Embark on a less-trodden path from the majestic Pyrenees into Aragon, where a 152 km journey will lead you to join the famed Camino Francés.
With over a decade of Camino expertise, we have crafted a serene yet adventurous journey through majestic mountains, verdant river valleys, stunning early Christian monasteries, and Jaca’s mesmerizing lunar landscape.
We predict this Camino will attract a lot of new interest, especially with the new way-marked section of the Camino, which passes the extraordinary twin Monasteries of San Juan de la Pena. The 12th-century Monasterio Viejo is in the most atmospheric setting imaginable, and immersed in Grail legend…
Stretching westwards through the provinces of Huesca, Zaragoza, and Navarra, the Aragon Way unveils a captivating blend of towering mountains to the north and gently rolling hills to the south. It’s a route less frequented, making it a real joy for the avid explorer.
While many international walkers may overlook it, the Spanish and French cherish this trail. Renowned for its unspoiled, varied terrain, this route remains untouched by commercial tourism, offering a raw and authentic Camino experience.
The transition from the wooded slopes of the Pyrenees to the steep limestone hills of the upper river Aragon Valley, a haven for winter skiers, offers breathtaking mountain scenery. As you venture west of Jaca, the unique landscape of the Aragon Valley unveils its singular beauty.
As your journey winds down, the Camino Aragonés leads you to its convergence with the Camino Francés at the quaint village of Obanos, a stone’s throw away from Puente la Reina and a short trek to Pamplona.
Although remote, the Aragon Way provides an intimate journey through 20 charming towns and villages, each offering a comfy stopover for weary walkers. It’s an adventurous alternative for those aiming to complete the entire Camino de Santiago by starting near the more serene Somport Pass at Urdos in France or Canfranc in Spain, a world away from the bustling St Jean Pied de Port.
Kickstart your ultra-pilgrimage from the historic realms of Toulouse or Arles in France. The Arles Way will lead you to the Somport Pass in the Pyrenees, where it converges with the Camino Aragon.
We have often supported our clients on their pilgrimage from Arles to Santiago de Compostela, a journey of over 1000 miles / 1600 km that can take up to three months on foot.
The Arlés Way, or Via Tolosana, spreads in a picturesque westward trail through Languedoc to Toulouse in the Midi-Pyrénées before meandering south along the Gave d’Apse river valley, adorned with panoramic vistas of the towering Pyrenees.
Arles, a gem in the heart of Provence, nestles on the banks of the River Rhone, an ancient town that fueled the creativity of Picasso and Van Gogh. The journey from Arles to Montpellier unveils the wild, white horses of the Camargue, the Rhone delta’s lush drained marshland, and a tapestry of ancient pilgrim sites, vineyards, and quaint villages.
Your arrival in the splendid city of Toulouse is just the beginning. The route ahead unfolds through the historic 3 Musketeers town of Auch, the royal city of Pau, and into the Aspe valley before a grand entrance into Spanish Aragón via the Col du Somport.
Now, as the Camino Aragonés, your adventure continues south of Jaca through the River Aragón valley and westward through Aragón and Navarra, eventually merging with the Camino Francés before Puente la Reina.
Extend your Camino quest from Logroño in La Rioja or trace back along the Camino to Pamplona. Whichever path you choose, our tailored packages are crafted to suit each unique client, ensuring a proactive and responsive planning experience.
With the liberty to choose your own travel dates, your Camino journey is not just a pilgrimage but a personalized adventure curated by worldwide Camino route experts.
Still undecided on which route to take? Explore our full selection of Camino Walking Tours! If you have any questions, please get in touch.
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Price Excludes
Single Supplement
£315
Somport Pass, Rio Aragon Valley & Navarra’s Farmlands
Beginning at the famous mountain pass of Somport, at 1600 m / 5200 ft, you find yourself amongst the highest peaks of the Pyrénées, with vast and wonderful views.
Below Canfranc, the valley is wooded, and the path follows the tree-lined river banks to Jaca, which is today a popular winter resort. This town is the legacy of the first King of Aragon, Ramiro I Sanchez, who founded Jaca as his capital in 1035. He is buried at the Monastery of San Juan de la Pena.
From Jaca, the Camino follows the valley of the Aragón River, before making a “new” detour. The Camino has been given an additional day’s way-marked stage. You now pass by the Monasteries of San Juan de la Pena, both famous national monuments. You will discover more about the history of Aragon, visit the ancient monastery, and enjoy the surrounding countryside, overnighting at our newest hotel addition, the wonderful 4-star “Hotel El Mirador de los Pireneos” nearby.
From Puente de la Reina de Jaca, there are two routes, one heading either side of the Yesa reservoir and both joining up again in Sanguesa. The north bank route heads through Berdun and Tiermas to the Leyre Monastery but now shadows the new motorway. Construction here is ongoing. We take you south of the reservoir, away from the new A-21 motorway linking Jaca and Pamplona. The south bank route is a quiet country path through Ruestra & Undues de Lerda and follows a Roman paved road for a little way. Both options come together once again from Sanguesa following farm and forest tracks.
The Camino Aragon moves into eastern Navarra, leaving River Aragón behind at Sanguesa. It continues through the uninhabited mountains of Izco and Aibar to the valley of Ibargoiti. As you head into west Aragon and Navarra, low hills and cultivated fields appear on the approaches to Puente Ia Reina. The final stretch to Puente de la Reina also offers two route options, both of which unite just before the extraordinary Church of Eunate.
The 100 m / 160 km route is well-waymarked throughout. You will find the way marking differs between Aragon and Navarra. Aragon has the yellow arrows and GR 653 markers with scallops and the red and white GR banding. In Navarra, concrete bollards have shells and arrows, but yellow arrows continue to point the way.
San Juan de la Peña Monastery
This monastic complex has two sites close to the Camino de Santiago route. The original monastery, the Royal Monastery, was established in the C10th. A combination of stonework and natural rock forms the walls under an overhanging rock at the base of the cliff, from which the name Peña comes, meaning rock. It has a magnificent Romanesque cloister and the Real Pantheon, of neoclassic style, erected in the 18th century.
The new monastery was constructed above the cliffs in the C17th. The monastery was abandoned in 1835, with only the church and its grand Baroque facade surviving. Archaeological work has been carried out here, and in 2007, a museum was opened with a glass floor that allows visitors to observe the archaeological site.
One legend attached to San Juan de la Peña relates to the Holy Grail, brought to Aragon by a Spanish soldier from Rome during the C3rd and kept safe in Jan Juan de la Peña during the Moorish invasion. Later, the King of Valencia acceded to the Aragon throne and took the Grail back to Valencia Cathedral, where it can be seen today. Historians confirm the vessel as a genuine Roman agate cup.
Local Infrastructure – Yesa Reservoir
Recently, the construction of a new motorway that passes along the Yesa reservoir’s northern banks caused some interference with the north variant of the Camino. We currently direct you along the south banks of the reservoir through tiny abandoned villages and magical landscapes. As accommodation services for walkers are sparse, we may have to transfer clients off route to a hotel or accept one night in more simple accommodation. We will always advise you of availability and try to give you a choice.
For example, the hilltop village of Artieda only offers dormitory accommodation with shared facilities. However, it has a lovely restaurant (Mexican fusion) with fabulous views from its terrace to make up for it. We often transfer our clients to Leyre’s Monastery for this night, but it’s a lovely stay – if you can cope with their simple pilgrim lodgings.
History, Art & Legends
Historically, this Camino was mainly frequented by Italian pilgrims using the Via Francigena and Via Tolosana from Arles and Toulouse. Remains of this medieval legacy can be seen all along the Aragones Way, in the ruins of pilgrim hospitals, Romanesque churches, arched pilgrim bridges over the Rio Aragon, Roman paved roads, hermitages, castles, and fortified towns.
History recounts the legacy of resistance and domination by Romans, Visigoths, Iberians, and Moors until King Sancho III founded the Kingdom of Aragon in the 11th Century. Sancho the Great established Jaca as his Capital and raised a grand Cathedral.
Monastic Presence
The superb monastic complex of San Juan de la Peña began as a hermitage. The Old Monastery, which dates back to the C8th, shelters under an enormous rocky overhang and has a Mozarabic church and Royal Pantheon. The New Monastery, which dates from the mid-C17th and sits in a vast meadow, houses an interpretation centre.
Big Skies & Varied Landscapes
Beyond the Col du Somport, the southern slopes and the valley of the Rio Aragón are more stark, bare, and rocky. It’s a fairly easy descent towards Jaca, where the Camino then follows the Rio Aragón westwards.
After Jaca comes extensive arable farmland, anticipating the meseta ahead. You pass dramatic rocky moonscapes and the vast reservoir of the Embalse de Yesa. The villages here are partly or entirely abandoned, and mineral landscapes in the valleys, created by erosion, alternate with forests on low mountains.
After the Sierra de Izco, the trail descends to the superb Sangüesa. During the last stage, you will experience never-ending ups and downs until reaching Tiebas. Arriving at the magnificent Santa Maria de Eunate is a great moment that signals the end of this part of the Camino journey, as you’re just a few km from Puente-la-Reina. From here, you have the honour of joining the main pilgrim flow towards Santiago de Compostela.
The Way is a single route, but watch out in Aragón and Navarra as there are a couple of variant paths, mainly to famous monasteries.
Waymarking
Two forms of waymarking exist here: the iconic Camino yellow arrows and the GR’s typical red and white stripe. Known as GR 65.3, this trail is also part of the Spanish network of Senderos de Gran Recorrido.
For any traveller on the Camino, nourishment and refreshment are essential parts of the daily routine. In larger towns, there are many places to enjoy good local dishes that suit various tastes and budgets. We also aim to cater to those with particular dietary needs. As this is a more remote region of the Camino de Santiago, there are a couple of days when you must carry your water and food for the entire hike.
We have selected small and comfortable family-run establishments on the route. All rooms have private en-suite facilities. Lodgings are offered on a bed and breakfast basis with a good choice of available restaurants, but half board is where the lodgings are more remote. We hope you relish the opportunity to try local Aragonese dishes and soak up the local atmosphere.
Hotel Eidelweiss in Candanchu welcomes hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter and has fantastic hospitality.
We quote all our journeys with bag transfers as standard. We heartily recommend that you book your main piece of luggage to be transferred between accommodations. It helps your enjoyment of the walk and keeps unnecessary stress off your back and joints.
This remote route is not operated by the main Camino baggage companies due to low traffic. Therefore we work with local drivers and hotels to transport your baggage. This does make for a more expensive service but we still consider it value for money and an essential service.
This daily service is organised so that all you have to worry about is carrying a day sack with your essential items.
If you do wish to carry your own bag that is fine with us.
