The Silver Route is one of the oldest and least-traveled pilgrim routes, connecting Seville with Santiago de Compostela. In Galicia, it has two main entry points: one from Feces de Abaixo, on the border with Portugal, and another from A Canda, on the border with Castile and León. This route offers an experience of solitude and authenticity among mountains, valleys, and villages with a strong rural identity.
From A Canda, the route passes through A Gudiña and continues toward Laza, crossing the Serra Seca and Alto do Espiño mountains. After Laza, the route ascends to the Serra de San Mamede before descending to Ourense, a city famous for its hot springs and majestic cathedral.
From Chaves, in Portugal, the route enters Galicia through Feces de Abaixo and continues toward Verín, where you can visit its castle and spa. The route then passes through Xinzo de Limia and Allariz before reaching Ourense, offering a gentler route with greater contact with inland Galicia.
👉 Unique experience: Relax in the Ourense hot springs and walk over the Roman bridge.
STAGES FROM A CANDA TO OURENSE:
1️⃣ A Canda → A Gudiña (17 km)
Mountainous landscapes with small villages until reaching A Gudiña, an important crossroads.
2️⃣ A Gudiña → Laza (34 km)
A challenging route that passes through an Alberguería (hostel), where pilgrims leave shells embedded in the walls. It crosses mountains and rural trails.
3️⃣ Laza → Xunqueira de Ambía (32 km)
Travel through the Serra de San Mamede, with panoramic views and traditional villages before reaching Xunqueira de Ambía and its Romanesque church.
4️⃣ Xunqueira de Ambía → Ourense (22 km)
Descend towards Ourense through fields and forests, passing through small villages such as Salgueiros.
STAGES FROM CHAVES TO OURENSE:
1️⃣ Chaves → Verín (27 km)
A gentle route that crosses the border from Portugal, reaching Verín, where you can visit its castle and enjoy its famous hot springs.
2️⃣ Verín → Xinzo de Limia (34 km)
A route through the A Limia region, famous for its ancient lagoons and agricultural tradition.
3️⃣ Xinzo de Limia → Allariz (22 km)
A pleasant stretch between rural paths and fields to Allariz, a town with a well-preserved medieval historic center.
4️⃣ Allariz → Ourense (22 km)
The last stage before Ourense, passing through forests and rivers before reaching the hot springs city.
STAGES FROM OURENSE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA:
5️⃣ Ourense → Cea (22 km)
A rural section with a must-see visit to Cea, famous for its traditional stone-baked bread. The route offers dirt roads and paths surrounded by vegetation before reaching Cea, where pilgrims can taste its unique bread.
6️⃣ Cea → Dozón (20 km)
A peaceful stage between fields and hills before entering the final Galician section. Agricultural landscapes dominate the route, with gentle climbs and descents that lead to Dozón, a rural enclave steeped in Jacobean tradition.
7️⃣ Dozón → Silleda (28 km)
Forests and rural villages until reaching Silleda, steeped in agricultural tradition. The day passes through green meadows and small hamlets before reaching the Deza region, with Silleda as the key point.
8️⃣ Silleda → Outeiro (22 km)
This is a stage of moderate difficulty that passes through fields, forests, and small villages. The terrain is accessible, with some climbs toward the end.
9️⃣ Outeiro → Santiago de Compostela (17 km)
This stage takes pilgrims toward Santiago, combining rural stretches with more urban approaches. The route is moderate, and the excitement grows as the city approaches. The finish at the Cathedral of Santiago is the culmination of the Camino.
