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Stage 1 of 6

Somport – Jaca

Mountain pass behind you, then hours of downhill. Your knees will feel it.

Distance
29.9 km
Ascent
↑ 272 m
Descent
↓ 1,076 m
Walking time
≈ 9 h
Difficulty
Hard
Highest
1,633 m
Weather in Jaca2 days and the sun

Forecast for the end of the stage · Open-Meteo

0 m1000 m2000 m0 km510152025

Your legs are fresh and your head is full of that first step. That’s exactly the danger. This first day is long, and it begins at the Somport pass, on the French border, high in the Pyrenees.

There’s hardly any climbing. You spend almost the whole day going downhill, well over 1,000 metres. That sounds kind, but it isn’t. Your knees and toes take a real battering for hours on end. The bare mountain landscape gradually gives way to a greener, wider valley. Keep a steady pace, because you’ll be on the go for about 9 hours. After all that mountain silence, Jaca is a proper town, with café terraces and a public albergue. You’ll be glad of it.

Take it easy. The Camino has only just begun.

Tips for this stage

  • Walking poles will spare your knees on the long descent.
  • Set off early, so you reach Jaca in daylight.
  • Pack a jacket and an extra layer in your rucksack, as mountain weather changes quickly.

Before you set off: where to sleep in Somport

8 places

Booking links are affiliate links. Details

All places to stay in Somport on Booking.com

Where to sleep in Jaca

8 places

Booking links are affiliate links. Details

All places to stay in Jaca on Booking.com