León to San Martín del Camino
After the big city, a flat stage with barely any elevation change and one unmissable stop: the Basílica de la Virgen del Camino, with its bronze facade by Subirachs.
Best season: Year-round; summer can be hot due to lack of shade
Map
- León
- San Martín del Camino
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 León to San Martín del Camino is 24.6 km along the French Way (Camino Francés). It's stage 20, with 131 m of ascent and 96 m of descent, completed in about 5h 30min. Difficulty: Easy.
Leaving León and choosing a route
The stage opens with a long urban stretch through León's outer neighborhoods and industrial estates: Trobajo del Camino and Valverde de la Virgen. The first big stop soon appears, the Basílica de la Virgen del Camino, with its striking modern bronze facade.
Past the basilica, the Camino splits into two routes. The historic one runs through Villadangos del Páramo, alongside the highway; most pilgrims and guides, gronze among them, instead recommend the Villar de Mazarife variant, which moves away from traffic and industrial areas, though it adds a few kilometers.
Whichever option you choose, the terrain stays practically flat all day, through open páramo with few trees. San Martín del Camino, the stage's endpoint, is a simple village geared mainly toward pilgrim rest.
What the terrain is like, section by section
Terrain
Practically flat throughout, with minimal elevation change.
Scenery
Urban on leaving León, then open páramo with little vegetation.
Path type
Pavements and streets at first; dirt track or asphalt depending on the route chosen.
Villages
Trobajo del Camino, Valverde de la Virgen and San Miguel del Camino before the route split.
Water points
Good in the initial urban stretch; more spaced out on the Villar de Mazarife variant.
Shade
Scarce for nearly the whole stage: bring sun protection and enough water.
Traffic
Noticeable if you take the historic route via Villadangos, which runs alongside the N-120.
Key fact
Decide your route before leaving La Virgen del Camino: Villar de Mazarife is quieter, though slightly longer.
Staying, depending on the variant you choose
The recommended variant through Villar de Mazarife and the historic one through San Martín del Camino lead to different villages, each with its own options.
Albergue de peregrinos (municipal)
46 beds in San Martín del Camino, open year-round. The cheapest option in the village, no reservations.
Accommodation in Villar de Mazarife
The variant recommended by most guides ends in a different village, with no online booking page. Casa de Jesús (50 beds in dorms of 2, 4 and 6, small pool and garden, open year-round except Christmas), Tío Pepe (20 beds plus 12 in double rooms, its own mesón) and San Antonio de Padua (communal dinner with a vegetarian option).
Albergue Santa Ana
40 beds plus 12 rooms, in San Martín del Camino. Booking 8.4/10 (777 reviews). Open year-round.
La Casa Verde
8 beds plus 1 room, in San Martín del Camino. 1 April to 31 October.
Albergue Vieira
34 beds plus 4 rooms, in San Martín del Camino, open year-round. No online booking page: you call or show up.
La Huella
28 beds plus 9 rooms, in San Martín del Camino. Saltwater pool, garden and Mediterranean restaurant. Booking 9/10, the best rating on this stage. 18 February to 30 November.
Eating along the route
A transit stage with no local dish of its own: the options are simple pilgrim bars, split between the two variants.
Trobajo del Camino and Valverde de la Virgen
The last bars with city prices before entering the páramo; a good spot for a proper breakfast.
San Martín del Camino
Simple pilgrim bars next to the albergues, geared toward dinner and rest after a flat but long stage.
The albergues' own mesones
Casa de Jesús and Tío Pepe have their own bar-restaurant at pilgrim prices; San Antonio de Padua offers a communal dinner.
Stops with history on this stage
Basílica de la Virgen del Camino
Built in 1961, its facade displays thirteen bronze sculptures by Josep Maria Subirachs, the same artist behind the Passion facade of the Sagrada Família.
The legend of the shepherd and the sling
Tradition holds that in 1505 the Virgin appeared to shepherd Simón Fernández and asked him to throw a stone with his sling: wherever it landed, a shrine should be built.
Two variants, one destination
The historic route through Villadangos del Páramo follows the highway; the more recommended Villar de Mazarife variant moves away from traffic.
If you have time, step inside the basilica: the interior contrasts sharply with the austerity of the stage that follows.
Getting there and back
If you're starting here: León has a train and bus station with excellent connections to Madrid and the rest of Spain.
If you need to get back from San Martín del Camino: regular buses run to León, where you can connect to the rest of the transport network.
What to know before this stage
Choose your route with time to spare
Ask at your León albergue or at the basilica about current conditions on each route before deciding.
Bring sun protection
There's very little shade on the páramo, especially during the summer months.
Fill up on water leaving La Virgen del Camino
Water points become more spaced out once you leave the urban area behind.
Don't miss Subirachs' facade
The thirteen bronze sculptures are one of the most unique pieces of contemporary religious art on the Camino.
Don't ruin this stage
Leaving without deciding your route
Hesitating at the split wastes time and can put you on the busier route without meaning to.
Underestimating the sun on the páramo
The lack of shade makes the heat feel stronger than the flat profile suggests.
Skipping the basilica
It's a quick but memorable stop, with one of the most original facades on the whole Camino.
Not planning the exit from León
The initial urban stretch is long: follow the yellow arrows carefully through the outer neighborhoods.
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 want to know before this stage
How many kilometers from León to San Martín del Camino?
Is this stage difficult?
Which route should I choose after La Virgen del Camino?
What is the Basílica de la Virgen del Camino?
Are there enough albergues in San Martín del Camino?
Browse the stages
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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