Stage 4: Muxía → Fisterra

A new day on the Camino – Beginning & atmosphere

Muxía lies quiet behind you as you set out. The wind carries the murmur of the waves through the narrow streets, gulls tracing circles above the rooftops. You walk back from the Santuario da Virxe da Barca through the town, past the harbour, past boats that sway in the light like thoughts not yet released.

Today you no longer walk to the sea – you walk with it. This stage is neither a continuation nor a farewell, but a circle: the path that unites the two ends of the world. Between Muxía and Fisterra, earth and wind mingle, and the light of the Atlantic accompanies you from start to finish.

Route & elevation profile

• Distance: approx. 28 km
• Elevation gain/loss: +540 m / –560 m
• Difficulty: moderate
• Duration: 6–7 hours
• Character: varied coastal scenery, hills, forests, long field paths, quiet sections

The connection between Muxía and Fisterra is one of the most peaceful routes in Galicia.
It leads across meadows, through open woods, along rivers and small bays – a gentle transition from contemplation to vastness.

Description of the way – with all the senses

You leave Muxía along the narrow road heading south. The asphalt gleams with morning dew, the sea remains visible on your left until it slowly disappears behind the hills.

After just under five kilometres, you reach Os Muiños, a small village whose old mills lie beside the stream. The murmur of water accompanies you, and the first coffee of the day tastes here like a ritual. Then the path leads through fields and eucalyptus forests, past Merexo and As Aldeas, where time seems to stand still.

Beyond Merexo, the view opens toward the Bay of Lires. The landscape widens; the wind carries the scent of salt and grass. After about 14 km, you arrive in Lires, the meeting point of the two Caminos – from Muxía and from Fisterra. Many pilgrims stay here overnight to watch the sunset over the Playa de Nemiña.

After Lires, the path rises gently, winding through woods and open fields. In the distance, you hear the sea, even when you can’t see it. The stretch toward O Rostro follows quiet trails where only the rustle of the wind remains.

Then the path draws closer to the coast. You reach San Martiño de Duio (approx. km 25), a village with an ancient church that once served as a resting place for pilgrims. From here, a final ascent leads up toward Fisterra. The wind grows stronger, the air clearer, the sea lies before you again – motionless, eternal.

Fisterra appears quietly, almost by chance. And yet you know: this is the destination that dissolves back into itself.

Villages & highlights

Variants & small detours

From Lires, a short descent (1 km) leads to the Playa de Nemiña, a quiet bay with fine sand – perfect for a pause by the water.
Some pilgrims spend the night in Lires and continue the next day, reaching Fisterra in the light of the evening.
The descent before Fisterra can become slippery in rain – taking it slowly is well worth it.

Packing & shopping tips

• Supplies available in Os Muiños, Lires, and San Martiño de Duio.
• Between Lires and Fisterra, few places to buy anything – carry enough water.
• Wind protection and light rain gear are essential for the coastal sections.
• In Fisterra: supermarkets, pharmacies, ATMs, and hostels.

Food, accommodation & services

Lires makes a perfect halfway stop – several albergues, bars, and restaurants serving regional dishes.
Fisterra closes the circle of the Camino. Here you can rest, sit by the harbour, or climb up to the lighthouse.
In the evening, pilgrims gather on the rocks at Cabo Fisterra. Some bring a stone, but most simply let themselves be moved by the magic of the sunset.

What makes today special

Between Muxía and Fisterra there is no single highlight – only motion, light, and transition. This path is the deep breath after walking: not a goal, but a connection. Lires lies like a heart between the two ends. Here paths and thoughts meet. And in the evening, as you stand by the sea, you understand that arrival and departure mean the same thing.

Reflection at the end of the stage

Today you have closed the circle. The sea that bid you farewell in Muxía now welcomes you in Fisterra. Perhaps that is the truth of the Camino: not to reach the end, but to realise that there is none.

📊 Stage overview

🌌 Camino of the Stars

Muxía → Os Muiños → Merexo → Lires → O Rostro → San Martiño de Duio → Fisterra

Pause for a moment before reaching Fisterra.
Don’t look at the horizon, but at the path behind you – it has now become whole.

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