The Stages of Arzúa

Arzúa ©Panoramio manolofeal

Main Connections The main road of communication and the access to Arzúa is the N-547, from Lugo to Santiago, which also follows the route of the historic Camino. The town is located 39 kilometres from Compostela and 63 from Lugo. For those needing to make a stop or return to their place of origin, the easiest way to do this is to travel to Santiago or Lugo and continue their journey from there. There is a bus service that connects Compostela and Lugo and has a stop in Arzúa.

In either case, given the distance, the ideal solution would be to continue to the Galician capital and travel from there. The company Autobuses Freire (phone: +34 982220300) offers this service with a number of stops on the journey and, although with less frequency, offers services over the weekends. Consult the timetable on the website. The bus stop in Arzúa can be found in front of the bar Ameixa (calle Santiago,8) the telephone number of the bar and, the bus stop is +34 981500484. Another possibility is to travel to A Coruña.

The company (Autobuses Gómez) has two bus lines. One of which makes three stops before the Galician capital (Boimorto-Mesía-Coruña) and, the second, four stops (Ponte Carreira-Ordes-Carral-O Burgo-A Coruña). The phone numbers to consult times are: +34 981231880| +34 981690990. Another company, Autocares Frade, provides services tailored to the need of clients (calle Santiago, 32| +34 981500653.)

Correos offers a delivery backpacks service so you can walk without loads and enjoy the routes and stages. You can also purchase a packaging and shipment of bicycles service. The price is 42,03 euros (VAT included, shipping to mainland Spain). This is available in all offices.

Arzúa has a good number of licensed taxis. The rank is situated on calle Alcalde Juan Vidal (+34 981500127). The price for the journey to Santiago is 40 euros; they also offer a backpack transfer service to Santiago, also priced at 40 euros. The company of www.taxi-melide.com (+34 666465022) also offers a transport service to Santiago and to the airport of Lavacolla. The tariff is 1.09 euros per kilometre or 1.31 euros at night and on public holidays.

Other options are Peregrino Taxi (+34) 679444996, based in Paradela (Lugo), they focus predominantly on providing transport from the airports of Santiago and A Coruña to the location from which pilgrims choose to begin their Camino, and Taxi Peregrino (+34 654969666) they offer customers, after completing a form, the option of receiving a quote by e-mail. The service covers all of Galicia and allows walkers to book and pay in advance on the website. The vehicles offered include; cars, vans, cars with child seats and trailers for excess baggage.

For the transport of backpacks, pilgrims have various options. The normal procedure for those sleeping in public hostels, and thus unable to reserve a place at their next accommodation until their time of arrival, is to designate a bar or another point on their destination where they can collect their luggage. For those staying in private hostels or hotels, their backpack will be waiting for them at their next accommodation. The price is 3 euros per stage for all these companies.

Those that offer this service from Arzúa are: Paqueteria Ttansjes (Phone: 686808183; susotaxi@gmail.com), Mochila Expres (Phone: 627 435 778/ 666 377 155; transmochilavilanueva@gmail.com)-this last company charges an increased price of 5 euros in winter- and, Xacotrans (+34 982639300| +34 608581206). The tariff with this company increases to 5 euros for the last stage, when the service involves entering the historic centre of Santiago. With all companies, it is advisable to call in advance because the service vehicles usually begin delivery before 09.00 hours, by lunch they are already at their destination.

For those heading to Santiago on horseback, this location also presents itself as an obligatory stop. Situated just outside the urban centre, but still in the town, in a small industrial estate (calle del Rio Vello) there are two saddle shops selling all the necessities that equestrian pilgrims may require. Those staying overnight in Arzúa can keep their horses in the Feria del Ganado (the cattle market), which remains open everyday and, all year round, here pilgrims will have access to water and light. It is a free service, however those interested in using these facilities should get in contact with the members of Civil Protection.

For those doing the route on two wheels, at the entrance to the town they will find Comercial Lamas (rúa de Lugo, 131;(+34 981508013 |+34 696614528), a complete repair and bike hire shop, it opens from Monday to Saturday and, with prior warning they also attend to emergencies on Sundays. See all bike repair shops