Camino de San Salvador – a 2025 guide

The Camino de San Salvador is a 5-day pilgrimage route in the mountains in Northern Spain. The route is known for its steep ascents and descents and breathtaking mountainous scenery. This route doesn’t lead to to the tomb of the Apostle St.James in Santiago de Compostela like other Camino routes in Spain. The pilgrimage on the Camino de Salvador is to the Christian relics that are kept in the Cathedral of Oviedo.

The history of the Camino de San Salvador dates back to the reign of King Alfonso II. To protect Christian relics from the Muslims the king ordered to transfer them to the Cathedral in Oviedo where they have been kept till nowadays.

Camino de San Salvador PDFs

To make your Camino planning easier we’ve created two PDF files for the Camino de San Salvador. The first file contains walking stages and the second file has a list of places to stay along the route.

• Walking stages Camino de San Salvador PDF
• Places to stay Camino de San Salvador PDF

What is the Camino de San Salvador?

The Camino de San Salvador is a multi-day pilgrimage route in Spain; from Leon (Castille and Leon) to Oviedo (Asturias). It’s not a part of the Camino de Santiago because it doesn’t end in Santiago de Compostela. It is often used by pilgrims as a connecting route to switch from the Camino Frances to the Camino Primitivo. The French Camino goes through Leon and the Camino Primitivo starts in Oviedo. 

How long is the route?

The Camino is 120 km/74,5 mi. It takes between 5 and 7 days to complete the route.

Where does it start?

The Camino de San Salvador starts in Leon, Castille and Leon region, Northern Spain. The starting point is at Plaza de San Marcos (San Marcos Square) in front of San Marcos Church. In the middle of the square, there is a statue of a pilgrim with a cross. In front of the statue, you find a metal plank indicating the direction of the route. On the right-hand side (facing the church) across the road on Avenida de Peregrinos there is a pole with a shell marking the beginning of the Camino.

San Marcos Square is 1,5 km from the Cathedral and the historical center of Leon.

Where does it end?

The Camino de San Salvador ends at the Cathedral of Oviedo, Plaza Alfonso II. After finishing the Camino you can continue walking to Santiago de Compostela following the Camino Primitivo which is considered to be the first Camino de Santiago route ever walked. 

Where to get a Credential?

A Credential or a pilgrim’s passport is a small paper book where pilgrims collect stamps from different places along the route. You can get a Credential for this Camino route at the Albergue of the Benedictine Sisters (Monasterio de Santa Maria de Carbajal) at Plaza Santa Maria del Camino. The Albergue is 600 m from the Cathedral of Leon. It is open daily from 12 pm to 10 pm. It’s a 2-euro donation. They put the first stamp into your Credential marking the beginning of the route.

Can you get the Compostela for the route?

No, you don’t get the Compostela for completing the Camino de San Salvador. Instead you can get the Salvadorana. It’s an analog of the Compostela. To get your Salvadorana, you have to collect stamps in your Credential (like on any Camino route). You can get stamps at albergues, restaurants, bars, and churches along the way. After finishing the Camino you can get your Salvadorana in the Cathedral of Oviedo. It’s free.

How difficult is the Camino de San Salvador?

Overall the route is quite challenging, especially the middle part of it which has many steep ascents and descents. In 5 walking days the accumulated ascent is more than 3000 m. Due to its relatively short distance, it’s quite doable for an average person but you’ll need some Camino training to prepare for the walk. You can adjust the itinerary to your needs and walk the route in 6 or 7 days instead of 5. 

If you have never done any multi-day walking or hiking I would recommend doing the Camino del Salvador with somebody or choosing a different Camino route e.g. Camino Ingles or the last 100 km to Santiago on any Camino route. There are not many facilities on the route and towns are quite far apart.

Travel insurance for the walk

Walking like any other outdoor activity involves a risk of getting an injury or losing some of the gear. Camino travel insurance can offer you coverage. The Camino del Salvador is not a high-altitude wild hike through remote areas but it’s still a physically challenging experience that involves a long walking distance with a heavy backpack. It’s not rare for pilgrims to get injuries from small blister problems to knee or shin splint issues.

World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.

What is the scenery like?

The route goes over the mountains and through the forest. For me, the highlight of the Camino del Salvador was the middle part between Buiza and La Pola de Lena. The mountainous scenery is truly spectacular. I would say that part of the route is one of my favorites out of all the Camino de Santiago routes that I’ve walked. The one thing I didn’t enjoy on this route is walking next to or on the road. The beginning and the end of the Camino de San Salvador involve quite a bit of it. 

When is the best time for walking?

In that part of Spain, it rains quite a lot. The summer months of June, July, and August are the best for walking the Camino de San Salvador. I walked the route end of August – beginning of September. Except for the first day in Leon when it rained, the rest of the time the weather was very pleasant warm and sunny. 

May and September are good months to walk the route though the chances of rain are a bit higher and it will be cooler in the mountains, especially in the morning. 

In April and October, it’s still quite possible to walk the Camino de San Salvador though you’ll need warmer clothes and waterproof jackets.

Between November and March, it’s cold and wet. You can expect snow in the mountains. It’ll be difficult to find the route under the snow. For this Camino walking off-season is not recommended.

You can find more details on weather conditions in different parts of Spain in our post on the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago.

Is the route well-marked?

Yes, the Camino de San Salvador is marked with yellow arrows and shells just like any other Camino route. Yellow arrows painted on poles, trees, rocks, etc. are the most noticeable markers. Some other markers include poles with a shell, tiles and metal planks on the walls, yellow metal shells and arrows, etc. Overall the route is marked good but there are some parts through the forest and fields where you have to look out for the signs. 

What to pack for the walk?

It’s not a very long route you don’t need to pack many sets of hiking clothes. Bring 2 full sets (pants, shirts, socks), alter them and wash every second day. Bring a set of changing clothes, flip-flops, a rain jacket or poncho, rain cover for your backpack, and a fleece or thermals (it might be chilly in the morning). For a full list of items go to our Camino packing list post.

Make sure your have a good worn pair of shoes and a comfortable backpack for walking.

How busy is the route?

The Camino de San Salvador is not a busy route even during July, August, and September. I walked it at the end of August – beginning of September and there were very few people. Some days I met 10 pilgrims on the route some just a couple. Most pilgrims who walk this Camino are Spanish. Some basic knowledge of Spanish will be very helpful. 

Is it safe to walk alone?

I walked the Camino as a solo female and never felt scared, in danger, or uncomfortable. But I have walked many Camino routes, done a lot of hiking, and I speak fluent Spanish. I’ve heard a story of a girl walking alone on the Camino de San Salvador and being bothered by a man. I have walked 6 routes alone and never had any negative experience.

I wouldn’t recommend walking some parts of the route that go through wild areas alone if you’re an inexperienced hiker. When I walked the Camino de San Salvador there was a group of four pilgrims they all met on the first day and walked the entire route together.

If walking alone make sure you have a working phone (buy a local SIM card if needed). You can find Spain emergency numbers here.

How to get to the Camino de San Salvador?

Leon is the beginning of the Camino de San Salvador. It’s a big city with good facilities, many hotels, restaurants, museums, etc. I would recommend spending here a couple of days before starting the pilgrimage. It’s easy to get to Leon from Spanish city. 

There is a small domestic airport 6 km outside of Leon with direct flights from Barcelona (once a day 6 times per week). The flights is 1h30min., the prices are between 56 and 100 euros. From other Spanish and European cities you can fly to Leon with a connection in Barcelona.

From Madrid, you can take a bus to Leon. There are many daily buses between the two cities including several direct buses from Madrid Airport Barajas to Leon. The journey takes between 3h30min. and 4h30min. The price starts at 18 euros. You can check the timetable and buy your tickets online.

There are several daily trains from Madrid to Leon including a couple of speed trains. It takes 2-3 hours to get to Leon by train. The tickets are from 30 euros. Check departure times and buy your tickets online.

There are trains and buses to Leon from other Spanish cities including Santiago de Compostela, Oviedo, Barcelona, Burgos, etc.

Where to stay in Leon?

There are plenty of hotels, guesthouses, and albergues in Leon. You can find a place for any budget from an Albergue for donation to a luxury spa hotel.

Albergue Benedictinas (Carbajales) where you get a pilgrim’s passport (Credential) for the Camino de San Salvador is a good option if you want to stay in a historical center and get into the Camino spirit. Many pilgrims who walk the Camino Frances stay there.

• Budget | Hostel Quartier Leon Jabalquinto | PALACIO REAL HOSTEL | GLOBETROTTER HOSTEL |
• Middle price | ARVA Spa París | 13 suites |
• High-end | Palacete Colonial | Mauro Suites |

We stayed at Hostal Quevedo outside the historical center close to the Park. The hotel is just across the bridge from San Marcos Square (the beginning of the Camino).

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