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Planning the Camino de Santiago

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How to plan your journey on the Camino de Santiago

In this article we want to give you all the keys you need to plan your trip to the Camino de Santiago. Making the Camino de Santiago is always an amazing experience but if you spend some time organizing your trip properly, you will enjoy it much more.

In Santiago Ways we have been helping pilgrims plan their Camino de Santiago for many years. Having the help of a specialized agency to help you organize the trip makes it easier for everything to go as you expect.

Therefore, you have two options. Contact us so that our team can help you plan the Camino de Santiago or continue reading and learn how to organize everything by yourself.

Decide that you’re going to do the Camino de Santiago

Many people have the desire to do the Camino de Santiago sometime in their life, but they never choose a date, they never say when. The years go by, and doing the Camino de Santiago, on many occasions, becomes just a dream.

Don’t let that happen to you. Decide firmly that you are going to do the Camino de Santiago and get to work on planning the trip . If you are not yet very convinced to embark on the adventure, we leave you this post in which we tell you some of the reasons why you should do the Camino de Santiago.

Before you continue reading the reasons, if you are already convinced that you want to do the Camino de Santiago from Sarria , leave us your details and the details of your trip, and we will arrange this experience for you.

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Length of the Camino: 7 days/6 nights to Santiago 8 days/7 nights to Santiago 11 days/10 nights to Santiago

Meals Plan: Breakfast, dinner and picnic Breakfast and dinner Breakfast

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Do it, any way you can, but do it.

It is common to hear people say that they want to do the Camino de Santiago, but that they do not want to go alone or that they will do so when their children grow up. Don’t wait for anything, or anyone. If you want to do the Camino de Santiago, do it.

If you have young children, doing the Camino de Santiago as a family can be a fantastic experience. You only need to plan the trip to the Camino de Santiago, thinking that you will do the route with children. If you want to know more about this topic, consult the article that we dedicate to the Camino de Santiago with children.

Pets are also not an inconvenience. Many people do the Camino de Santiago with their dog and live a wonderful experience in the company of their faithful friend. Planning the Camino de Santiago with a dog requires greater organization than if you go alone, discover in this post what aspects you must take into account so that the pilgrimage is also a wonderful experience for your pet.

Finally, there are those people who want to do the Camino de Santiago but do not want to go alone and do not find anyone to accompany them . For them there are also solutions. One is to face your fears and embark on an adventure. In this post we give you some tips to do the Camino de Santiago alone .

Another option is to join an organized group . The advantage of this option is that you don’t need to spend time planning the Camino de Santiago. See the article on group trips to the Camino de Santiago to learn more about this alternative.

Calculate your budget

Another thing you need to do to plan the Camino de Santiago is to know how much money you will have for the adventure. This fact, along with the number of days you have available, will end up determining how many days you can spend on the Camino de Santiago.

It will also mark, to a large extent, what kind of Camino de Santiago you will undertake . It is not the same to sleep in hostels as to enjoy pleasant nights in hotels or cottages. Nor does it cost the same eating sandwiches or considering the Camino de Santiago as a gastronomic or wine route.

If you want to find out more about this section, to plan in detail your budget of the Camino de Santiago, you can consult the post that we dedicate to explain how to calculate how much money you need for your trip. In this other, we provide you with some guidance prices.

Choose a date for your journey

Once you know how many days you can spend on the Camino de Santiago, find some fixed dates for your trip. Don’t fall for “I’ll do it next year.” Okay, next year, but when?

The time of year when you have your holidays should not be an inconvenience to do the Camino de Santiago. As we tell you in this article, all the seasons are wonderful on the Camino de Santiago.

Choose your Camino de Santiago to plan the rest of the journey

The next step to plan the Camino de Santiago is one of the most important: choose which of the Camino de Santiago routes you will do. To do so, you must take into account various factors.

The first is the time of year when you will do the Camino de Santiago . The Camino Primitivo, for example, is not highly recommended in winter.

While La Via de la Plata is especially hard in summer. During spring and autumn, all routes live their finest hour.

Another is your physical condition. Not all paths are equally difficult, choose one you can deal with without overdoing it. Check the map of the Camino de Santiago to see the profiles of each route and expand on this article on the main pilgrim routes.

Finally, another element that will determine the route will be the time you have to do the Camino de Santiago. There are as many routes as pilgrims, so you will surely find the section of the Camino de Santiago that fits your time off.

In this article we recommend which route to take based on the days you have available. It’s that easy!

Organize your transport

Once you have chosen your route of the Camino de Santiago, you will have to figure out how to get to your starting point. If you go on foot, transport does not usually involve any great difficulty. However, if you plan to take a flight to the starting point or a nearby city, we recommend that you purchase the flights well in advance.

Find time to plan the stages on the Camino de Santiago

Another topic that usually drives pilgrims crazy , when they are trying to plan the Camino de Santiago, is the stage distribution. In this article we recommend how to organize the stages on the main pilgrim routes and give you some tips in case you want to add modifications depending on your physical condition or type of trip.

Decide where to sleep

Once you have finished planning the stages, you will have to decide where you will sleep on the Camino de Santiago. You have several options: the public hostel network or private accommodation.

If you will stay on the public hostel network, you don’t have to plan anything because you can’t book in advance. In addition, your route will be marked by their presence in the final stages.

If you choose to stay in private establishments, whether hostels, hostels, hotels or cottages, you can spend some time making reservations . This is especially advisable if you decide to plan your trip to the Camino de Santiago during the high season or during a Holy Year.

This part is the one that pilgrims hate the most, because it consumes a lot of energy and involves spending many hours in front of the computer. That is why many risk having to walk extra kilometres in search of accommodation, having completed one of the stages on the Camino de Santiago.

If you do not want to manage reservations and do not want to be worrying about where to sleep on the Camino de Santiago, you can contact us. We take care of this topic and will provide you with a few more services, if you wish.

Once you have dates for your trip, use that step as a motivational one. If you don’t usually do sport very often, and in order to cope with the many kilometres that you will have to travel every day on the Camino de Santiago, you will need to prepare physically.

Mentally preparing for adventure also helps you have a better experience. If you want, consult the post in which we explain how to prepare your physical and mental training for the Camino de Santiago.

Enjoy yourself by investigating

As soon as your interest in the Camino de Santiago awakens, you can start with this beautiful part of the planning. We think it’s one of the best parts.

The Camino de Santiago is an ancient route behind which hides many legends and curiosities. Researching its origin and history will help you enjoy the tour even more.

The best thing about this part of planning is that you can do it calmly from the sofa at home. Check out our Camino de Santiago blog to find topics you’d like to find out more about. We have over a thousand and one curiosities and stories!

Prepare your luggage

One of the last things you have to take care of when planning the Camino de Santiago is your luggage. But don’t wait until the last day , because preparing the backpack for the Camino de Santiago is not as simple as when it is organized for other trips.

Before you start preparing your backpack for the Camino de Santiago, there is something you need to decide. Will you carry the backpack on your back or hire a transport service?

The answer is decisive when preparing your luggage. If you have a backpack transfer service, you don’t have to worry too much about its weight.

However, if you plan to carry it on your back , that’s where things get complicated and you have to do some engineering. Luckily, you have us and we have tips for everything.

Before you go crazy looking for information on how to prepare the backpack for the Camino de Santiago, we recommend that you take a look at these three items. Try to review them in the same order as we show them, because this will make everything much clearer.

  • Why you shouldn’t trust any lists
  • Things that we recommend to take with you
  • Check your backpack according to the time of year

Come and enjoy it

All that is left is to enjoy the experience of doing the Camino de Santiago. In this post, we will tell you many of the fun things you can do during your pilgrimage.

We hope that this article will help you plan your trip to the Camino de Santiago. If you have any questions that have not been resolved, leave us a comment or write on our Facebook page and we will be happy to help you.

Buen Camino!

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Hi we are a group of 4 planning to walk from San Sebastián to Bilbao from June 24th June.

We’re very glad about your interest in walking the Camino de Santiago with us. We will be happy to help you plan an itinerary.

The Reservations team will send you an email as soon as possible with all the information so you can enjoy the magic of the Camino.

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The 5 Best Camino de Santiago Apps & Pilgrimage Planning Tools

There are a surprising number of Camino de Santiago apps, but not all of them are high quality or useful. We’re here to help you to figure out the best Camino apps for planning and navigating your pilgrimage. This article will help you decide whether you need a Camino app at all— or whether a guidebook would better would be better for your needs. Then scroll through our list of the 5 best apps, which includes features and pro/cons for each. 

I’ve been on the Camino several times and know a thing or two about how to navigate it. But don’t take my word for it, because I’ve also crowd-sourced opinions from other pilgrims on which Camino apps they found the most useful.

Camino apps iPhone screen

(This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.)

Do You Even Need a Camino de Santiago App or Guide Book?

If you are concerned about simply finding your way along “The Way”, particularly on the popular Frances route, you need neither an app nor guidebook. The main routes are very clearly marked. Most people who get lost do so because they set out at pre-dawn, they try to take an ill-marked alternative route, or they have become too tired to pay attention.

Many people simply go to their start point and head west, having faith that the Camino will take care of them. You’d be surprised at how well that works!

However, if you want some back-up, here are some things to consider when deciding whether to take an app for the Camino, or a guide book or both.

Pros/Cons of Using a Camino App

  • They do a good job of indicating where to find particular services along the route.
  • Some of the apps allow you to design your own custom stages.
  • Real-time mapping shows you where you are and where you are going. This is helpful if you are a nervous hiker– but seriously, trust what I said above about it being hard to get lost. And most of the maps can be downloaded for offline use.
  • They are inexpensive or free. 
  • They provide little/no historical or cultural context.
  • The albergue lists may not be up to date. 

Use the apps if : You want to keep it ultralite and you like the idea of real-time mapping.

Pros/Cons of Using a Physical Camino de Santiago guidebook

  • The guidebooks do a good job of providing cultural context and historical information for notable sites along the trail. This also includes things like calling out special church services, museum logistics and festivals.
  • When there is an alternative routing, the guidebooks will indicate why it’s worth taking and they’ll provide routing information. Some of the apps don’t do this.
  • The guidebooks offer suggestions for stages and distances- which can be a good thing if you are trying to stick to a hard timeline.
  • If you do an ebook guide, it’s ultralight. 
  • Even if the guidebooks are updated every few years, it’s impossible for them to have the latest albergue information.
  • The guide books do a fine job of providing trip planning advice (packing lists, foot-care advice etc), but this information is also widely available on the web (and from my links below). So those sections aren’t necessary once you set out.
  • The physical books add about 1 lb (.45 kg) of weight to your pack, which matters when every bit of weight really counts.
  • The ebook guides can be hard to read on a phone in sunlight. 
  • The guidebooks offer suggestions for stages and distances- this can be a bad thing because other hikers are using those same stages. This causes choke points on the trail. Also, slavishly sticking to pre-determined stages puts you at risk of ignoring your own physical or spiritual needs on any given day.

Use the guide guide book if : You really want the historical context. If you like the idea of a physical books and don’t mind defacing it, you can tear out the necessary pages you go, lightening the load.

If this sounds good to you, we have a whole other article that spotlights the best and most useful Camino guidebooks .

Of course all this assumes that you know which route you are taking. If you aren’t sure, check out our guide that lists the most popular starting points .

Camino de Santiago apps guide

The 5 Best Camino de Santiago Apps

The app names can be confusingly similar, so look for the icons above in your app store.

There are quite a few Camino apps available, however, not all of them are professionally developed. For simplicity, I’m only recommending guides that are in English, have been developed for both iOS and Android platforms, and that are recommended by the Camino community.

Wise Pilgrim (by Wisely)

For $.99, the Wisely app provides a lot of value in a very clean design. It will help you stay on the trail, and includes mapping for alternative routes. Michael (the developer) lives in Spain and he goes to a great deal of effort to keep his guides current.

The UI has access by region, making it easy to find services for wherever you are at the moment. 

Wisely has listings for albergues, pensiones and casa rurales which indicate the availability of services such as laundry, meals or wifi. These are available in the regional sections and also conveniently searchable from the accommodation section.

The map is easy to read and available for offline use (but you’ll need to download it in advance). Unlike most of the other apps, the Wisely maps also show detail for businesses and services in each town. In addition, you can press and hold on your starting town for the day and it will calculate that day’s cumulative mileage for you. 

The elevation profile is useful for gauging not only mileage but also elevation gains and it will remember at which stage you last viewed it. But it’s a bit hard to read and takes a bit of getting used to. 

The Frances app does not include Finesterre/Muxia, but you can purchase it for additional $.99. They also have versions which cover the Primitivo, Ingles, Portugues, Invierno, del Salvador, San Salvador, Norte and Vía de la Plata trails.

The albergue listings have easy to navigate phone numbers, WhatsApp links, website info and emails as well as Booking.com links (when available).

Pros: Very clean design and easy to navigate. Good map with lots of detail.

Cons : No custom or multi-day planning for stages.

App Store | Google Play

Guide of the Way of St. James (Buen Camino app)

This free Camino app has a lot of nice features. Most notably, it includes downloads for the French, Baztan, Norte, Primitivo, Aragon, coastal Portuguese and Aragon routes. They tell you what to expect along the route but don’t offer much historical or cultural context.

The first screen shows an easy to read list of towns along The Way with distances in between, making it an easy at-a-glance way to plan your stop point for the day.

The app has an unhelpful elevation profile which shows relative elevations, but gives neither actual elevation in meters nor kilometers between towns. 

They do offer real-time route mapping, but Buen Camino uses Apple maps, which I find less reliable than Google maps. Getting into the map is awkward as it’s not on the main menu and you have to navigate to it from a city page. That said, the map is available for offline download. 

You can set up daily stages for multiple days, but if you edit one, then you have to edit all of them.

The albergue listings seem fairly complete with all of the requisite information and it has website info, phone numbers and indicates those that can be pre-booked on Booking.com.

Pros: Free. 

Cons : Uses Apple Maps. Bad profile map.

App store | Google Play

TrekRight (Trekopedia)

TrekRight’s $9.99 Camino app differs from the others in that it does provide more historical and cultural context for the towns that you’ll be transiting. They also have some interesting content extras, such as videos that have been loaded in by the community. The app also has a place where you can log your own notes.

TrekRight has the full Frances route, plus Finesterre and Muxia. But they don’t offer routing for other Spanish Caminos.

Their maps work best if you download them in advance, otherwise you get limited detail. They have the best profile map of all of the apps, which gives a good visual cue to both distances and elevation, and you can turn it horizontally for even more detail.

The app allows you to choose between the Brierly, the Eroski or completely custom stages. You can navigate to the route summery > route sections and choose “edit” to change your daily stages. 

The app has good listings of available accommodation, it only shows easy “at a glance” listing of the available services for the albergues, but not hotels and guesthouses. So, you have to click into those to find out what they offer.

I found the UI for this app to be frustrating and felt that I had to dig too much to figure out how to change the stages and get info on albergue and town services. But once you get used to that, it’s a good app.

Pros : Better historical and cultural information. Content extras. Custom routing.

Cons : Clunky UI. Poorly detailed maps. Higher price.

Far Out Guides (Formerly Guthook)

$7.99 for St. Jean to Santiago, with a free version for the St. Jean to Pamplona segment. They also offer a Norte route. They are an experienced app developer, with 43 long distance routes in their portfolio.

Far Out offers online and offline mapping with a pretty easy to follow UI. They have a community based ethic, so you’ll find notes and reviews from other pilgrims that can help you find food or decide if a particular albergue is right for you.

Unlike a few of the other apps, their profile map does a great job of showing distances and elevation, however it doesn’t label the towns in an easy to view manner.

They do not have good information on town services and their albergue listings are thin. They also don’t offer any historical or cultural information. This app is a good stripped down guide if you just want to keep an eye on the trail.

Pros : Easy to use map. Decent profile map.

Cons : Weak on albergue listings and services.

Apple Store | Google Play

Camino Tool Way of Saint James

This free tool has a surprising amount of data. They offer routing, stages and albergue suggestions for all of the major Camino routes. It comes in one Camino app, rather than requiring you to download individual sections. But you can simply filter for the route that you want.

The app allows you to create a customized plan from the start, using a simple questionnaire. It will then suggest where to stop each day and make albergue and dining recommendations. You can change your plan on the fly by deleting their recommended stop and adding your own. However, this feature was a bit buggy and editing stages can be frustrating.

You can also link directly to Booking.com (for those lodgings who accept it). But it opens up in a browser window, rather than the app, which is less convenient.

They offer profile maps, but just from one town to the next, which makes them far less useful for multi-day route planning.

Pros : Free and fairly comprehensive. Available offline.

Cons : Buggy stage tool, no historical context.

Camino de Santiago Spain: Way sign Frances trail

Read also: How to Get to Saint Jean Pied de Port for Your Camino

Other Helpful Tech Resources and Documents

Sometimes there is so much information in a Camino app, that you can get lost looking for a specific thing. These additional online resources are great at serving some very specific needs.

GPS tracks : If you just want to keep an eye on the trail and aren’t concerned with historical context or albergue information, then grab the GPS tracks from the Camino Forum for the Frances. And here’s another link for the Portugues . You can then install them into Google maps or Maps.me (for offline use).

Albergue lists : The most complete and current Frances albergue list comes from the Camino office in St. Jean. If you are starting there, you can pick-up a paper version at the Pilgrim office. If you are starting elsewhere, then download a PDF from the Camino Forum for the Frances or this one for the Portugues . They are a bit out of date, but still very useful, at-a-glance sources. The Forum also maintains a listing of “ favorite albergues “, which are notable for their religious services, group meals, beautiful setting or on-site amenities. It’s worth seeking out a few of those while on the trail. You should also check out our guide for albergue life .

Planning Stages : As mentioned above, the apps usually have a tricky UI for planning stages, and the guidebooks have fixed stages that may not work for your fitness level or schedule. Our favorite stage planner is on the Godesalco.com site. Fere’s the link to their Frances stage planner , but they have a ton of other routes as well. You can pic your start point for the day and then see how far it is to the next series of towns. The site is in Spanish and don’t let your browser translate it because it will change the town names.

Profile Map : I was frustrated by the user interface from all of the app-based profile maps. And yet, a good profile map is essential for planning your distances for the next day or two. Download this Frances version from the Forum and keep a paper copy or PDF on hand.

Gronze : Gronze.com is a website that does a good job of showing the standard stages and albergue options for six Spanish Camino routes. It doesn’t have a profile map and doesn’t have info on available services (such as pharmacies). It’s in Spanish, so you’ll need to set your phone to translate to English.

AllTrails : AllTrails is not a good all-around app for the Camino because it only has distances and an elevation map. It doesn’t list services, albergues or other info. But if you just want to keep an eye on where you are, it’s excellent for that. You can download the trails for offline use and they have options for the full Frances , the Primitivo, the Portuguese and the Via de la Plata. It also has smaller segments for the Frances, such as from popular start points like Leon or Sarria.

WhatsApp : WhatsApp is a cross between a phone app and a messaging app and it’s widely used everywhere but the US. As long as you have wifi or a data sim, you can use it to call ahead to albergues and create group chats with your new Camino friends. 

Camino de Santiago Finesterre trail marker

Camino Booking resources

  • You can pre-book some albergues and guesthouses through Booking.com .
  • SCNF is the train booking service for France. 
  • Renfe is the train booking service for Spain. 
  • Trainline is an aggregator service that allows you to book train service throughout Europe and it has a more graceful user interface than Renfe.
  • ALSA is the primary bus service in Spain. 

FREE Camino Tools

Score a printable Camino packing list and an editable budgeting spreadsheet.

Camino de Santiago Planning Resources

  • Are you a first-timer? If so, get our top 10 tips for walking the Camino .
  • Budget your Camino with this article outlining costs for three different budget levels plus a FREE spreadsheet tool.
  • Check out my Camino packing list , which includes a FREE downloadable checklist.
  • If you need to purchase a pack, use our backpack buying guide to figure out size, features and top picks.
  • Get ready for your pilgrimage using our Camino training guide , which includes trail tested tips and a 12-week fitness planner.
  • If you are planning the Frances, use our guide for getting to the start point in Saint Jean or Burgos .
  • If you are planning to spend extra time in country, check out these travel guides for Spain .
  • Facebook groups: The Camigas Facebook group is a very friendly and active group for female pilgrims. Other good Facebook groups include: St James Way walkers , Slow Strollers on the Camino and American Pilgrims on the Camino .

Camino Inspiration

  • Read up on the Camino with inspirational memoirs and fiction set on the trail.
  • Or if you prefer films, check out our list of the best Camino movies .
  • Get inspiration and advice on doing the Camino Solo .
  • Learn why, despite how hard it is, I went back for another round .
  • Learn more about local culture and history with these fiction and nonfiction books on Spain .

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Share this article and help your fellow pilgrims find the best Camino apps:

The 5 best Camino apps

Saturday 25th of September 2021

Hello Carol, great article, but all the words "albergues" are misspelled. Just check it and correct it if you want.

Carol Guttery

Tuesday 28th of September 2021

I am my own worst editor. Thanks for the catch.

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Walking the Camino de Santiago: How to Plan Your Trip

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Why Walk the Camino de Santiago?

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Camino de Santiago: The Popular Routes

How many miles is the camino de santiago, cycle and horseback ride.

  • Top Sights Along the Camino de Santiago 
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What to Pack for the Camino

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A walker on the Camino de Santiago

What’s a Compostela?

Camino de Santiago routes

Camino del Norte

Camino del Norte route map

Camino Portugués

Camino primitivo.

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Camino Inglés

The English Way launches from the port city of Ferrol and is the shortest traditional itinerary at 75 miles. (A second option leaves from A Coruña but is not long enough to earn your Compostela.) Not many distance-walkers choose this Camino, so you’re bound to have more solitude. Walkers cover this distance in six days.  

Vía de la Plata

Boasting a total of 621 miles, the Silver Way is the most extensive distance of the Camino itineraries. This southernmost passage starts in Seville, and links up historic cities, art, and architecture. The stages—meaning, the suggested segment that pilgrims should cover each day—are longer, so it’s not usually an attractive choice for first-timers. It’s also the least-walked route of all. Reserve at least 40 days to check-off these miles.   

Camino Finisterre-Muxía

This leg is garnish for all of the Camino routes. Many travelers extend their walk from Santiago de Compostela westward to the seaside town Finisterre—which means end of the earth — against the Atlantic coast. The 71-mile iteration takes pilgrims north to the fishing village of Muxía then veers south to Finisterre and takes 3-5 days. At your endpoint, you can stroll 2 miles from town to the tip of the peninsula. There, the 1853 Faro de Fisterra (faro means lighthouse) stands over the rocky shore known as Costa de la Muerte, coast of death . If you go, be sure to take a portrait with the Camino mile-marker zero.    

Camino Francés (the French Way/French Route)

Camino de Frances route map

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona

Pamplona to logroño.

Catedral de Santa María de la Redonda

Logroño to Ponferrada

Ponferrada to santiago de compostela.

Santiago de Compostela cathedral

Top Sights Along the Camino de Santiago

Santiago de compostela, o cebreiro , cruz de ferro, wine fountain, el alto del perdón, local events, festas da ascensión , san fermín festival, saint james festival , león cathedral international organ festival, albariño wine festival, octopus festival, fiestas de san mateo, camino de santiago: the best time to go.

Seasonal guide to the Camino de Santiago

How to train for the Camino

Budget: how much does it cost to walk the camino de santiago.

Brittany posing at the Galicia sign along the Camino

Safety along the Camino de Santiago

Ready to start planning your camino de santiago adventure.

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Which Camino de Santiago route is right for you?

John Noble

Mar 25, 2024 • 6 min read

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Pick the right Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route for you with this guide © Pierre Jean Durieu / Shutterstock

Upwards of 400,000 travelers a year journey the yellow arrows and scallop-shell markers along the Camino de Santiago.

The historic pilgrimage routes lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela ,  Spain , home to one of Christendom’s holiest sites: the tomb believed to hold the remains of St James the Apostle (called Santiago in Spanish) inside the city’s magnificent cathedral .

Numbers on the caminos have multiplied tenfold since the late 1990s and many walkers will be seeking out less frequented alternatives to the classic Camino Francés. There are options long and short, hard and easy, to suit every pair of feet. Take note that the paths will likely be more crowded than ever and plan ahead with this handy guide to the most popular Camino de Santiago routes, making sure you're able to choose the right one for you.

A pilgrim sits in a square with her backpack facing a large Gothic cathedral facade

Camino Francés

The classic: long and extremely popular

The Camino Francés (French Way) is the route with the richest tradition, still followed by more people than all other caminos combined. It starts at  St-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees and crosses about 770km/478 miles (around five weeks on foot) of northern Spain en route to Santiago de Compostela.

To many people, this is the Camino de Santiago, a time-honored penitential route and a demanding challenge requiring both mental and physical stamina. It passes through the vineyards of La Rioja , across the sparsely populated croplands of the meseta (Spain’s central plateau) and over 1300m-high (4265ft) hills into the rural greens of Galicia (Spain’s northwestern region, of which Santiago de Compostela is capital).

Two walkers follow a dirt path in a green hilly area

You traverse isolated stone-built villages and sizeable cities like  Pamplona ,  Burgos and  León , many of them full of camino history, from ancient stone bridges to huge medieval cathedrals. The way can be blisteringly hot in summer and freezing cold in winter. Some stretches are rural tracks, others run alongside busy paved roads.

But only one person in five does the full distance from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, so the bulk of this camino is less busy than you might imagine. In fact, nearly half of Camino Francés travelers begin at Sarria, just 114km (71 miles) before Santiago – a modest Galician town that just happens to be the last starting point that meets the minimum 100km (62 mile) requirement for obtaining the official Camino de Santiago certificate, the Compostela .

Two backpack-carrying hikers follow a rocky pathway beside the sea

Camino Portugués

A route for everyone

The Portuguese Way, second-busiest of the Caminos de Santiago, runs more than 600km (373 miles) from  Lisbon  in Portugal to Santiago (about 3½ weeks), but the most popular starting points are the enticing city of  Porto in northern Portugal (some 240km/149 miles from Santiago, about 10 days) and Tui, where the route enters Spain (115km/71 miles). It’s within the capacity of any reasonably fit person, with few hills, though a lot of the walking is on hard surfaces (roads, pavements, cobbles), which can be tough on the feet.

The landscape gets greener as you proceed northward and the camino is practicable year-round, though it’s preferable to avoid the heat of July and August on the southern half. A popular variant, starting from Porto, is the Camino Portugués de la Costa (Portuguese Coastal Way) running close to the beach-strung Atlantic coast.

A coastal scene on the Camino del Norte; there's a rocky beach with calm turquoise water backed by pasture and rugged hills.

Camino del Norte

Five weeks near Spain’s surprising north coast

Traveled by around 20,000 people a year, the Northern Way parallels Spain’s north coast for over 600km/373 miles from Irún on the French border to  Ribadeo , then heads inland across Galicia to Santiago de Compostela. Many Norte walkers are looking for a less-traveled alternative to the Camino Francés. It’s similar in length but was used by far fewer pilgrims in medieval times, as is the case today.

While some sections run alongside beautiful beaches and plunging cliffs, the majority of the route travels inland: some days you won’t see the sea at all. You pass through large cities – San Sebastián , Bilbao , Santander , Gijón – as well as pretty coastal towns like Comillas , Ribadesella and Luarca. There are a few longish stretches of road walking. The hilly early stages across the Basque Country provide some of the most beautiful scenery.

Two pilgrims carrying backpacks follow a path downhill in a rural area

Camino Primitivo

Two weeks of gorgeous green countryside; relatively tough

The Camino Primitivo (Original Way), some 320km/199 miles long, follows the footsteps of the first recorded pilgrimage to St James’ tomb, made by King Alfonso II of Asturias from  Oviedo in the 820s.

It’s considered one of the tougher caminos because of the hilly terrain of its first eight or nine days (which can make it impracticable in the snowy winter months). But the ups and downs only enhance the beauty of the landscapes, and the route is manageable for any fit walker. Numbers on this camino are relatively light, just sufficient to provide good fellowship.

Once out of the hills, you reach the city of Lugo, encircled by 2.2km (1.4 miles) of wonderfully preserved Roman walls and later join the Camino Francés for the final 55km (34 miles) to Santiago.

A 0.0km marker showing pilgrims the end of a route. There's a lighthouse in the distance.

Camino de Muxía-Finisterre

On from Santiago to the “end of the earth”

This route runs not to Santiago but from it, to the small fishing ports of Fisterra (Finisterre) and Muxía on Galicia’s dramatic coast. Believe it or not, plenty of camino walkers don’t want to stop when they reach Santiago. Three or four additional days to Fisterra or Muxía (four to six days for both places) can be the perfect coda to your odyssey.

The name Fisterra/Finisterre means Land’s End: cliff-girt, lighthouse-capped Cabo Fisterra (Cape Finisterre) certainly has an end-of-the-earth feel. At Muxía an 18th-century church on the rocky seashore marks a spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in a stone boat.

It’s about 86km (53 miles) from Santiago de Compostela to either Fisterra or Muxía across mostly gentle countryside, and a 28km (17 mile) stretch links the two places. 

Camino Inglés

Short, relatively easy route within Galicia

The “English Way” runs about 115km/71 miles (five days) to Santiago from Ferrol in northern Galicia. It owes its name to medieval pilgrims from Britain, Ireland and other northern locations, who would sail to ports like Ferrol then complete their journey to Santiago overland.

Practicable year-round, this is an obvious choice if you have limited time, and the Inglés’ popularity has mushroomed in the last decade with around 15,000 walkers a year. It combines stretches along picturesque rías (coastal inlets) with sections across green countryside and through the medieval towns Pontedeume and Betanzos. An alternative starting point is A Coruña , just two or three days’ walk from Santiago. 

Other Caminos

The caminos mentioned here are just the most popular ones. There are dozens of other established routes from all over Spain, from Portugal, France and even beyond. Two excellent resources for finding out more are this Camino de Santo forum  and the blog  Trepidatious Traveller by Maggie Woodward.

This article was first published November 2019 and updated March 2024

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Plan the Camino de Santiago: What you need

What should you keep in mind when organizing your pilgrimage to Santiago? These are all our tips so that everything goes smoothly

Fernando Borjas

? How to start organizing the Camino de Santiago?

  • When do you want to do it? What is the best time of the year?

? How much time do you need to spend? How long will it take you to complete it?

on foot, by bike, with your pet, on horseback. how do you prefer to go through it, what do you need to go through it, - before starting, - as you go through it, - by the end, which route best suits your needs, at bedtime, where can you rest.

¿Cómo organizar el Camino de Santiago en 2019?

¿Cómo organizar el Camino de Santiago en 2019?

Good weather arrives and tens of thousands of new pilgrims are already clear that they want to get to Santiago de Compostela this year. You want to start planning the Camino de Santiago with time to travel alone, as a couple, as a family or as a group, but you are not sure where to start.

To help you organize the Camino de Santiago we have prepared some useful tips with which everything will go smoothly; To begin your planning, you should start by answering the following key questions:

⛅ When do you want to do it? What is the best time of the year?

First of all, you must decide or agree with the other pilgrims with whom you are going to make a pilgrimage this year which month is best for all of you; Much of how to organize the Camino de Santiago depends on this. Among the regulars of the Jacobean route is unanimous: the best time to do the Camino de Santiago are the months of spring (from April to June), and the first weeks of autumn, followed by the first of summer.

In winter, traveling the Camino de Santiago is hard (especially for beginners) due to bad weather and in the months of July and August, you have to live with the large crowds of pilgrims.

Fortunately, there are no written rules about the time that must be dedicated to the Camino, nor any objections about where to start or where to end (although the vast majority of pilgrims conclude their pilgrimage in Santiago de Compostela). How long does it take to do the Camino de Santiago ?, you can organize your adventure adjusting to the days you have available, either one month, 15 days or a single week, although the minimum we recommend is five days.

The best idea is to choose your starting point of the Camino de Santiago from the days you have decided to use in your pilgrimage. For this, here is a quick reference with some of the main starting points for the number of pilgrims that choose them and the time it will take to get to Santiago de Compostela from there:

  • Sarria: 114 km to Santiago = 5 days
  • Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: 781 km to Santiago = 32 days
  • Porto : 235 km to Santiago = 10 days
  • Tui : 115 km to Santiago = 5 days
  • León : 309 km to Santiago = 14 days
  • Ferrol : 117 km to Santiago = 6 days

The choice of how to make a pilgrimage to Santiago is yours alone, but before making a decision it is important to know the official statistics. According to data from 2018, 93% of the pilgrims arrived in Santiago; by bike, 6.3% (20,787 pilgrims) and on horseback, 0.10% (310 pilgrims).

You should know that in public shelters, pilgrims on foot (without a support car) have priority to obtain a place to sleep, followed by "bicigrinos". On the other hand, if you are going to do the Camino de Santiago with a dog, before you should inform yourself about which hostels allow their entry and which areas enable them to sleep, so as not to take surprises.

Before starting to walk, as we always remember, you must carry out a physical preparation for the Camino a few weeks in advance; It is also highly recommended that you take your pilgrim's credential with some advance notice (although you can request it at the main starting points of the Jacobean routes). You will need your credential to get a place in public shelters.

One of the most important tasks when it comes to organizing your pilgrimage to Santiago is to decide what to take to the Camino de Santiago in your backpack. You must follow the 10% rule (that the total weight that you carry on your back never exceeds one tenth of your weight) and carry only the essentials with you, leaving everything without accessory to avoid having to carry it during and damage your feet and your back.

When you enjoy walking and discovering why there are so many pilgrims engaged in this way of life, always remember to bring water and something to eat with you; Hydration and feeding while we travel is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises.

When you finish each stage, do not forget to also cultivate your spirit taking advantage of the free time to visit all the points of interest of the Camino de Santiago that you can; You will find some wonders of our heritage that you may not visit in any other way.

When you finally reach Santiago de Compostela, the first thing you must do, if you have traveled at least the last 100 km of any of the Jacobean routes, is to go through the Pilgrim Attention Office to request your compostela.

The Camino de Santiago consists of at least five main Jacobean routes that concentrate more than 90% of the pilgrims and many other secondary (which is also worth knowing). We will focus on each of them and its advantages and disadvantages, which we will review below.

  • French Way (58% of the total number of pilgrims in 2018): The most popular and crowded route in the high season months. Well marked at all points, full of services for the pilgrim.
  • Portuguese Way (21% of the total of pilgrims in 2018): Many and very good services, well signposted and less crowded than the French Way. Its last 100 km, from Tui, are the most overcrowded by far in summer.
  • Northern Way (6% of the total of pilgrims in 2018): Route not overcrowded, which runs between the sea and the mountain, with numerous points of interest to visit. Much more demanding than the main routes and with less services for the pilgrim. It takes a lot of time to cover it in its entirety.
  • Primitive Way (5% of the total number of pilgrims in 2018): The original route traveled by the first pilgrims from Asturias, less touristy and more authentic. Mountainous route, with many services for pilgrims and much less crowded than the French or the Portuguese (but more demanding).
  • English Way (4% of the total of pilgrims in 2018): You can start from Ferrol or from A Coruña and it is completed in only 5 or 6 days and each time counts more more services for pilgrims.

Where to sleep on the Camino de Santiago? The Jacobean routes have a very wide network of public hostels (mainly in the localities beginning and end of stage) where you can stay economically. However, especially in high season, it may happen that when you arrive at a public hostel you find that there are no beds available (you can not book by phone in advance); in that case you will have to look for a place in private hostels or other types of accommodation, such as pensions, hostels or hotels.

One way or another you will always find an option to spend the night, although it is advisable to get up early and walk early to finish your stage soon and not run out of space at the first exchange.

If after having read our tips you still have doubts, take a look at these frequently asked questions about the Camino de Santiago. If you still can not find what you are looking for, leave us your questions in the comments.

Preparing your backpack for the Camino: The 10% rule 6 Report Preparing your backpack for the Camino: The 10% rule

What to bring in the backpack to walk the Camino? 57 Information What to bring in the backpack to walk the Camino?

When, where and how to walk the Camino de Santiago? 49 Information When, where and how to walk the Camino de Santiago?

5 razones por las que contratar un seguro de viajes

Formas de hacer un logotipo, la importancia del registro de llamadas durante tu viaje por el camino de santiago, las imágenes son parte importante de los cuentos: así puedes crearlas, diversión y descanso en el camino de santiago. entretenimiento para peregrinos, the weather on the camino de santiago: what weather awaits us, why do pilgrims repeat the camino de santiago, el camino de santiago: más que una ruta, una experiencia transformadora.

  • English Way
  • The Finisterre – Muxia Way
  • The French way
  • The Northern Way
  • The Portuguese Way
  • The Primitive Way
  • The Sea Route of Arousa and of the Ulla river
  • The Southeast Way – The Silver Route (Laza)
  • The Southeast Way – The Silver Route (Verín)

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Everything You Need to Know to Walk the El Camino

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Walking the El Camino de Santiago – The Many Paths of this Pilgrimage

While often walked as a pilgrimage to the Catedral del Santiago , the presumed burial place of St. Jame’s remains, thousands of folks walk the multiple paths or ways to this coastal town for their own personal reasons.  Often they return again and again.  Today I interview Umberto di Venosa of Follow the Camino , a tour company he founded after becoming enamored with the “Way”, and finding no company set up to assist those seeking to walk The El Camino , decided to start one himself.

We learn about the multiple paths that head to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, when to go, who walks the El Camino and why, and what you can expect if you walk the El Camino.   On the many trails, you’ll walk through mountains and villages, mesas and pastures.  You’ll meet fellow pilgrims and make lifelong friends.  You will return home refreshed and renewed from walking this trail famous for replenishing the soul.

What is the El Camino?

The El Camino de Santiago, sometimes called “The Way” , is actually multiple traditional trade route paths used by Christian pilgrims over the centuries who walked to the cathedral in Santiago, Spain to pay homage to St. James, who is believed to be buried there.  This pilgrim’s walk was originally walked to gain a plenary indulgence , or forgiveness or lessening of punishment for a sin.

The most popular path is the “French Way” , which starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees.  This almost 500 miles route (769 km) takes most people about four weeks to complete.  The French Way route passes through the major cities of Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos and Leon.  Roughly 60% of pilgrims choose the French Way .

Other popular routes include:

  • The  Portuguese Way is the second most popular path with starting points at Lisbon or Porto.  About 380 mi/610 km.  You can also walk part of the way along the coast, or mix the two paths
  • The North Way also runs through France, but is more challenging as there is more elevation change (the French Way is fairly flat).  You don’t walk though as many historic towns, but if you are walking during the summer, you will appreciate the cooler temperatures.  The path usually begins in Irun or San Sebastian
  • The “Primitive Way†, or original way from Oviedo, Spain has been walked since the 6th century.
  • The Central European Way reopened after the fall of the Berlin Wall and goes through the Baltics

and description of the various paths

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Note the shell draped on Janet’s backpack, indicating she is a “Pilgrimâ€

Janet hiked a ‘Half’ camino by walking the last 230 miles into Santiago.  You can listen to my interview with Janet about here Camino HERE .

You are considered a ‘ Pilgrim ‘ if you walk at least the last 100 km, or cycle the last 200 km.  When you complete this, you have earned your Compostela, a Certificate of Completion.

Who walks the El Camino de Santiago?

For more than 1000 years, people of all ages and backgrounds have walked the El Camino.  Traditionally a religious pilgrimage, many folks now camino for personal reasons, almost as a trail of self discovery , as you will have plenty of time for self reflection.  If you are unable to walk, or don’t have the time for a full walking camino, you can also bike or even horseback ride much of the Camino.

The El Camino is also a very sociable path, particularly the busy French Way.  You are likely to make life long friends,

Most pilgrims (you are called a pilgrim whether or not you are walking for religious reasons) tie a scallop shell to their day pack, which tells others that you, too are a pilgrim.  There are multiple theories of the scallop shell symbol.  Regardless of the reason, most tie a shell to their backpack if for no other reason than a souvenier.  The shell is also the symbol used on the El Camino sign posts.

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Is the El Camino de Santiago well marked?

Yes!  You will see the ‘shell’ emblem sign posts throughout your journey, indicating which way to go and when to turn.  You are not likely to get lost.

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Where To Stay on the El Camino

In the cities and many towns, you can of course stay in traditional inns and hotels, but many pilgrims chose to stay in the ‘Alburques’ or pilgrim’s hostels that are available along the way.  These are of varying quality, available only to pilgrims, and are inexpensive.

While you don’t have to make a reservation, during the summer, it is wise to book at least a day or two in advance to make sure you’ll have a bed and not have to camp on the floor somewhere.  Most hostels, even if full, will try to find you a place to rest your head, but it may not be very comfortable.

Because the quality (cleanliness?) of some of the alburques and inns can vary widely, you may want to use the help of someone who intimately knows the ins and outs of the Way, and the best places to stay for your particular budget.  And if you don’t speak the language, you may find it helpful to have someone arrange your accommodations.

I recommend my affiliate, Follow The Camino , a company that specializes in helping pilgrims plan their journey.   After his own camino, founder Umberto di Venosa started the company because he couldn’t find any companies offering a planning service for this complicated multi-week adventure.   So whether you want to stay in the alburques or nicer inns, Follow the Camino can take care of the logistics of your pilgrimmage so all you have to worry about it walking (or biking).  If you’d rather hike with a guide, they also offer guided tours .

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Plan Your Camino

You can plan your Camino on your own, but if you’d rather save the time and headaches, consider Follow The Camino , an expert Camino planning tour company that can help you experience the Camino of your dreams.  Experts on all things Camino, they can affordably custom cater to your time table and budget. 

Redirect to Follow the Camino website

Mention ATA5 at checkout to get a special Active Travel Adventures 5% discount on your Camino (or other walking holidays through their other company, One Foot Abroad (other European walking and cycling holidays).

PLAN YOUR TRIP : HELPFUL TOOLS!

Follow the Camino is a Camino tour company that has some great tools to help you plan your own Camino walk that I’ve asked them to share with us:

  • Camino training plans that were designed by physiotherapists: one for walking and one for cycling – these have lovely infographic style printables too!
  • a comprehensive packing list for walking and cycling
  • a guide for choosing the best Camino shoes
  • a guide for choosing the best backpack for you

and our Camino weather map which shows you the average weather at various times of the year for better planning!

When to Walk Your El Camino

The most popular time to walk the El Camino is during the summer time.  You will find the French Way especially busy and may not get your first choice in accommodations if you don’t book far in advance.  It can be VERY hot during the summer.

If you are able, it is better to walk your El Camino during the shoulder  seasons, in the spring and fall.

Note that many alburques and inns along the El Camino are closed from November through April.

Can Someone Transport My Luggage Each Day?

Yes!  There are several companies that can transfer your luggage for you each day.  You will need to know where you’ll be staying ahead of time and have your bag (usually one bag 40kg or less weight) ready by a specific time in the morning (around 8am).  They will send you a luggage tag that identifies your rucksack.  Stick it on your bag and place it where they tell you, and they’ll have at your next lodging by late afternoon!

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Be Sure You Know if it’s a Jubilee Year!  2021 is next!

Naturally, because of the connection to St. James, whenever St. James’s Day, July 25th , falls on a Sunday, the cathedral declares a Holy or Jubilee Year . Leap years alter the recurrence, but Holy Years occur in 5, 6 or 11 year intervals.  2021 is the next Holy Year, followed by 2027 and 2032 . 

The El Camino is particularly popular during these Holy Years, as the ‘jubilee’ means a universal forgiveness of sins.  If you wish to walk the El Camino during a Jubilee Year, be SURE to book your accommodations well in advance, and expect things to be especially busy!

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More Reading

  • A popular book about hiking the El Camino and how it became a journey of self-discovery is by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, called The Pilgrimage .  While popular, be forewarned that this book is a bit woo-woo, fyi.

The most popular guide book is Brierley’s, A Pilgrim’s Guide to Camino de Santiago.

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Where Does the El Camino End?

All of the various routes of the El Camino end in Santiago de Compostela at the Catedral de Compostela ( pictured ).  Most years, you enter through the Plaza of Platerías, unless it is a Holy Year when you have to go through the Puerta Santa.

You’ll no doubt want to spend a few days in Santiago to relax and explore.  Since you are not allowed to bring your backpack into the cathedral, make sure to drop it off at your lodging before to get there.

Most pilgrims try to time their arrival to attend one of the Pilgrim’s Masses, which are celebrated daily at noon and 4:30pm.  In particular, Pilgrims try to arrive on Friday.

On Friday afternoons, you can watch the famous “ Botafumerio †ceremony.  In this ritual, the priests sway a massive thurible with thick ropes through the cathedral while the choir sings and the organ plays.  A thurible is a metal container with mesh holes that release the incense burning inside – see the short video to check it out.  The pulley system that rolls the rope was installed in 1604!  It’s a moving ceremony and fitting conclusion to your Camino.

Also, be sure to climb up to the rooftop to catch the beautiful views of the city!

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Download my earlier interview on the El Camino with Janet Hanpeter aka Planet Janet Travels

Love long distance hikes.

Here are some more to consider.  Listen to the podcasts, see pics and get more information by clicking on the links.

St Olav Ways in Norway (backpack only)

Kungsleden Trail in Sweden (backpack only)

Costwold Way in England (day pack or backpack)

West Highland Way in Scotland

Fisherman’s Walk in Portugal

Mont Blanc Circuit in France, Italy and Switzerland

Climb Machu Picchu in Peru

Druk Trek in Bhutan

Annapurna Circuit in Nepal with Stan

Annapurna Circuit in Nepal with Tracy

Kumano Koda trail in Japan

Climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

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    Camino de Santiago Planning Resources. Are you a first-timer? If so, get our top 10 tips for walking the Camino.; Budget your Camino with this article outlining costs for three different budget levels plus a FREE spreadsheet tool.; Check out my Camino packing list, which includes a FREE downloadable checklist.; If you need to purchase a pack, use our backpack buying guide to figure out size ...

  5. Prepare for Your Camino

    In 2019, 347,578 people received a Compostela. Both 2020 and 2021 were unusual years for the Camino due to COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 Holy Year was extended through December 31, 2022. The extended Holy Year brought the highest number of pilgrims ever to Santiago de Compostela. A record 438,182 Compostelas were issued by the Pilgrim ...

  6. Camino de Santiago Map

    The maps of the Camino de Santiago Routes. 1. Camino Frances Map. The Camino Frances is the Most popular Camino Ways, and you will have seen it in many films, documentaries, and TV shows. The route begins in France at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The terrain on the French Way is the perfect blend of mountainous, flat, and rugged.

  7. Camino de Santiago: Routes, Stages and Maps

    Discover the magic of the Camino. You can plan your trip to do the Camino de Santiago and get ALL information about the Camino: maps, stages and advice. +34 910 607 497 / [email protected] . English. ... Users plan their trip on the Pilgrim website every year. 25 different nationalities. have travelled the Camino with us. 20,000 nights.

  8. Walking the Camino de Santiago: How to Plan Your Trip

    Walking the Camino de Santiago is one of the most highly-sought pilgrimages in the history of humanity. Today, nearly 350,000 trekkers from around the world continue to complete the Camino each year—and for good reason. El Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James, invites countless pilgrims from all over Europe and the world to arrive in ...

  9. Camino de Santiago

    120 km separate the cities of Ferrol and Santiago de Compostela. Full of history and heritage, where the green predominates in each stage and the tranquility accompanies us in a way away from the massification existing in other routes. There are two slopes: From Ferrol or from A Coruña, being 5 stages the ones that form the first slope and ...

  10. CaminoWays Official

    Camino de Santiago with CaminoWays. For over 1000 years, pilgrims from all over the world have walked the Camino routes across Europe in their quest for spirituality. Making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, they encountered various people, cultures, and beliefs, leading to friendship and new experiences.

  11. Plan your Trip

    Before to do the Way of Saint James, you must discover it, prepare it and plan it. This is the third part: Plan your Trip. Choose the route between the different routes of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia. Configure your route by selecting the days, kilometers and start date. Access your private area to see your personalized Camino. Learn to get to the starting points of Camino de Santiago in ...

  12. Camino de Santiago: how to choose a route

    A route for everyone. The Portuguese Way, second-busiest of the Caminos de Santiago, runs more than 600km (373mi) from Lisbon to Santiago (about 3½ weeks), but the most popular starting points are the enticing city of Porto in northern Portugal (some 240km/149mi from Santiago, about 10 days) and Tui, where the route enters Spain (115km/71mi).

  13. How to plan the Camino de Santiago

    For this, here is a quick reference with some of the main starting points for the number of pilgrims that choose them and the time it will take to get to Santiago de Compostela from there: Sarria: 114 km to Santiago = 5 days. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: 781 km to Santiago = 32 days. Porto: 235 km to Santiago = 10 days.

  14. Everything You Need to Know to Walk the El Camino

    The El Camino de Santiago, sometimes called “The Way†, is actually multiple traditional trade route paths used by Christian pilgrims over the centuries who walked to the cathedral in Santiago, Spain to pay homage to St. James, who is believed to be buried there. This pilgrim’s walk was originally walked to gain a plenary ...

  15. What is the Camino de Santiago? All you need

    1. Camino Frances. The Camino Frances is the most famous Camino de Santiago trail, featured in books and movies about the Camino, such as 'The Way' with Martin Sheen and 'The Pilgrimage' by Paulo Coelho.. While it's not the oldest of the routes, it has been the most popular and well-known route ever since the Middle Ages. Its popularity is so great that 55% of pilgrims walking the ...

  16. Camino de Santiago

    The Camino de Santiago — the "Way of St. James" — is Europe's ultimate pilgrimage route. Since the Middle Ages, humble pilgrims have trod hundreds of miles across the north of Spain to pay homage to the remains of St. James in his namesake city, Santiago de Compostela. There were many ancient pilgrimage routes across Europe to Santiago, but the most popular one across Spain has always been ...

  17. Road Trip Planner

    The Trippy road trip planner automatically calculates the optimal itinerary including stops recommended by Trippy members, favorite restaurants and hotels, local attractions and things to do based on what people who live in the area have suggested, and more. Once you have a quick trip planned, you can customize every detail, adding or removing ...

  18. Wanderbot

    AI update your trip for you. Easily Book your flight and hotels. Hotels will. Discover the future of travel planning with Wanderbot, our AI-powered trip planner. Create personalized itineraries, view your entire journey on an interactive map for a clear overview, and effortlessly plan, book, and share your adventures via email, Twitter, and more.

  19. Camino Frances: Route Planner, Stages & Map

    lll Plan the Camino Frances route, map & stages, starting at St Jean Pied de Port. French Way pilgrimage for the most popular Camino de Santiago +34 910 607 497 / [email protected]

  20. Go Anywhere

    Planning a trip in your Tesla? Explore locations along your route to charge your electric vehicle and see how our Supercharging network can take you there. Stay charged anywhere you go, with access to our global charging networks. Explore a route and we'll find the best locations to keep you charged along the way and upon arrival.

  21. The Ultimate Camino Checklist

    Hygiene: Biodegradable soap, toothbrush, toothpaste. Comfort: Earplugs, eye mask, small pillow. *Click on the image below to see the checklist in full size. We trust you'll find this checklist extremely helpful for your Camino journey. It's designed to ensure you're well-prepared and informed, making your experience enjoyable and seamless.

  22. Official MapQuest

    Official MapQuest - Maps, Driving Directions, Live Traffic