Traditionally your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela would have started from your home, but nowadays these 9 routes to the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela have become the most popular Camino Ways. Whether you travel for quality time with friends and family, to get away from everyday worries, or for personal fulfilment and enrichment, the memories you build on the Camino de Santiago will stay with you forever.
Each route has its own unique history and spectacular sights. Explore the unique wonders that each route has to offer — take a look! Although the Camino de Santiago has traditionally been a religious pilgrimage, many people choose it as a walking holiday for other reasons. Some walk The Way of St James for fitness and as a personal goal in their journey to better physical health.
Others choose to walk the Camino for the mental benefits of unplugging from their daily lives, allowing them time for peace and self-development. People walk in groups , alone, or with a partner. The Camino is well known for its sense of community and sociable atmosphere. The Camino de Santiago is not just one route, but a network of routes. Throughout the M iddle A ges, thousands of pilgrims walked from their homes to make their pilgrimage to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
This paved the way for many different routes across Europe, all coming together to arrive in the city. People choose one of the Camino de Santiago routes based on various criteria , t he most common being ease of access, weather, landscape and how busy it is. For example, the first section of the Camino Frances can be quite mountainous, most of the Portuguese Coastal Way is close to the sea, and the last sections of the Camino Frances and Camino Portugues are very well travelled.
Some people want to walk the whole route from start to finish and others will do it in sections. It can feel overwhelming to determine which route and sections are the most appropriate based on your personal preferences. Our Camino e xperts at Follow the Camino can quickly help you to choose the best route for you.
