Top 5 Reasons to Visit Fisterra, Spain

Fisterra is about 90 kilometers west of Santiago in northwestern Spain. Some pilgrims consider this 90km (~50 miles) the final leg of their Camino journey, and they walk to Fisterra from Santiago. I took a bus. I have no regrets.

Flat calm water in Fisterra

Gray day in Fisterra

Fisterra or finis terrae in Latin means ‘Land’s End.’ Romans believed that Fisterra was the End of the Earth, and it’s easy to see why they thought this. When you look out over the rocks and towards the horizon, you really feel like you are standing on the edge of the Earth.

The edge of the Earth

Fisterra’s coast is absolutely spectacular! It’s called the Costa da Morte, or Coast of Death, after the many shipwrecks that occurred along this rugged shore.

I stayed at Albergue Oceanus Finisterre, and I was blown away by the amazing hospitality. The owner has lived in Fisterra his entire life, and he enjoys showing guests the remarkable beauty of his hometown. He cares about every pilgrim’s Camino experience, and he offered me a shell (a symbol of the Camino) when he noticed that I didn’t have one. I still have it.

The Castillo de San Carlos (Castle of San Carlos) is a 300-year old castle that has been weathered away by corrosive salt water. You can pay an entrance fee and explore on your own or go with a tour.

Castillo de San Carlos

Praia Mar de Fora is quiet, secluded beach. It’s within walking distance of the city center but completely off the tourist trail. My hostel host told me about it, and I was the only pilgrim/tourist on the beach! It was so cool to be on this gorgeous beach surrounded by locals. I felt like I was so far from home, yet completely comfortable there. You can see this beach online if you look up ‘Miradoiro de Mar de Fora’ in Google maps. Here’s a link to it.

The Cape Finisterre Lighthouse is past the outskirts of town, about 3km south of the city center. If you’re walking, you’ll see the lighthouse shortly after you pass the Camino’s KM 0 landmark (Kilometer 0). This signifies the end of the road. (Just like MM0 – mile marker zero – in my hometown of Key West)! The lighthouse can be crowded because all the tour buses stop there but you should definitely still visit. This area is the #1 reason why people come to Fisterra. It’s where you can see the end of the Earth!

KM 0 landmark, end of the Camino

I recommend going later in the day once all the day-trippers have gone home. This is when the coast becomes quiet and peaceful. You can close your eyes, listen to the waves, and think about how it feels to be at the end of the world. To me, watching the waves crash then bubble felt a lot more conclusive of my Camino experience than arriving at the crowded Praza do Obradoiro (Obradoiro Square) in Santiago.

Day trips from Santiago are popular, but I recommend doing an overnight trip. On a day trip you have limited time to stop and enjoy the sights. You have to stay on a strict schedule and travel with dozens of strangers. These factors diminish the magic of Fisterra.

Staying overnight in Fisterra gave me plenty of time to chat with locals and learn about their lifestyle. For example, I was walking down the street when I saw a man carrying a stingray! I thought ‘Well, you don’t see that every day!’ and I asked him if I could take a picture.

Stingray caught by local fisherman

Day trippers do not have the opportunity to walk the final three kilometers of the Camino. This is the distance from Fisterra’s Old Town to KM 0. Since I was staying the night, I was able to. In fact, I walked it twice! Once a day for each day I was there. I’m glad I walked on both days because the first day was misty and moody and on the second it was sunny and gorgeous. I feel lucky that I got to experience both. On both walks, I was very intentional with my footsteps, thinking of the many boots who had trodden this path before me.

KM 0 landmark on a blustery day

By late afternoon, the day-trippers have gone home and there’s hardly anyone around. It felt incredible to be alone amongst the rocks and waves. I wrote in my journal and quietly reflected on my Camino until the sun dipped below the water. You can’t watch the sunset in Fisterra on a day trip. And it’s definitely a sight worth seeing.

I’m thankful I decided to stay overnight in Fisterra, and I highly recommend making the trek (or bus ride) to Fisterra if you’re in Santiago.

Have you hiked the Camino? Visited Fisterra? Let me know in the comments!

– Travel Alli

P.S. You can read more about the Camino here.