Finisterre and Costa da Morte day trips from Santiago de Compostela
For a long time it was believed that this was the end of the world. Spain's most rugged coastline will leave you with spectacular views of the Atlantic, lighthouses guarding dizzying cliffs and dozens of pilgrims burning their boots.
Costa da Morte | ©Sergio Vilas
This coast is shrouded in mystery and legends, but what will draw you here is its exuberant beauty, the force of the Atlantic breaking against the rocks and picturesque villages that adorn the coastline with colourful little houses. If you are in Santiago de Compostela and want to complete your trip with a day of nature, this is the best option.
And if you want to enjoy Finisterre and the Costa da Morte, which are also considered the true end of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, the best thing is to join an organised excursion that will help you move between the key points. Its orography makes it quite inaccessible by public transport, so a guided tour will be the most comfortable option. I'll tell you all about it below.
Finisterre and Costa da Morte Day Trip from Santiago
The best of Finisterre and the Costa da Morte, in a guided tour
Perfect if you want to tour Spain's most rugged coastline with an expert guide without having to worry about timetables, car hire and the area's narrow roads.
Get ready to get up close and personal with the local way of life and culture of the Galician coastline. Departing from Santiago de Compostela, on this tour you will make several stops to discover first-hand the anecdotes of the pilgrims who walk the Camino. You will visit the beautiful town of Muxía, on the coast, and you will reach the most popular lighthouse, Finisterre, to marvel at the sight of the end of the world.
During the guided tour you will have free time to explore Finisterre at your own pace and explore what interests you most. You will also be able to taste local products and you will be told the most surprising stories that surround this area with an aura of mystery. Its shipwrecks, popular beliefs, the most ancestral legends...
You will also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Galician tradition by visiting one of the largest hórreos in the world (hórreos are typical Galician wooden constructions used to insulate agricultural products from humidity). You will also visit a spectacular waterfall and return to Santiago along the Costa da Morte.
Why choose this tour: this is the most complete and best value for money guided tour that will take you to discover the best of the Costa da Morte.
Recommended if... you want to complete your trip to Santiago with a day in the middle of nature, getting to know the most furious Atlantic.
Is it worth visiting Finisterre and Costa da Morte from Santiago?
Absolutely, yes. The raging sea, the cliffs, the spectacular lighthouses on the edge of the rocks and the legends surrounding this place make it the perfect destination to complete your holiday in Galicia. You'll take home the best photos of your trip and taste the best seafood and fresh Atlantic produce you've ever eaten.
Santiago de Compostela is a city with a lot of culture and charm that all visitors love, but adding to your trip a day in the countryside discovering the Galician coast will make all the difference in your perspective of the area. Bear in mind that this is an area quite far from the rest of Spain and taking advantage of your visit to Santiago to get to know it will take you little more than an hour by road and I can assure you that it is well worth it.
Why take a trip to Finisterre and Costa da Morte?
Due to its rugged coastline, the Costa da Morte is a fairly inaccessible area for getting between villages and lighthouses by public transport. Hiring a car or joining an organised tour will be your only option, but if you want to cut costs and make sure you don't miss the essentials, as well as getting to know the area from a local guide, I 100% recommend that you choose to join a tour.
The Costa da Morte covers about 200 kilometres and organising your own tour can be quite a tedious job. Bear in mind that the roads can be tricky at times: there are quite a few bends, they get narrower at times and in most cases you'll be driving along the cliffs, so getting an experienced local driver and a guide who will make sure to show you the highlights of the area is a good idea.
How to book a tour to Finisterre and Costa da Morte?
The best thing to do is to book in advance and online to make sure you can compare schedules, fares, availability and prices, but above all to make sure you have time on the day you want to do the tour. On Hellotickets you can find it for 36 €.
In principle this guided tour departs every day from August onwards but only three days a week in July and demand during the high season (in summer) is usually quite high. Booking in advance is essential to avoid missing out.
How much does a trip to Finisterre and Costa da Morte cost?
Depending on the duration and the route, prices may vary, but the most complete option to visit Finisterre and Costa da Morte is available in Hellotickets for 36 €. This is the most complete and cheapest option you will find for a guided tour of the area.
You will join the group in the morning and return to Santiago in the afternoon, after visiting Finisterre and its lighthouse, enjoying the views of an amazing waterfall and having time to explore some areas at your own pace, which will also allow you to explore at your own pace.
How long does it take to get from Santiago to Finisterre?
From Santiago to Finisterre is just over 80 km and it will take you about an hour and a quarter to walk this route. You can see the location on Google maps to calculate the route. If you then want to continue touring the villages of the Costa da Morte you have about 200 km to go.
Visit the Costa da Morte with children
Taking the little ones to visit the Costa da Morte will be for them the great adventure of the trip. The waves, the views of the Atlantic, the lighthouses and the small villages you will visit will attract their attention and they will be entertained all day long.
However, bear in mind that you will spend several hours visiting different stops, so it might be a good idea to bring some snacks in case they get hungry along the way or even a game to make the journey (even) shorter.
What to bring on your excursion to Costa da Morte
The first thing I must recommend is comfortable footwear, which will be essential for walking along some of the paths you will take and will allow you to spend the day comfortably and without discomfort. On the other hand, if there are sunny days, it may be a good idea to bring a hat and probably a mackintosh or windbreaker, as even in the middle of summer it can get chilly on the cliffs.
You'll have time to stop for lunch and explore Finisterre on your own, but if you want to make sure you don't get hungry in the middle of the day, you can pack some snacks in your rucksack.
What to see in Costa da Morte
The best things to see on the Costa da Morte are undoubtedly the landscapes, the cliffs and the views of the Atlantic breaking over the rocks. During the guided tour you will also visit Finisterre, the coastal town that represents the end of the world (for many centuries it was thought that the surface of the Earth ended there) and where you can walk at your own pace for a couple of hours and stop to eat fresh produce. There you will also see its mythical lighthouse and visit its interior.
You will also pass through Muxía, another charming village on the coast where you will stop to see the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Barca. You will have the chance to see one of the largest hórreos (granaries) in the world and visit the impressive Ézaro waterfall.
Where to eat in Finisterre?
The best rated restaurant in Finisterre is Arco da Vela, where you can taste the best fish and seafood of the Atlantic with great views. If you go to Finisterre during the weekend, the best thing to do is to call by phone to book a table so you don't run out of space.
Other places where you can eat very good, fresh, local produce, fresh from the ocean are Etel and Pan and Anduriña, both run by expert local gourmets. A Lareira will also leave a good taste in your mouth after your visit to the Costa da Morte.