Spain and Navarra

Navarra is the first of Spain's autonomous communities along the Camino Francés. You'll cross it from the Pyrenees to just beyond Viana, where La Rioja begins — roughly 140 km of walking.

It's a region of sharp contrasts. The green, rain-soaked Pyrenean valleys around Roncesvalles and Burguete give way to rolling farmland around Pamplona, then to the drier, vine-covered hills approaching the Ebro. The Basque influence is strong in the north (you'll see Basque place names and hear Euskara in the mountain villages), fading as you move south into more Castilian territory.

Navarra's food is exceptional. Pimientos de piquillo, chistorra sausage, migas, espárragos de Tudela, and the region's rosado wines are all worth seeking out. Pamplona is the culinary capital, but even small-town bars serve pintxos that rival San Sebastián.

The Navarrese sections of the Camino are generally well-maintained and well-marked. Albergues tend to be modern and clean, many run by municipalities. The climate transitions from Atlantic (wet, mild) in the mountains to Mediterranean (drier, hotter) as you approach the Ebro.