Inland Camino Vasco
Have a Good Way!
Why choose the Camino Vasco?
The Inland Camino Vasco is enriched by its heritage and the many worthwhile places to visit along the way. In order to cross the gigantic wall that can be found along the way between Guipúzcoa and Álava, we take advantage of the Tunnel of San Adrián. This is a natural passageway excavated through the rock, followed by innumerable traders and pilgrims over the last two thousand years.
The change in landscape brought about by the Aizkorri mountain range shows us two completely different landscapes, with changes in vegetation, orography, climate and even the architecture of the buildings.
The Inland Camino Vasco, also known as the Ruta Jacobea Vasca or Vía de Bayona, is a route of the Camion de Santiago that connects Irún with the Camino Francés. This route has two main paths: passing the Santo Domingo de la Calzada, if you decide to make your pilgrimage through Haro, or through Burgos, following the Miranda del Ebro route. This choice is completely up to you!
12 Stages / 252 Kms
9 Stages / 199 Kms
Stages of the Camino Vasco on foot
Two alternatives to continue:
4 Stages / 201 Kms
Stages of the Camino Vasco by bike
❯ Tolosa
44Km • 3/5
❯ Salvatierra/Agurain
61Km • 3/5
❯ La Puebla de Arganzón
45Km • 4/5
❯ Santo Domingo de la Calzada
51Km • 3/5
You will like this way, if you like…
Cities and towns
Irún
Hernani
Tolosa
Zegama
Haro
Briviesca
More information…
About the Camino Vasco
History
This route came about as an alternative for medieval European pilgrims who had to choose between the Camino del Norte or this inland Camino Interior. Its origins date back to approximately the 10th Century, becoming in this period, until the 12th Century, the most important route within the Camino de Santiago.
The reason it became so important in that period, is because the Camino del Norte was besieged by Norman Viking attacks and, at the same time to the south, the Camino Francés was under Arabic dominion, as they occupied the Iberian Peninsula during the Centuries VIII and XV. This is why this Basque Jacobean Route became the safest way for Christian pilgrims to carry out their pilgrimage to the Galician capital, Santiago de Compostela.
This route of the Camino de Santiago became more well-known, when King Alfonso VII turned it into the Camino Real. However, with the Hispanic advance under Sancho III el Mayor, King of Navarra, against the Muslim empire, the Camino de Bayona lost its favour among pilgrims, who instead chose the Camino Francés.
Distance and Elevation
Elevation Profile
Other recommended routes
There are many other routes, take a look below at the best alternatives:
804 km / 35 days
764 km / 33 days
119 km / 6 days
115 km / 5 days
304 km / 13 days
960 km / 38 days
Useful Information
Frequently Asked Questions about the Camino Vasco
As you can see in the stages section, the Camino Vasco can be done in two ways; in the direction of Santo Domingo or towards Burgo (also known as the Vía de Bayona). The former is made up of 9 stages, while the latter boasts 12. Both stages later join up with the Camino Francés.
Along this route you will travel through many beautiful towns, each with its own personal charm. However there is a series of towns that pilgrims usually fall in love with, namely: Hernani, Zegama o La Puebla de Arganzón, among others.
The mountain range of Aizkorri and the Tunnel of San Adrián, are unmissable icons of nature on this route.
The Camino Vasco is one of the many secondary routes that make up the network that is the Camino de Santiago. It came about as an alternative to the Camino del Norte and the Camino Francés when the former was under siege by the Norman vikings and the latter was under Arabic dominion.
In Pilgrim.es We have the most complete information about this way and many more. Enter our website and discover all the routes that make up the Camino de Santiago, its stages, maps and even the towns with their indications about what to see in each one.
Learn more about us
Helping pilgrims since 2019
Pilgrims
+54.000
Nationalities
+45
Google Rating
4,7 ★
Affiliated businesses
+7500
