Camino del Norte – Day 12 – Güemes to Boo de Piélagos, 32km

19th September, 2019

Day 12: Güemes to Boo de Piélagos
Distance: 32km
Weather: Sunny and hot
Accommodation: Albergue Piedad, €14 incl breakfast + €10 dinner

We’re up at 6am and walking again by 6.40am, with headlamps on. I feel like I’m sleep-walking. After 4.4km we arrive in the first small town of Galizano, desperate for coffee, but there’s nothing yet open 😦 This means we have a long slog, another 9km actually, until the first coffee of the day…

We take the coastal route between Galizano and Somo and see the sunrise as soon as we reach the sea. It’s a stunning morning and there’s plenty of surfers up early. The trail takes us down to the beach and we walk across the sand for a few kilometres.

Dawn near Playa de Arenillas

Playa de Langre

Walking along Playa de Somo with a view of Santander in the background

In Somo we have another ferry crossing. This one is €2.90 and the journey is around half an hour to Santander. We sit at the back of the boat and watch the passing scenery, to be honest it’s a lovely way to travel 😉

Catching the ferry from Somo to Santander

Passing fishing boats on the ferry to Santander

In Santander, we visit the Cathedral and get a special stamp in our credential, then find a cafe for lunch and continue on our way. Surprisingly for a city, the arrows are easy to follow, but it’s quite a schlep for a few kilometres along pavement.

The entrance to Catedral de Santander

Catedral de Santander

Inside mercado de Mexico

We cross the train tracks in Boo de Piélagos to arrive at Albergue Piedad. There are tents in the garden and bunk rooms inside the house. It’s bright, clean and comfortable. We have a room for six and I share a bunk with an Italian man. We all opt in for the communal dinner and are treated to a feast. The starter is salad with goats cheese (I swap the cheese for tuna), followed by chicken and chips and melon for my dessert (the non-dairy option). I’m full and loving life.