Los Arcos–Logroño stage: break it down into Sansol
Stage 07 - Estella / Los Arcos / Sansol / Towers
Important advice for pilgrims
If you finish your stage in Los Arcos, the next day you will have to walk about 30 km to Logroño, arriving late and exhausted. However, if you walk 7 km further to Sansol, the next day's stage to Logroño will be only 23 km, which is much more manageable. The original Camino apps recommend Sansol as the end of the stage for this reason.
“Do yourself a favour: walk to Sansol. Your feet will thank you tomorrow... and our foot bath will give them the welcome they deserve.”
Sansol is a small town in Navarre located on the French Way, between Los Arcos and Torres del Río. Seven kilometres from Los Arcos and 23 kilometres from Logroño, it is the perfect place to divide the stage intelligently.
The stage in figures
Los Arcos → Logroño
28
km
Sansol → Logroño
21
km
The total distance between Estella and Logroño is the same whichever route you choose. The difference lies in how you divide it up. If you stop at Sansol, you will arrive in Logroño early and with enough energy to explore its streets, visit the cathedral, stroll through the Old Town and enjoy its famous pinchos. If you arrive exhausted after 30 km, Logroño will be just another bed.
The stage, section by section
Los Arcos → Sansol
6.5 km · ≈ 1 hr 30 minsAn open stretch of countryside between cereal fields and vineyards, with little shade: in summer, it’s best to set off early from Los Arcos. ‘Sansol’ appears at the top of a hill, with the church of San Zoilo as a landmark.
Sansol → Torres del Río
500 m · 5 minsIt’s just a 5-minute walk to the neighbouring village of Torres del Río, known for its octagonal Romanesque Church of the Holy Sepulchre (12th century), one of the jewels of the French Way.
Torres del Río → Viana
9.5 kmAn undulating section with constant ups and downs and little shade. Make sure you take enough water and protect yourself from the sun: this is the most challenging part of the stage.
Viana → Logroño
10 kmThe final stretch of the Camino in Navarra: you leave Viana behind and enter La Rioja, crossing the Ebro via the stone bridge, heading straight for the old town of Logroño.
Why divide the stage into ‘Sansol’?
A 28-km run takes its toll
In the heat, and after several days on the road, arriving in Logroño late and exhausted spoils your visit to the city. By stopping off at Sansol, you can spread the effort out: a gentle 6.5 km today and 21 km with fresh legs tomorrow.
You’ve arrived just in time
Check-in at the hostel is from 1.00 pm to 7.00 pm: plenty of time to have a shower, put a wash on and spend the afternoon in the garden with your feet in the foot bath.
Dinner’s done and breakfast’s ready
Communal dinner featuring homemade Valencian paella (16 EUR, or a bed and dinner package for 32 EUR), naturally gluten-free and with gluten-free bread available on request. Breakfast is served in the café before setting off for Logroño.
Practical tips for this stage
- Set off early from Los Arcos: the stretch to Sansol and the subsequent section to Viana offer little shade.
- There is a chemist’s 30 metres from the hostel, with a 24-hour vending machine selling essential items.
- There is a shop selling local produce at Sansol; the nearest supermarket is in the neighbouring town of Torres del Río, just a short walk away.
- There is a taxi service in the village itself: useful for transporting rucksacks, in case of unforeseen circumstances or for late arrivals.
Frequently asked questions about this stage
How many kilometres is it from Los Arcos to Logroño?
It’s 28 km. You can do it in one go, but many pilgrims split the journey by staying overnight in Sansol (6.5 km from Los Arcos) or in Torres del Río (7 km away), leaving 21 or 20.5 km for the following day.
Where can I stay overnight between Los Arcos and Logroño?
Between Los Arcos and Logroño, you can stay in Sansol, Torres del Río or Viana. Sansol and Torres del Río are neighbouring villages just 500 metres apart: at Sansol you’ll find our Albergue Sansol (24 beds, communal dinner) alongside three other places to stay, and in Torres del Río there are three more hostels.
Is it worth stopping off at Sansol?
Yes, if you’d prefer to spread the effort out. Finishing at Sansol, the next day’s walk to Logroño is 21 km instead of 28, and you’ll arrive in the city with enough energy to enjoy it. You’ll also spend the afternoon in a quiet village along the Camino, with a communal dinner amongst fellow pilgrims.
What services are available at Sansol?
Hostel with a café and pilgrim’s menu, a garden with a foot bath, a washing machine and tumble dryer, a chemist’s 30 metres away with a 24-hour vending machine, a shop selling local produce and a taxi in the village. The nearest supermarket is in the neighbouring village of Torres del Río, a short walk away.