in Bodega’s neighborhood. This building from the 18th Century was declared of Cultural Interest and it is currently a private property. Going on through dirt roads, we will reach Gama, and then Escalante, very close to each other. When reaching this last village, we can go on through the paved road towards Noja or turn right towards Santa Cruz church. This temple from the 16th century was originally a monastery linked to Ceballos family, and then to Guevara’s. After seeing the temple, we will move on until we reach a diversion to the left, that will lead us to Argoños village. If we have decided to walk on through the road, we must go on by CA-141 and then turn to Noja’s road. However, if we come from Santa Cruz church, we will look for the coast and more concretely, Berria square. Before reaching this square we must go upwards to the left until El Brusco, to reach Noja’s beach and then the city center.

Towns	Public Hostel	Bike rental	Medical assistance	Coffe bar	Teller	Pharmacy	Hotel	Touristic Information	Guesthouse	Restaurant	Supermarket	Veterinarian
Laredos	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Colindres*	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔			✔	✔	✔
Treto*				✔			✔		✔	✔	✔
Cicero*				✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔
Santoña	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Berria			✔	✔		✔	✔		✔	✔	✔
Argoños				✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔	✔
Gama*	✔		✔	✔						✔	✔
Escalante*				✔			✔		✔	✔	✔
Noja	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Arnuero				✔	✔	✔	✔			✔	✔
Bareyo			✔	✔		✔			✔	✔	✔
Güemes	✔			✔				✔	✔	✔

Those villages with a * belong to the inland alternative way.