Discover Islares: Coast and the Camino de Santiago

Islares brings together coastal scenery, a pilgrimage route and varied traces of local history for a stay. Playa de Arenillas represents its maritime side; the Ermita de San Roque and the remains of the Hospital de Peregrinos de la Vera Cruz bring the Camino de Santiago to life. The port and church architecture add further perspectives. Here, beaches and tides sit alongside religious history and a variety of architectural styles.

Coast and activities

Playa de Arenillas lies on the eastern coast of Cantabria, on the Ría de Oriñón and near Islares. At low tide, the beach is regularly used for surfing. The tide level is therefore an important factor when planning; sea conditions also vary. If you plan to surf, check the current conditions in advance. The coastal setting offers a different focus from the religious sites and architectural remains along the route: here, the tides and sea shape a possible activity, while other places mainly reveal historical connections.

The Camino de Santiago and religious history

The Ermita de San Roque lies near Playa de Arenillas, on the right bank of the Agüera estuary. It is also on the Camino de Santiago. Each year on 16 August, the well-preserved, simple chapel welcomes worshippers to celebrate the saint’s feast day. Alongside its location on the pilgrimage route, this recurring date gives the ermita its own religious significance.

The ruins of the Hospital de Peregrinos de la Vera Cruz are also part of the history of the coastal route of the Camino de Santiago. They are remains of hospitals that offered pilgrims a place to rest and stay. All that remains is a wall with a firebreak, a round-arched entrance and a few loopholes. These few architectural features give the site a different character from the well-preserved ermita: the focus here is on the surviving parts of a former complex. From Islares, hikers can follow the route towards Real Valle de Guriezo. Conditions on the route can change; check them before setting out on a hike.

The port, church and local history

The architectural remains of Puerto de Arenillas date back to 1594. Historical accounts link the port with coastal fishing and the transport of coal and iron along the coast. Thus, alongside pilgrimage, the use of the coast for fishing and transport is also part of Islares’ history. The port remains offer a different perspective on the past from the chapel and pilgrims’ hospital: they represent maritime and economic connections.

The Iglesia de San Martín de Tours still has a single nave. This feature offers a specific architectural point of reference. Together with the simple ermita and the surviving elements of the hospital, it allows you to compare different architectural forms and states of preservation without treating them as equivalent: a church with a single nave, a well-preserved chapel and the remains of a hospital.

Plan your journey

The service information dated 27 August 2026 lists the L2 route, “Islares – Oriñón – Santa Catalina,” in the CastroBus urban network. Check the timetable before travelling. It is also worth keeping your interests in mind when planning: low tide is a relevant factor for surfing; for a hike, consider the direction towards Real Valle de Guriezo; and each historic site offers its own focus. This lets you shape your stay around the topics that interest you most, without conflating coastal activities, the pilgrimage route and local history.

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