13 & 14 September 2026
Triacastela to Samos:
Distance: 6.62miles/10.6km
Elevation gain: 620ft/188m
Time: 2h 37m
Samos to Triacastela:
Distance: 8.62miles/13.8km
Elevation gain: 606ft/185m
Time: 3h 11m
Warning: this one is a little long, since I’m combining our “rest stop” trips into one post!
I remember feeling mixed feelings during dinner at Triacastela about our planned rest stop in Samos. Dad planned three extra days at the end of the trip for any contingencies such as rest days, walking to Finisterra, or spending some time in Madrid.
I told my dad that I wanted to take a couple of shorter days before we go into the final week. My legs and feet have been aching for some more rest. We decided we would stop halfway to Sarria in Samos, since a beautiful large monastery resides there. Unfortunately stopping here means it is unlikely we’ll see any of the familiar faces we’ve been running into these last couple of days that have brought me comfort during this trip.
I asked my dad if he ever felt guilty for taking rest days in his Caminos. He explained that he did, but that he had wanted prioritize what his body needed (rest) alongside some sightseeing. He felt sad leaving friends behind but he said he would then make new ones in the next wave of people you meet. With this reassurance, we moved on to Samos.
The walk to Samos was a quick 10k (just 6 miles!!) in about 2 hours. We left the albergue pretty late and we were pretty sure we were the last ones to leave town. Because the walk to Sarria had 2 variation options that split exactly at Triacastela, and many opted to take the shorter way to Sarria (17km instead of 24km), the walk to Samos was a little lonely, yet beautifully green and hilly. A final steep downhill leads you down to where the monastery sits, not before giving you a sneak peak of the large building the monks reside in.
We walked down into the monastery, making it just in time for the Sunday mass, where we saw several peregrinos we had seen previously throughout our trip. After the mass, a monk led a tour of the Benedictine monastery, where we learned about the multiple fires the building had endured (in which it has been rebuilt at least twice) and how it has been around since the 7th century (over 1000 years old!!). Inside were beautiful unique murals depicting Saint Benedict and moments in history relevant to the monastery itself. After the tour and a much needed shower as the heat was ramping up, we treated ourselves to a wonderful Churrasco (grilled meat spread).
With full bellies and some rest, we begin the tedious task of reserving our final albergues for the last few stops we have. For context, we have been booking most of our albergues, or hostels, a day or two ahead of time. Many people will show up to the town day of, without reservation, and stay wherever they can find a bed or show up early enough to the Municipal Albergues which are managed by the Spanish government and are strictly first come first serve. The last 5 stages of El Camino are infamously known to be busy as many people do just these last 100km to qualify for the official Compostela certificate. It’s understandable if you want to get the Camino experience but time is limited for you due to work/familial/etc reasons. Unfortunately this made our ability to reserve beds immensely difficult, as this time of year seems to be extra busy. We spent part of our evening in Samos researching albergues (making sure they’re bedbug free 👀), calling them to see their availability and nailing down our stays for the night. Long story short, with some luck we have been able to book our last five days.
The next morning, our trek to Sarria was a quiet and pensive one. I had woken up to the news that Rex, our cat, has been having some mild health issues. With Leo out of town for work and me being in Spain, our friend and current house sitter, Joan, was left in charge and was worried about some arising symptoms. With much out of my control, I spent much of the walk today (Sept 14) thinking and praying anxiously for his health. Today’s 14km walk flew by, with anxious thoughts filling my mind. It’s a strange downside to the Camino. Real life dipped into this escape I have been in for the last week and it immediately overtook my mind. What else is there to do when all you can do is walk, think, and pray? I felt crazy and upset for a bit, but reassurance from Joan left me feeling better, as Rex appears to be in good shape so far.
Arriving to Sarria finally was immensely welcomed, as the heat began to increase and the temperature climbed. We’re staying in the slight outskirts of Sarria, which I believe proved to be to our benefit, since the downtown area is absolutely teeming with peregrinos just starting their Camino, or others who have been on it for a while.
Tomorrow we begin the final stages to Santiago, heading to Portomarín in a quick 22km. Wish us luck as we leave town extra early to avoid the crowds! And pray for Rex, or send good energy, whatever works for you.
Enjoy the photos!
To Samos:
To Sarria:
If you made it this far…enjoy a picture of Rex 🙂
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