![]() This set of routes and the tradition of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela date back to the Middle Ages, a time when walkers from all over Europe began this tradition that continues today and that you can also experience, either on foot with your dog, a caballo o by bike. After Santiago, our special finish at legendary Finisterre (the “end of the Earth” in Latin), the rock promontory on the Galician Coast that is Kilometer 0 of the pilgrim trail.The Camino de Santiago is a set of routes with different points of origin whose final goal is the city of Santiago de Compostela, or more specifically, its cathedral, where the remains of the Apostle Santiago are found. When we reach our goal, the holy city of Santiago, we’ll enter its soaring cathedral and witness the moving spectacle of the noon pilgrim mass (possibly accompanied by the botafumeiro ceremony-our local sources keep us posted on which days this will occur, and adjust our schedule). One of the joys of this journey is sharing the trail with pilgrims from all over the world, hiking alongside them, and hearing their stories. Trails are marked with scallop shells, the symbol of St. Our paths wind through foothills and forests, past ancient monasteries and exquisite Romanesque and Gothic churches. Each of these places has its own unique stamp and your stamped passport-a continuation of a venerable medieval tradition-makes a wonderful memento of your journey. Your Trip Leader will give you a document known as the “Pilgrim’s Passport,” which you will carry with you and can have stamped at points along the journey, such as monuments, churches, and restaurants. We begin in Spain’s historic town of Burgos, then head out on the trail, bypassing urbanized areas and sections where highways pass near the trail. What is it like hiking the Camino Frances with WT? The mountain weather makes the hiking more challenging, with a fair amount of rain and muddy terrain to be expected on any departure. It begins at Oviedo, in Asturias, and was first walked by King Alfonso II in the 9th century. Camino PrimitivoĬrossing the Cantabrian Mountains, this is the most difficult pilgrimage route, until the point where it joins the Camino Frances for the final stretch to Santiago. Rainy weather is much more common along this route. ![]() This route does enjoy scenic coastal and mountainous sections, and is considerably less traveled, but the hiking is much more difficult with a lot more up and down, and much of it is on pavement and passes through a number of touristy coastal towns. Camino Del NorteĪlso known as “The Coastal Route,” this option travels along the northern coast of Spain past Bilbao, Santander, and Gijon before turning southwest at Ribadeo. Unfortunately, this route generally follows, or is not very far from the highway routes up the coast, and much of the traditional path now goes through highly urbanized areas. Many churches, chapels, and monasteries dedicated to St. The Camino Portugues starts in Lisbon or Porto and has two variations, one following the coast and the other heading inland. This is the second most popular route, which gained prominence in the 14th and 15th century as coastal towns grew in wealth from the sailing expeditions to Africa and the New World. Trip Leader What about other Camino options? Camino Portugues We share a wonderful array of Spanish cuisine (and wine!), including renowned Galician seafood with you. There are great options for dining along this route.From its terrace looking right over the square in front of the Cathedral, we’ll witness countless pilgrims reaching the emotional conclusion to their journey. In Santiago, we will have two nights in the exquisite Parador de Santiago de Compostela, founded in 1499. ![]() This route has the best selection of accommodations, including historic monasteries and inns. ![]() There are more pilgrims here than on other routes, and this is what you want! One of the highlights of the Camino is the camaraderie, the sense of walking in the footsteps of history, and for many, the sense of a shared spiritual journey.The hiking is over easy to moderate terrain, with well-marked paths throughout.The scenery is exquisite, with a great variety of landscapes as we traverse historic regions of northern Spain, from the high plains of Castile to mystical Galicia.This was the principal traditional route and thus has the most impressive churches and other significant pilgrimage stops along the route.This is the route that we have chosen, selecting the most beautiful hiking sections for our journey. Once they reach Spain and Portugal, most pilgrims funnel into a few main trails, with the classic “Camino Frances” (French Way) being the most popular. James in Santiago de Compostela via numerous trails coming from all over Europe and even as far away as Jerusalem. For thousands of years, pilgrims have made the journey on foot to the sacred Cathedral of St. ![]()
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