What is the Camino de Santiago?

Wondering what is the Camino de Santiago? You’re in the right place! This pilgrimage, also known as the Way of Saint James, has been growing in popularity over the years.

Pilgrims typically hike to Santiago de Compostela, Spain for this journey. It began centuries ago and millions of people have completed it since.

If you don’t know anything about this pilgrimage and want to learn more, let this post be your starting point. I run through all the basics on what the Camino is, the history behind, who walks it, and more.

Throughout, you’ll also find that I’ve linked out to other posts with more details if you want to dig deeper.

Why listen to me? I myself spent 33 days hiking almost 500 miles on one of the Camino de Santiago routes through Spain in June 2023.

What’s Unique About the Camino?

The Camino is nothing like the long distance journeys we’re familiar with in the U.S. Unlike the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail, the majority of people doing the Camino hike from town to town, staying in accommodations and eating at restaurants all along the way.

This makes the Camino de Santiago much more accessible to the average person. You don’t have to bring tons of expensive camping gear, nor do you have to be in the kind of physical shape needed to carry that kind of gear on your back each day.

Compared to the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, the Camino de Santiago routes are also generally easier on the body when it comes to terrain.

The trek has become popular globally, and each year people from all over the world hike the Camino. In 2024, pilgrims came from over 200 countries and territories!

History

The inception of the Camino de Santiago is linked to the alleged finding of the Apostle Saint James’ remains near Santiago de Compostela, Spain in the beginning of the 9th century.

After the remains were found, a tomb was built for them in the city. The news spread quickly and within just a few years, the Camino pilgrimage routes were born with people from all over the world starting to travel to Santiago de Compostela to see the tomb.

Since then, a number of the Camino routes have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their cultural importance for hundreds of years.

The Camino Today

While the Camino started centuries ago, many people still complete it today, and its popularity continues to grow. Over time, new routes have emerged and continued to grow, giving plenty of accommodations and restaurants options to pilgrims along the way.

I can’t imagine what it was like to complete the Camino hundreds of years ago, but today, pilgrims have all the comforts of home at their disposal along the way.

For me, an average day on the trail involved stopping at restaurants for breakfast and lunch during my hikes before arriving at my accommodation for the night. There I would shower, hand wash my clothes, nap in bed, and then head out for dinner before preparing for the next day.

Routes

There are many routes that make up the Camino de Santiago. Along those routes, there are different starting points as well. Some people will hike them all at once, but some might hike them in sections as they have time.

The distance of the journey varies based on the route and starting point chosen.

The Camino Francés, or French Way, is the most popular. I hiked the Camino Francés, starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, for almost 500 miles, which took about one month. For a shorter journey, many people start in Sarria, which is about 70 miles from Santiago de Compostela and takes a about a week.

The Camino Portugués, or the Portuguese Way, is the next most popular. It has a coastal route and a more central route. While the route technically starts in Lisbon, many people start in Porto. From there, it takes about two weeks and is around 150-170 miles, depending on the route.

Some of the other most popular routes include the Camino Inglés (English Way), Camino Primitivo (Primitive Way or Original Way), Camino del Norte (Northern Way) and Vía de la Plata (Silver Way).

Mode of Transport

The majority of people completing the Camino de Santiago do so on foot. However, some people complete it on bicycle, horseback, boat, or wheelchair.

I personally saw bikers along the way while I was hiking the Camino Francés, but I didn’t see any other modes of transport around me.

Accommodations

There are a range of accommodations along the Camino de Santiago routes. Many people will stay in albergues, which are hostels with shared sleeping areas, typically with bunk beds.

Many stops along the way will also have private rooms available. If you decide to hike the Camino and feel like splurging at any point, I recommend staying at a Parador Hotel. The Parador Hotel chain is one of the most luxurious and historic hotel chains in Spain.

You may hear of some people who camp along the Camino de Santiago, but it’s not very common. In fact, it can be challenging finding places to camp along most routes.

Food

Along many Camino de Santiago routes, pilgrims tend to eat at restaurants for every meal. Particularly along popular routes like the Camino Francés, there are many towns along the way where you can stop and grab something to eat during your hike.

Of course, there are exceptions to this where pilgrims may not be able to stop as much some days. However, on the Camino Francés, I only had a few days where stops were more limited and I had to be more prepared with water and snacks.

Budget

Even though the Camino de Santiago can take as long as a month or longer, it is not an expensive journey. People tend to say it takes around €1,000 to hike the full Camino Francés over about a month.

I’m currently researching the most up-to-date costs and will share a post with more details soon.

In 2023 I typically found myself spending around €10-20 euros per night at each albergue, depending on whether I stayed at a municipal albergue–which tends to be more bare bones–or a nicer private albergue.

For meals, I spent around €20-30 a day on average. Pilgrim meals for dinner (typically three courses with wine) were usually around €15. Breakfast and lunch were quite affordable, usually around €5 euros each.

Who Does the Camino de Santiago?

All kinds of people do the Camino de Santiago. You’ll find people of all ages and from all over the world. And for routes like the Camino Francés or Camino Portugués, you don’t necessarily have to have much hiking experience either.

Many people hike the Camino solo and make friends along the way, including women. I can attest that I felt very safe as a solo female throughout my journey.

Why Do People Complete the Camino de Santiago?

While the Camino originally started as a religious pilgrimage, you’ll find people have many reasons for completing the journey.

I personally hiked the Camino de Santiago to heal after my engagement came to a surprising end. For me, it was refreshing to get away from the day-to-day stresses of life and have the time and space to think and reflect while hiking each day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions on the Camino de Santiago.

Should You Do the Camino de Santiago?

As you can see, the Camino is a unique experience unlike anything else in the world. Now that you’ve learned what the Camino de Santiago is, find out reasons to consider the journey yourself.