Who is camino de santiago

The Camino today. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Hotel CoolRooms Atocha. Villa Antumalal - Adults Only. The Zentral Plaza de Armas. Villa Nin Salou TH Villa Borobil Heated Pool and Garden. Fidalsa Relax Piscina tu Refugio. Color Suites Alicante. Mas Montbrio Belvedere. Show More. The last km takes around six days to walk for most people, while the whole French Way takes around 35 days to walk.

Cycling is usually two or three times faster than walking, while some people wander the Camino for months at a time! These include Associations of Friends of the Camino de Santiago, churches, albergues and brotherhoods related to the Camino.

The French Way is by far the most popular route and for good reason. The French Way is just over km and officially starts in St Jean Pied-du-Port where most routes from other parts of Europe converge. Although it begins in France, the route is mostly walked in Spain. While Santiago de Compostela is the focal point of the Camino, many pilgrims continue on to Finisterre, one of the westernmost points in Europe on the Atlantic coast.

This is why the scallop shell is now a common sign and used as waymarkers along all the Camino routes. You can also add an extra 29km walk to the village of Muxia, north of Finisterre.

Famed for its church built beside the rocky coastline, this village also featured in the film The Way. Starting in Lisbon and passing through Porto and Pontevedra as it takes you north through Portugal, this has become the second most popular Camino route. It takes you along stunning coastlines with sandy beaches, passes close to the Catholic pilgrimage site of Fatima, and crosses into Spain and the lovely old town of Tui.

If you want to take on a less crowded route that still has lots of amenities, the Portuguese Way is a great option. This route is a variant of the original Portuguese Way and has grown in popularity as it takes you close to the spectacular Atlantic Ocean. The last leg then takes you inland through woodlands and small villages to Santiago de Compostela.

This route is also even flatter than the original Portuguese Way, so if you enjoy walking with sea views and through the forest, this is the path to take. They sailed to the Northern Spain coastline then travelled overland to Santiago de Compostela. The Ferrol route follows the shoreline through Galicia, serving up stunning beaches and sea views, before heading inland into rolling farmland with old chapels and leafy paths.

The route is well marked and many of the milestones have interactive QR codes with information on towns along the way.

The Original Way is thought to be the first pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The route starts in Oviedo and travels southwest to Santiago de Compostela for around km.

The route passes through farmlands, coastline, woodlands and small villages. It also stops in Lugo which is still surrounded by ancient Roman walls and towers. The last section meets the French Way in Melide and follows that route for 50km until Santiago de Compostela. Spanning 1,km, this is the longest Camino route through Spain, and most of the route follows the old Roman road north starting from Seville.

Although the terrain is easier than the French Way, the Via de la Plata route has stages of longer walking days with less frequent amenities. There are plenty of steep ascents and hilly sections, but it is truly beautiful.

This popularity has continued into the 21st Century with almost , pilgrims reaching the Cathedral of Santiago in , and possibly more in as the holy year of is extended. My decision to walk the Camino was to slow down and walk into a new pace of life, more aware of my surroundings and more in touch with the environment. And I love Spain! Today, the Camino is still very popular with traditional Roman Catholic pilgrims who travel to Santiago as a demonstration of their faith.

All of the routes to Santiago pass by holy shrines, magnificent Cathedrals, historic monasteries and rural churches which give a real sense of the traditional reasons for travelling to Santiago.

The Camino is not limited to exclusively religious with many people walking the Camino for spiritual reasons. Many others walk the Camino for an excellent break and holiday, and to achieve something special. With a variety of accommodation on offer, ranging from hostels to boutique hotels, a holiday on the Camino de Santiago can be tailor-made to personal preferences and budget.

While walking the Camino de Santiago, pilgrims carry a credential, known as the Pilgrim Passport. It is a small document that you can get before arriving at the Camino de Santiago by contacting your local Confraternity of St James.

The credential can also be obtained at pilgrim offices and churches in the main towns along the Camino de Santiago. The credential must be stamped daily to gain access to pilgrim hostels. Your passport can be obtained in bars, hotels, town halls, museums churches, police stations and all refugios along the way. On arrival at the Cathedral in Santiago, pilgrims take their credential to the nearby Pilgrim Office where a Compostela will be given, to certify the completion of your pilgrimage.

You can download our full guide to the Camino , which offers advice on which route to Santiago you should take, how to prepare, what to pack and how to get there. We hope you find this information useful and inspiring, and would like to take the opportunity to wish you a Buen Camino! Macs Adventure have helped s of people arrange their independent journeys on the Camino.

With accommodation, baggage transfers, advice, and telephone support should you need it included, we make planning the experience easy, and allow you to focus on the journey. Please fee free to contact our expert team on hello macsadventure.

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