Laredo
Camino de Santiago stage town on Camino del Norte
Laredo is where the Camino del Norte first meets a true Cantabrian beach town. The long stage from Castro Urdiales runs along cliffs to Islares, then turns inland through the green Liendo valley before a last climb of around 240 m that suddenly reveals the Bay of Santoña and the sweep of La Salvé beach below. The descent drops pilgrims straight into the Puebla Vieja, the medieval old town laid out on six streets after Alfonso VIII granted Laredo its royal charter in 1200. At its top stands the Gothic church of Santa María de la Asunción, begun around 1200 and a national monument since 1931, with Renaissance chapels and Flemish altarpieces. Laredo was one of Castile's Four Villas of the Coast, and in 1556 Emperor Charles V landed here on his way to retire at the monastery of Yuste; the restored Puerta de San Lorenzo houses a small centre on that journey. Most pilgrims sleep at the Casa de la Trinidad, a Trinitarian convent albergue run by nuns just past the gate, known for its warm, well-organised welcome and communal dinner. Tomorrow starts with a flat walk of about 4 km along the whole beach to El Puntal, where a small boat crosses the Asón estuary to Santoña in a few minutes.
- 218 kmfrom route start
- 58 mElevation
- 3 · 6albergues · hotels
- 28.3 kmfrom Castro-Urdiales
- 28.6 kmto Güemes
Highlights
- Puebla Vieja: six medieval streets climbing to the Gothic church of Santa María de la Asunción, a national monument since 1931
- Final climb above Liendo with a sudden view over the Bay of Santoña and La Salvé beach
- Casa de la Trinidad: convent albergue run by Trinitarian nuns, with a communal dinner
- Royal history: Charles V landed here in 1556 en route to Yuste; Puerta de San Lorenzo hosts a small centre on it
- Next morning: about 4 km along La Salvé to El Puntal for the boat to Santoña; it does not run in winter (roughly December to February), so check the timetable the evening before or detour by road via Colindres
Albergues in Laredo
Hotels & guesthouses in Laredo
Lodging names from OpenStreetMap; check availability before you walk.
Stages through Laredo
Nearby towns
Nearby stages
Frequently asked questions
Where can I stay in Laredo?
3 albergues and 6 hotels in Laredo.
How far is Laredo from Castro-Urdiales?
28.3 km from Castro-Urdiales, 28.6 km to Güemes on the Camino del Norte.