Quick Facts
- Starting point: Villafranca del Bierzo
- Destination: La Faba
- Distance: 23 km (14.5 miles)
- Walking time: Around 6 hours
- Difficulty: Medium
- Special features: Preparing for tomorrow’s big climb to O Cebreiro
Where to Stay in La Faba
There’s an albergue with 66 beds in this tiny village.
What You Need to Know About Stage 26
Let’s talk strategy: Many guidebooks suggest walking all the way from Villafranca del Bierzo to O Cebreiro today – that’s 30 kilometers with a brutal 800-meter climb. After three and a half weeks of daily walking, yeah, you could probably do it. Your body has adapted to the daily distances by now (that’s what training does!).
But here’s the thing: Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD. The elevation profile for that full stage looks pretty nasty!
Our recommendation? Stop in La Faba today instead. You’ll save yourself 5 kilometers AND skip the hardest part of that 800-meter climb. Then tackle it fresh tomorrow when you’ve got a shorter overall stage ahead anyway. Work smarter, not harder, right?
La Faba is one of those tiny, beautiful mountain villages that feels like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s the perfect spot to rest up before tomorrow’s epic climb on The French Way.
Here’s the cool part: After 25+ days of walking 20+ kilometers daily, your body has genuinely transformed. Things that seemed impossible on day 1 are now totally doable. That’s the power of consistent training on the Camino de Santiago!
Want to know how to pace yourself for the final challenging sections? Our eBook „Camino Francés for Beginners“ helps you strategically plan your stages, especially through the mountain sections, so you arrive in Santiago strong instead of limping.
Bottom line: A smart staging point that sets you up for success tomorrow. Sometimes the best strategy is breaking up the tough stages!
Buen Camino! 🥾⛰️
Map of the Stage: