You leave Armenteira behind and the path plunges straight into the forest. It heads downhill, past old stone mills and a little stream that babbles along beside you all morning. There’s hardly any real climbing to speak of.
It’s the descent itself that needs your attention. Almost 400 metres of downhill will take its toll on your knees, especially if you go too fast. Later the path flattens out and you walk past vineyards and through small villages towards the coast. Vilanova de Arousa is a harbour town on the ría, with sea air and boats instead of arrows. From here, the traditional route continues by boat across the water. At just over 6 hours of walking, there’s no need to rush: feel free to take a long break along the way.