Coastal route
Costa da Morte
This is the route people ask to ride again more than any other. Leave Santiago and within forty minutes you can already smell the sea; from Muros onwards the road hugs the Atlantic and doesn't let go until Muxía. Cabo Fisterra, the only waterfall in Europe that plunges straight into the ocean, and one near-empty beach after another even in August. The AC-550 is all long, sweeping bends on a good surface — the kind of road you enjoy without needing to rush, which is exactly the point of this one.
- Distance
- 269 km
- Duration
- Día completo
- Difficulty
- Easy — main and secondary roads in good condition
- Best season
- May to October; morning fog usually clears by around midday
- Roads
- AC-550 · AC-552 · DP-3404
- Start and finish
- Santiago de Compostela
The route
Map © OpenStreetMap (ODbL) and CARTO. The track is a reference: on the road, follow the signs.
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Open the route in Google Maps
Every stop already loaded, ready to navigate from your phone. Google works out its own roads, so a stretch or two may differ from the GPX.
Stops along the way
- 1
Noia
The obvious first stop, just over half an hour from Santiago. A stone old town, the Santa María a Nova cemetery with its guild gravestones, and a good spot for a coffee before the real riding starts. From here the ría (estuary) opens up and you get your first proper sea view.
- 2
Muros
A fishing town with a row of stone arcades facing the harbour. If you've got a few minutes, park up on the seafront — it's one of the prettiest scenes on the ría, and the bike looks the part in the photo. From Muros onwards the AC-550 hits its stride.
- 3
Praia de Carnota
Seven kilometres of sand, the longest beach in Galicia, with Monte Pindo rising behind it. There's a viewpoint right by the road where you can take it all in. A few metres away stands the Carnota hórreo (a traditional raised granary), one of the longest ever built — a two-minute stop that's well worth it.
- 4
Fervenza do Ézaro
The Xallas river dropping eighty metres straight into the ocean — the only place in Europe where that happens. There's parking right at the foot of the falls, and a short road climbs up to the Monte Pindo viewpoint for one of the most stunning views on the whole route. In summer the flow tends to pick up later in the afternoon.
- 5
Cee y Corcubión
Two towns back to back at the head of the ría, a good spot to fuel up and grab lunch. Corcubión has kept a protected old quarter you can walk round in twenty minutes.
- 6
Faro de Fisterra
The end of the world to the Romans, and the symbolic finish line of the Camino. Ride up to the lighthouse, park up and walk down to the rocks — turn up late in the afternoon and the sunset from here is the reason a lot of people do this route in the first place. Watch out for the wind when you park up — gusts here can easily catch the bike off balance.
- 7
Muxía
The Santuario da Virxe da Barca sits right on the rocks, with waves breaking just ten metres away. Less touristy than Fisterra and, in our view, even more impressive on a rough sea day. This is where the route turns back inland.
- 8
Camariñas y Vimianzo
The way back inland is quick, one bend after another, with barely any traffic. Camariñas has the English cemetery and Cabo Vilán with its lighthouse; if you're pushed for time, skip it and head straight through Vimianzo and Santa Comba back to Santiago.
Tips for this route
- Set off early — the morning coastal fog usually lifts by around midday, and the afternoon light at Fisterra makes it all worthwhile.
- Pack a windproof layer even if it's sunny in Santiago — it blows hard out at the cape almost every day of the year.
- Fuel up in Cee or Fisterra. Petrol stations are thin on the ground between Muxía and Vimianzo.
- The Muros-Ézaro stretch has plenty of viewpoints and not much hard shoulder — pull into the signposted laybys, not onto the road itself.
- This is the most photographed of all our routes — allow a full eight to nine hours if you stop properly and take your time over lunch.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do the Costa da Morte in a day?
Yes, and that's how most people do it: 269 km, around six hours in the saddle. Factor in stops for lunch, photos and the walk up to the lighthouse, and you're looking at a full eight-to-nine-hour day if you set off from Santiago in the morning.
Is this a hard route for a less experienced rider?
Not at all. It's all main and secondary roads with a good surface and wide bends — no gravel tracks or technical sections. An A2 licence and a mid-range naked or trail bike will see you through without any trouble.
What bike would you recommend for this route?
Anything in our fleet will handle it. For comfort along the coastal stretch, a mid-range trail or naked bike is more than enough; if you're planning plenty of photo stops, something light and easy to manoeuvre is your best bet.
Taking a bike for this route?
From €50/day with gear, insurance and the tracks included.
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