The primitive road is the journey between Oviedo and Santiago de Compostela. It receives the name of “primitive” because it is the route taken by the first known pilgrim, King Alfonso II, when finding out the body of the saint.

  • Primitive Road (Oviedo-Santiago de Compostela)

This journey consists of 13 stages:

  • Stage 1: OVIEDO-SAN JUAN DE SAN JUAN (30.5 km)
  • Stage 2: SAN JUAN DE SAN JUAN-SALAS (20.2 km)
  • Stage 3: SALAS-TINEO (20.2 km)
  • Stage 4: TINEO-POLA DE Allande (28.2 km)
  • Stage 5: POLA DE Allande-LA MESA (22.8 km)
  • Stage 6: LA MESA-GRANDos DE SALIMe (16.8 km)
  • Stage 7: GRANDas DE SALIMe-FONSAGRADA (28.1 km)
  • Stage 8: A FONSAGRADA (PADRÓN)-O CÁDAVO BALEIRA (23.4 km)
  • Stage 9: CÁDAVO BALEIRA-LUGO (30.5 km)
  • Stage 10: LUGO-SAN ROMAo DA Retorta (19.7 km)
  • Stage 11: SAN ROMAo DA Retorta-MELIDE (27.7 km)
  • Stage 12: MELIDE-O PEDROUZO (33.3 km)
  • Stage 13: O PEDROUZO-SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (20 km)

Albergue La Montera is located at 50 m from the primitive road as you pass through Borres, in stage 4, 17 km from Tineo.


  • Stage 4 of the Primitive Road (Tineo-Pola de Allande)

On the outskirts of town, 1 km from the hostel, the pilgrim has two options to finish the stage:

  • Primitive Road: 11.4 km to Pola de Allande.
  • Primitive Hospital route: 16.4 km to Puerto del Palo. It is the route followed by the first Romeros and is not recommended during the winter, because half of its journey is developed at altitudes higher than 1,100 m. From deletions, the next town where you can find services, Lago, is 21.4 km away.
  • Level of both routes