In Islares, a striking stretch of coastline, the Way of St. James and traces of local history come together. Playa de Arenillas lies on Cantabria’s eastern coast, on the RĂa de Oriñón and near Islares. At the same time, local landmarks connect the area to religious history and to life by the sea in the past. This makes it possible to discover the place from different perspectives—with specific conditions to consider when planning your trip.
Playa de Arenillas and coastal conditions
Playa de Arenillas is regularly used for surfing at low tide. The tide is therefore a factor in deciding whether to combine a visit to the beach with this activity; sea conditions vary. The beach is near Islares and on the RĂa de Oriñón. Those interested in the coast will find not only a geographical connection to the town, but also an activity explicitly linked to low tide. Check the conditions before going into the water.
The Way of St. James, the Ermita and a fixed feast day
From Islares, hikers can follow the Camino de Santiago along a route towards Real Valle de Guriezo. Trail conditions can change, so take this into account when planning. The Ermita de San Roque is also on the Camino de Santiago. It is near Playa de Arenillas, on the right bank of the AgĂĽera estuary. The pilgrimage route and the local coastal landscape thus meet at this building.
Every year on 16 August, the well-preserved, simple hermitage welcomes worshippers for the celebration of the saint’s feast day. This fixed date sets the occasion apart from an ordinary visit to the chapel: it marks a religious tradition that recurs annually. If you are interested in religious customs, 16 August is the date to keep in mind when planning your trip.
Architectural traces and maritime history
The architectural remains of Puerto de Arenillas date from 1594. Historically, the port was associated with coastal fishing and the transport of coal and iron along the coast. These details tell of different uses of the sea: fishing and the transport of goods are part of the town’s recorded history, not a description of how the port operates today.
Only a wall with a firebreak parapet, a round-arched entrance and several individual loopholes remain of the Hospital de Peregrinos de la Vera Cruz. The ruins are the remains of hospitals that provided pilgrims on the coastal route of the Way of St. James with a place to rest and stay. Looking at the surviving features adds the former role of the pilgrimage route to its history: it was a path where travellers could find somewhere to rest and take shelter.
The Iglesia de San MartĂn de Tours can also be identified by a specific architectural feature: it still has a single nave. The term describes the layout of the church interior and makes the building easy to compare without requiring an extensive art-historical explanation. Together with the simple hermitage and the hospital ruins, the church offers insight into different forms of religious architectural history in Islares.
Getting there by CastroBus
A route overview for the CastroBus municipal network listed route L2 “Islares – Oriñón – Santa Catalina” on 27 August 2026. Check the timetable before travelling to plan your connection. When deciding where to stay, the coast, the pilgrimage route and the historical buildings mentioned above can each offer a different focus.
Discover more destinations: Mioño
Return to the main travel overview: Castro-Urdiales.
