Spirituality
The Best Day of My Life: Reaching Finisterre
Most pilgrims stop in Santiago. The ones who walk three more days to the Atlantic say it was the real ending. Here's why.
November 1, 2025 · 7 min read
Santiago is the official end of the Camino. But for centuries pilgrims kept walking — three more days, 90 kilometres west — to the Atlantic at Finisterre. The 'end of the earth' as the Romans called it.
I arrived at the lighthouse at sunset on day 35, two hours after walking out of the village. The sea was on fire.
The tradition is to burn something — an old shirt, the boots that carried you. I burned a letter.
Other pilgrims arrived in twos and threes. Nobody spoke. We sat on the rocks and watched the sun go down for an hour.
Santiago felt like an ending. Finisterre felt like a release.
If you have three extra days when you arrive in Santiago: walk to Finisterre. Or take the bus and walk back. Or don't go at all and trust that Santiago was enough.
But if you do go: arrive at the lighthouse at sunset. Bring something to let go of. The sea will know what to do.
Keep exploring
Next stops & related posts
Towns, stages, and stories connected to this article — your jumping-off points to plan the next stretch of the Camino.
Towns to visit
Suggested stages
Camino Francés · Stage 33
O Pedrouzo → Santiago de Compostela
20 km · 240 m · Moderate
Camino Portugués · Stage 11
Padrón → Santiago de Compostela
25 km · 280 m · Moderate
Camino del Norte · Stage 1
Irún → San Sebastián
24 km · 700 m · Challenging
Camino del Norte · Stage 2
San Sebastián → Zarautz
22 km · 580 m · Challenging
Camino del Norte · Stage 3
Zarautz → Deba
22 km · 750 m · Challenging
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