At the exit of Villafranca of the Bierzo, two possibilities are offered to the pilgrim: to follow the course of the Valcarce River by all the valley, or to make the first 13 kilometers by total mountain, with an ascent very hard until the population of Pradela and a reduction, not less smooth, until the bottom of the valley, where it is joined with the other alternative.

Those that choose the most comfortable option, than mean to go by the bottom of the valley, they must be prepared to support the terrible traffic of the highway N-VI during about 17 kilometers. Soon this madness of cars and trucks will finish, because the works of the modern railcar are already very advanced and from then it will be a delight to walk because it will stay as simple local highway.

Nothing else to cross the bridge on the Burbia River is necessary to continue straight by the old highway that borders the tunnel. Those that they choose to go to Pradela must turn to the right by a step climb hill. The first kilometer is for very strong legs or to take it to it with much tranquillity, later the ascent is smoother. From Predela, population without services, the reduction until the same channel of the Valcarce, is of reserved prognosis.

The option of the valley, as already we have indicated, is 17 kilometres by the border of highway N-VI, passing through the populations of Pereje, Trobadelo, the Portela and Ambasmestas. The passage by the nucleus of these localities is a small lightening for the suffered pilgrim, since it represents to leave, momentarily, the infernal via.

The nightmare finalizes, just in the crossing with the highway that leads to Vega de Valcarce, that is the one that the pilgrim has to take, but already with little traffic. The same asphalt follows it until about two kilometres beyond Herrerías. Before the traveling will pass through the near populations of Vega de Valcarce and Ruitelán.

The ascent to mythical O Cebreiro, begin after Herrerías, are only 8 kilometres, but thank that the legs of the pilgrim are already very tanned at this point, because the ascent is of extraordinary hardness. Asphalt, already in total ascent, leaves behind by a way to the left (the cyclists have to follow front). Between 30 and 45 minutes of strong ascent, by a thick forest, it is what one takes to arrive at the following population.

From the Faba, where the pilgrim takes breathing in its source, the slope is smoother, the landscape changes by low mount and open meadows and the woodland begins to be scarce. This way and after crossing 2,5 kilometres, it is arrived at Laguna de Castilla, last town of Leon. The tired pilgrim feels the goal very near, but still it has left another equal stretch to reach the top. A little before, exactly in the line that separates the provinces of Leon and Lugo, appears a kilometric landmark with figure 152.5: they are the kilometres that lack for Santiago.