Pilgrims on the road and friends along the way send me changes every day, and they go out the same day. The Camino De San Salvador app carries all of it offline, and it's still being built — new features arrive routinely.
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Nothing says you have to stop here, or there. These are simply the towns within a comfortable day's walk, so you can decide tonight.
| Town | km from here | Shared | Private | The walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pajares | 4.9 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | |
| Santa Marina | 7.8 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | |
| Llanos de Someron | 10.0 | ✓ Yes | — No | |
| Herias | 20.1 | ✓ Yes | — No | |
| Campomanes | 21.5 | — No | ✓ Yes | |
| Palacio | 24.4 | — No | ✓ Yes | |
| Pola de Lena | 28.8 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
The Puerto de Pajares is one of the few mountain passes that for centuries has offered passage over the Cantabrian Mountains from the meseta into Asturias. It remained the primary corridor until the construction of the A-66 motorway to the west. It's still a difficult road for drivers, and snow is not uncommon here as late as June.
The old Parador has reopened its bar — worth a stop for the views alone. Across the road, Venta Casimiro has rebuilt after a fire and is the bar "de siempre" — go there for soul and a real meal, the Parador for views. You've earned either or both after the mountain crossing.
At approximately 1,378 m elevation, the air is noticeably cooler than the meseta you left behind. From here, it's all downhill into Asturias.
Snow is possible at the Puerto de Pajares well into June. If you're crossing in spring or early summer, check conditions before setting out from Poladura. The bar at the pass may keep limited hours outside the summer season — don't count on it.
The Puerto de Pajares has been the main crossing between León and Asturias since pre-Roman times. The Romans improved the route, and it remained the primary road connection until modern highway construction. In 1884, the railway tunnel through the mountains opened, connecting León to Gijón and transforming the economy of northern Spain. The old Parador was built as a government rest house for travelers crossing the pass — a tradition of hospitality at this site that stretches back to the medieval hospice at Arbas below.
The camino leaves the main road to follow a trail behind some farm houses at the far end of the alto. If you've gone as far as the old Parador, you'll need to backtrack a bit and avoid the temptation to follow the road. At the farm buildings, turn right and begin a gentle ascent to the border between León and Asturias.
Here you'll pass through a gate and descend back to the national road — which is genuinely dangerous with fast traffic. Cross over the road with extreme caution to resume along a trail down to Pajares.
Along the way to Pajares you'll find a junction requiring you to choose between Pajares or San Miguel. The route through San Miguel also arrives at Pajares but takes 5 km longer. It's only recommended for cyclists or pilgrims who intend to sleep in Bendueños (1.5 km off camino).
25. April 2024 - 12:40
When craving for a drink or snack after a long walk and before a steep decline, don’t get your hopes up here. The Venta Casimiro is closed (for sale)
14. July 2023 - 17:34
There’s now a dirt road to walk down instead of bushwhacking through the ferns behind the farm buildings. I only know this because someone was walking down the new road while I was bushwhacking. I assume there is a Camino sign at the road. It’s well before you get to the bar and farm houses. The gate you go through will be on your left. It’s signed. Also, stay to the left when you descend to the road. The double gate by the road is at the far left and you might be able to get to it without walking through the deep mud in the cow pasture.
The trail on the other side of the road is steep and sketchy. Take your time and walk carefully. When you get into the forest you will find a Camino shell on your left. Turn sharply left there and follow the mud steeply down to the obvious stream crossing. You should see a large arrow on the ground on the other side of the stream. Once you’re out of the forest and happily on a dirt road again, keep your eyes peeled for a path on the left with a hard to see Camino sign a little ways down the path on the right.
I found today’s route finding a bit challenging. Luckily, someone was always nearby (or left boot prints) to help out.
14. July 2023 - 13:18
The group well ahead of me and I all followed what seemed like the correct path to the road but ended up at a blocked road with a barb wire fence by where the Camino turns right along the highway. We all went left through the boggy cow pasture along the fence line. After a few minutes it comes out to a road with no fence. Then we had to cross the highway. Maybe we missed something on the way down.
7. September 2022 - 0:05
So when I got here there am was a bblocked off entrance to a rad with barbed wire, the river near with a bridge would bring you out on the wrong side of the fence. So we went left Alf the blockage and then climbed over the fence and across the no man’s land to the edge of the main raid . Once we were there we then waited and crossed the road carefully.
Thereafter we headed up the hill to where there is an an unmarked bar before you go behind it. Reasonable coffee and friendly.. like that matters!
Esta entidad ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda del Programa de incentivos a la movilidad eficiente y sostenible (MOVES III), gestionado por la Xunta de Galicia a través del Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (INEGA) en el marco del Real Decreto 266/2021, y cofinanciada por la Unión Europea — NextGenerationEU, dentro del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.