1. From Somport to Jaca – Camino de Santiago

The first part of the camino is rather difficult as it is a lengthy journey and Somport is located at 1,600 meters above sea level. The setting is very picturesque, the Pyrenees offer splendid backgrounds.

Some pilgrims decide to walk until Canfranc only. The first part of the day especially is very atypical to the Camino de Santiago as you will find hotels at all times. These do not cater mostly to pilgrims though but to the ski lovers. The advantage of passing through tourist sites is that you will find plenty of restaurants and bars at all times.

Jaca is the largest town you will encounter on the Camino Aragones. The Cathedral of San Pedro Apóstol is one of the oldest cathedrals in Spain; its building started around 1070. The citadel of Jaca from the 16th century is also worth a visit.
On the first day the Camino Aragones will start in Somport going through Candanchú, Canfranc-Estación, Canfranc, Villanúa, Castiello de Jaca, Hotel Charlé and Jaca. Here is the map:

Camino Aragonés1: Somport - Jaca
2117 The first of the Spanish waymarks in the early dawn. 2119 2120 2121 Cadanchu, a ski and holiday resort just below Somport 2123 The GR signposts guide you all the way to Puente La Reina 2125 Stony paths to start with 2126 Dawn touching the peaks of the Pyrenees 2127 some welcome cool shade down in the valleys 2132 2133 2135 2136 2137 Approaching Canfranc Estacion 2140 The magnificent railway station 2141 the joint Spanish-French offices for Police and Customs Control 2142 Camino diverging from the highway before the tunnel 2143 2144 Finely sculpted dam 2145 2146 2147 2148 2149 The town of Canfranc lower down the valley 2150 More relics from the railway age 2151 Medieval bridge 2152 2153 2154 The new road leaps across a gorge, but only gives crouching space to the Camino 2157 2161 2162 2166 2167 2168 2169 The stony track seems to go on for ever! 2170 but finally ends in Castillo de Jaca, a lovely medieval village 2171 You then cross to the other side of the Río Aragon 2172 and cross a tributary, the Rio Ijuez, on stepping stones 2173 Lovely views of the Aragon, slowly increaseing in size all the way 2174 2175 and so into the approaches to Jaca 2176 sign on an old bridge