The Stages of Melide

Melide ©Panoramio tunante80Main connections

The main connections in Melide are by road. In the centre of the town the road junctions of the N -547 (Lugo -Santiago) and the N -540 (Ourense-Betanzos) can be found. Melide is situated 60 kilometres from Santiago and Lugo, 72km from A Coruña and 85 from Ourense. The nearest airport is Lavacolla (Santiago), 30 minutes away.

For those who need to take a break or return to their places of origin, it is advisable to travel to Santiago or Lugo and continue their journey from there. For this, there is a bus line that goes to Santiago and Lugo. The company Autobuses Freire provides this service (Phone: +34 982 220 300), with various services throughout the day, although with less frequently at the weekends. Check times on the website.  

Another possibility is to travel to A Coruña. The company Arriva organises this journey in an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the number of stops made. Check times on the website. This line also goes to Ourense although, due to the distance, the best advice would be to travel to A Coruña.

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.

Melide has a large number of licensed taxis. The taxi rank is located on Canton de San Roque, s/n (Telephone: +34 981 505 390). In addition, there are several 24-hour services prepared specifically for pilgrims and, although they are based in Melide they also travel to nearby destinations such as, to Palas and Sarria in order to collect and transport the hikers to other destination or directly to Santiago. In general, their rates are not fixed, but rather depend on the distance covered, which is usually charged at 1.09 euros per kilometre during the week or at 1.30 euros at night, on Sundays and on public holidays (there may be some small variation between services).

All offer bike transfer and the number of bikes is not normally a problem, because they carry a bike rack for each passenger. Those offering this service include; Taxi- melide.com (Phone: +34 666 465 022), the taxi of Jose Angel Lopez Espiño (Phone: (+34) 609 834 910), and Rosa María Sánchez Alvarado (Phone: +34 649 906 260). The last two also offer other services.

For example, in the case of Jose Angel Lopez Espiño he also covers the Primitive Way from Lugo, and the Northern Way, from Sobrado. Rosa Maria Sanchez, meanwhile also covers the Primitive Way to San Xurxo or Vilouriz. Based in the town of Paradela, but willing to cover Sarria, Portomarín, Palas and Melide, there is Jesus Perez with a tariff of 1 euro per kilometre. Telephone: (+34) 982 541 161 | (+34) 686 808 183.   Other options are Peregrino Taxi (+34 679 444 996 | +34 982 541 000), based in Paradela (Lugo), they work predominantly to provide transport from the airports of Santiago and A Coruña to the place from where pilgrims choose to begin their Camino and, Peregrino Taxi (Tel: +34 654 969 666) which offers customers, after completing a form, the ability to receive a quote by email.

The service covers the whole of Galicia and also allows hikers to book and make a payment via the web. The vehicles offered include; cars, vans, cars with baby seats or towing services for large luggage. For the transfer of backpacks, pilgrims have several options. The usual 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 destination point where they can pick it up.

For those staying in private hostels or hotels, their backpack will be waiting for them at their next accommodation. The fee is 3 euros per stage for all companies. Those that offer this service from Melide are: Paqueteria Transjes (Phone: +34 686 808 183; susotaxi@gmail.com) and Mochila Expres (Phone: +34 627 435 778 | +34 666 377 155; transmochilavillanueva@gmail.com) with the last company, in winter the rate is 5 euros, or Xacotrans (Phone: +34 982 639 300 | +34 608 581 206) their rate increases to 5 euros in the last stage, when the service enters the historic centre of Santiago. In both cases it is advisable to call in advance because the service vehicles with backpacks usually start delivery before 0900 hours. By noon, they are already at their destination.

As another option there is Jacotrans, the company that covers the entire Camino from Roncesvalles. For the stretch of Pallas to Santiago the taxi that provides this service is that of Carlos Villanueva (Phone: +34 666 377 155).

For those heading to Santiago on horseback, this town has a small Saddle shop, Orensana. Equestrian pilgrims wanting to spend the night in Melide can leave their horses at the cattle market but should make a reservation in advance either by phone (+34 981505003) or by email (cultura@concellodemelide.org) to the council.

Upon reaching the town they will make contact with the local police or Civil Protection who can open the entrance to the market, where they will find services such as water, toilets and lights.

Cyclists have two repair shops. See the section on bike repair shops