Santander to Santillana del Mar
A very long stage crossing urbanised areas and peaceful landscapes, ending in one of the prettiest villages in Cantabria.
Best season: Spring to autumn
Map
- Santander
- Santillana del Mar
FEAACS track published by IGN. Follow current trail signs.
Source: IGN/CNIG · FEAACS · CC BY 4.0 · Accessed:
Gaps in the source file are preserved; no connections have been added.
The Camino Bonsai Café team · Last editorial update:
From Santander to Santillana del Mar is 36.3 km along the Camino del Norte. It's stage 13, with 408 m of ascent and 328 m of descent, completed in about 9 h 15 min. Difficulty: Hard.
36.3 km is the editorial distance, the one guidebooks use for planning. The IGN GPX track below the map measures 37.4 km: it can differ because of route variants, the exact start and end points, and the access paths into villages, which it leaves out. Neither figure is the road distance between the two towns.
The longest stage of the route so far
Gronze.com describes this stage as "very long," with a "fairly urbanised" initial stretch, using pavements and pedestrian paths through Peñacastillo and Santa Cruz de Bezana. Leaving Santander is the least attractive part of the day, but afterwards the scenery improves noticeably, with gentle undulations and moderate elevation change through Boo de Piélagos and Viveda.
Being such a long stage (36.3 km), several albergues in intermediate villages allow it to be split into two more comfortable days. The destination is Santillana del Mar, one of the prettiest villages in Cantabria, with its Romanesque collegiate church of Santa Juliana and the famous Altamira Caves nearby.
What the terrain is like, kilometre by kilometre
Terrain
An urbanised initial stretch through Peñacastillo and Santa Cruz de Bezana, followed by more peaceful scenery with gentle undulations.
Scenery
Leaving Santander is the least attractive part; the scenery improves noticeably towards Boo de Piélagos and Viveda.
Path type
Pavements and pedestrian paths at the start, giving way to rural trails with moderate elevation change in the second half.
Villages
Peñacastillo, Santa Cruz de Bezana, Boo de Piélagos and Viveda are the main villages passed through.
Water points
Plentiful, as the stage crosses several urban and semi-urban centres along the way.
Shade
Limited on the initial urban stretch, somewhat better on the rural sections of the second half.
Traffic
Considerable on the urban stretch leaving Santander, much lower for the second half of the stage.
Key tip
Being so long, consider splitting it over two days using the albergues in intermediate villages such as Boo de Piélagos.
Accommodation in Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar, one of the prettiest villages in Cantabria, has several accommodation options.
Albergue municipal Jesús Otero
A public albergue with 16 beds across 2 rooms, in the garden of the Jesús Otero Museum, next to the Collegiate Church. A credential is required and no reservations are accepted. As a private alternative, Albergue El Convento, in the former Regina Coeli Convent, is a social-economy project with good availability.
Refuelling on this stage
As an established tourist destination, Santillana del Mar offers a good range of bars and restaurants in its old town.
Traditional Cantabrian cuisine
The area around the Plaza Mayor and the Collegiate Church concentrates numerous restaurants, ideal for refuelling after a long stage.
Historic stops on this stage
Intermediate rest point
One of the villages where the stage can be split thanks to available accommodation.
Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana
One of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Cantabria, in the heart of the old town.
Altamira Caves
Very close to the village, home to some of the world's most important cave paintings, declared a World Heritage Site.
Medieval old town
Cobblestone streets and stately houses that have made Santillana del Mar one of the prettiest villages in Spain.
Although not on the Camino itself, many pilgrims spend an afternoon visiting the replicas of the Altamira Caves at the National Museum, very close to Santillana del Mar.
Getting there and back
If you're starting here: Santander has its own airport and excellent train, bus and ferry connections.
If you need to head back from Santillana del Mar: there's a bus connection to Santander and Torrelavega.
What to know before this stage
Start very early
At 36.3 km and around 9 h 15 min, this is one of the longest stages of the Camino del Norte.
Consider splitting it over two days
Albergues in intermediate villages such as Boo de Piélagos allow for a more comfortable stage.
Don't be discouraged by the initial stretch
Leaving Santander is urban and not very scenic, but the landscape improves noticeably afterwards.
Save time for Altamira
The replicas at the Altamira National Museum, near Santillana del Mar, are well worth visiting if your schedule allows.
Don't ruin this stage
Underestimating the stage's length
It's 36.3 km: set off with plenty of daylight to spare or consider splitting it over two days.
Getting discouraged on the initial urban stretch
Leaving Santander is the least attractive part, but the scenery improves noticeably afterwards.
Not confirming availability at the Jesús Otero albergue
It's a small albergue (16 beds); it's worth keeping the village's private alternatives in mind.
Walking past Santillana del Mar without stopping to look around
It's one of the prettiest villages in Spain: worth strolling its old town at a relaxed pace.
What to pack, travel insurance and getting around
One single guide with the recommended gear, useful services (insurance, eSIM) and transport options for the whole Camino.
Work out how much it will cost you
Set the days, route and type of trip, and we give you an estimate of the total cost with a full breakdown.
Everything you're wondering before this stage
How many kilometres from Santander to Santillana del Mar?
Can this stage be split up?
Where can I sleep in Santillana del Mar?
What can you see in Santillana del Mar?
Is this stage difficult?
Is it worth visiting Altamira?
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Ideas for after you finish the Camino
A café waiting for you in Santiago
You still have many kilometres ahead, but once you finish the Camino in Santiago, Bonsai Café is a great spot for breakfast: right in the city centre, with Berraco by Bou specialty coffee and weekend brunch.
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