Pilgrims on the road and friends along the way send me changes every day, and they go out the same day. The Camino del Norte app carries all of it offline, and it's still being built — new features arrive routinely.
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The ground behind you: what the walk into Castro Urdiales crosses, and where it could have been broken.
Tomorrow from Castro Urdiales
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerdigo | 6.8 | — No | ✓ Yes | |
| Islares | 10.0 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Castro Urdiales to Islares |
| El Pontarrón de Guriezo | 14.3 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from Castro Urdiales to El Pontarrón de Guriezo |
| Rioseco | 16.2 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from Castro Urdiales to Rioseco |
| Hazas - Liendo | 25.4 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from Castro Urdiales to Hazas - Liendo |
| Laredo | 32.0 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Castro Urdiales is the first substantial town in Cantabria and one of the finer medieval ports on this coast. The old town — the puebla vieja — sits on a headland above the harbor, and the cluster of monuments at its tip is genuinely impressive.
The Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción dominates from the highest point — a 13th-century Gothic church built under the protection of Alfonso VIII of Castile, with a basilica plan of three naves and flying buttresses that wouldn't look out of place in northern France. Below it, the medieval Castillo de Santa Ana and lighthouse stand together on the rocky point, connected to the Ermita de Santa Ana by a restored Roman bridge. The whole ensemble — church, castle, ermita, bridge — is best seen from the harbor below.
The town has all services: bars, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacy, accommodation. The harbor-side restaurants do excellent seafood, as you'd expect from a port that's been landing fish for eight centuries.
June: San Juan on the 24th, and San Pelayo Mártir (the patron of Castro Urdiales) on the 26th. July: La Virgen del Carmen on the 16th, and Santa Ana on the 26th. August: The Assumption of Mary is celebrated on the 14th. November: San Andrés on the 30th.
Castro Urdiales was settled first by the Romans, who named it Flaviobriga and valued it more for its iron than its harbor. The town prospered under Castile and became one of the four original Villas de la Costa, the port towns that formed the maritime backbone of the kingdom. In 1813, the French Army destroyed much of the city during the Peninsular War. It was quickly rebuilt and fortified, though the medieval core survived.
The camino through Castro Urdiales follows the N-634 but it is possible to walk the coastline, a route which is a great deal more scenic. It can be followed as far as the beach at which point you will need to turn back towards the main road. A short distance later the camino turns left towards the Plaza de Toros; the municipal albergue is located at this end of town behind the bull ring.
After passing the Plaza de Toros (on your right) the camino arrives at a tunnel under the A-8; large signs for CAMPING let you know that you are on the right track. Eventually, you will pass the camping, and a short distance afterward, Allendelagua.
4. September 2026 - 19:05
Bad choice! Too far off the main track (min 20 min walk to main harbour strip and restaurants ). The pool/spa is pathetic - underground/ indoors. Can hear creaking floorboards overhead from upper floor. Bed feels comfy (haven't slept in it yet) and water pressure good. Location is the main fault with this place My advice is to choose centrally.
14. August 2026 - 13:06
Take care watching the arrows for the noisy busy roads exiting rhe town of castro.
4. June 2025 - 17:56
I’ve walked the coastal alternative route today. It’s an amazing hike but quite tough with steep climbs or ascends on narrow or muddy paths. You need to be fit for this one.
Link to the trail: Camino del Norte: Castro Urdiales a Laredo vía Oriñón op AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/nl-nl/wandelpad/spain/cantabria/camino-del-no…
30. August 2024 - 10:11
wenn man frühs im dunkeln von der municipal herberge in castro ursales losgeht, sollte man eine taschenlampe/ kopflicht mit dabeihaben, da es eine weile einen unbeleuchteten sehr dunklen kleinen naturweg entlanggeht. ohne lampe wäre mir das zu duster und gruselig gewesen :)
12. June 2024 - 20:16
Beautiful Castro Urdiales - lots of cultural sites to see. Stayed at Ardigales and very good pension with friendly staff.
27. September 2022 - 12:59
Very dirty pension. But also cheap… BUT it is worth eating in the restaurant below. €16 menu.
14. August 2022 - 15:24
They changed the camino from Liendo to Laredo (10km through forest instead of 6.6 on the N364)so it's not 32km anymore but 38 from Castro.
It is a change for the better - I did the blue dotted route from this app because I already had done 26, and it was quite awful. There are shoulders but it still feels dangerous and if the sun is out it's brutal.
14. August 2022 - 15:14
Meeting some other pilgrims that said that it's open again. Maybe try to call them to check
13. August 2022 - 17:28
Sorry last comment on this - when planning your route I would put Agua viva more under mioño then castro, it's much closer to it
13. August 2022 - 17:25
There is a beach (well more like a little bay) a 10 min walk away heading down (ask the albergue how best to get there) that has a chiringuito with good food (the burger I had was delicious and humongous) and there's a restaurant nearby, too.
No restaurant at aqua viva, but the room is spacious and no bunk beds :)
The (indoor) swimming pool requires having a bathing suit and swim cap, otherwise can't use it.
13. August 2022 - 17:21
If you take the longer older route from ontón this ends up being further as you have to turn back towards miñon. This is far-ish from the City center if you've walked all day.
There is a beach (well more like a little bay) a 10 min walk away heading down (ask the albergue how best to get there) that has a chiringuito with good food (the burger I had was delicious and humongous) and there's a restaurant nearby, too.
No restaurant at aqua viva, but the room is spacious and no bunk beds :)
The (indoor) swimming pool requires having a bathing suit and swim cap, otherwise can't use it.
25. June 2022 - 13:53
Wauw, I was so happy to find this.
They are very kind. My tent was broken and they helped fixing it.
Paid 22 euro for sleeping but it's nice and calm. There 12 beds for peligrinos.
You can shower, have a drink, have a breakfast for only 6 euro.
Because the albergue is closed in Castro, this was the perfect solution.
2. May 2022 - 17:21
Tiny rooms with a private bathroom and a super comfy firm mattress- spotlessly clean and very quiet!! Great find!
2. May 2022 - 17:21
Tiny rooms with a private bathroom and a super comfy firm mattress- spotlessly clean and very quiet!! Great find!
14. March 2022 - 14:27
Leider ist es nicht möglich in der Pilgerherberge auf unter zu kommen da sie noch nicht offen hat
14. March 2022 - 14:27
Leider ist es nicht möglich in der Pilgerherberge auf unter zu kommen da sie noch nicht offen hat
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.
