Camino PortuguésAlso known as the Portuguese Way, this northbound route is the flattest—therefore, easiest—choice and the sole departure from Portugal. In entirety, this stretch is 383 miles and requires 25-27 days if hikers commence in Lisbon.
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The Camino Ingles: The Camino Ingles is a shorter route, starting in either Ferrol or A Coruna and stretching over 100 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. The route is well-marked and offers a variety of accommodations and services, making it an easy option for walkers who are short on time.
Via de la Plata: an epic trailMost pilgrims however pick Ourense city, 100kms from Santiago, as their starting point to experience the last stretch of the route, one of the most beautiful and lush. This Camino de Santiago route is best for you… if you are in search of a quiet and rural trail.
The best approach, especially at the beginning, is to get out and start walking (or cycling if you plan to cycle the Camino). If you are walking the Camino, you're going to want to build up to being able to walk 20km a day comfortably.
People of all ages walk the Camino de Santiago! The average age of walkers is probably closer to 60 than it is to 20! If you are in good overall health and able to walk on uneven surfaces, you will most likely be able to walk the Camino, or at least certain sections.
The Camino de Santiago can be done in sectionsThat is why more and more people decide to do the Camino de Santiago in sections, starting some of the pilgrim routes from the beginning, but dividing the route into several trips. One of them is Isidre, a pilgrim who did with us the Camino de Santiago in sections.
Many pilgrims who have never set foot on a pilgrimage route are afraid of getting lost along the way. The truth is that orienting yourself on the Camino de Santiago is quite simple, even for beginners. It's unusual to get lost.
The hardest day of the Camino is on the first day of the French Way, where you have to cross the great mountain range of the Pyrenees over the Napoleon Pass. You must hike 26km to get to the first stop, but you are awarded with a stay in the stunning monastery town of Roncesvalles and two days later Pamplona.
The Camino Frances (French Way) is the most popular Camino route. As per its name, this route starts in Saint-Pied-de-Port and crosses the French-Spanish border in the Pyrenees.
And it is that preparation and training are essential for all pilgrims who decide to do the Camino, even for those who are used to walking or doing moderate physical activity. Taking a walk is not the same as walking for many hours without resting.
Biking the Camino allows you to cover more ground over the same number of days, and you're able to bike at a relaxed pace. Walking from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela takes around 28 days, whereas you can bike from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in about 15 days.
The difficulty of your first day will largely depend on where you start. For example, the French Way (Camino Francés) begins in the Pyrenees at St. Jean Pied de Port, presenting a challenging uphill climb on the first day. On the other hand, the Portuguese Way (Camino Portugués) starts with a gentler, flatter terrain.