WALKING THE CAMINO WAY

Micah Hallahan

“Many of us have reached a point in life where we need time to think, time to get away from life as it is. ”

Spiritual motives? Adventure? A personal challenge? A different, original way to travel? These are just a few of the reasons why millions of pilgrims have been walking the Camino de Santiago for years and years. It is a pilgrimage through Spain that many people find hard to describe and that many are keen to repeat.

The Camino de Santiago is an exciting and unforgettable adventure. It is a different way to discover Northern Spain, by following one of several routes where the common goal is the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, there you find the tomb of the apostle Santiago (St. James). This network of pilgrimage routes to Santiago gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1993. The journey through inland Spain is very special, attracting thousands of people year after year, but why take the time to do the Camino?

“People come out the other end often wanting to make changes to their own lives, and having a sense of being refreshed ”

The motivations that drive each pilgrim to put on a good pair of boots, sling a rucksack over their shoulder, and start walking, are widely varied. Mostly, however, it is a combination of personal challenge, time for getting to know themselves or interest in history, art, nature and sport.

Many people approach the Camino as an adventure. No day is the same on this long journey, which is divided into manageable stages and is signposted all the way. Equipped a rucksack and a few basic supplies, you are challenged by the difficulties that arise along the route. Once you have completed the journey and reached Santiago, all pilgrims agree on one thing: that the effort has been well worthwhile.

Miguel Bruna

Santiago Lacarta

Get Back in Touch with Nature

Doing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route provides an opportunity to get back to nature, with mountains, meadows and coastline. Different areas of countryside, one after another from start to finish. On the route, you will find national parks, the peaks of the Pyrenees, the banks of the River Ebro, the broad plains of Castile-Leon, and the green meadows of Galicia and Asturias. Areas of stunning natural beauty, where pilgrims feel at one with the countryside as they continue their journey towards the Galician capital. Walkers can relax completely, forgetting about their day-to-day routine. The mind runs free. There is only the route, the countryside and plenty of time for reflection.

Holly Mandarich

Get back in touch with Yourself

For many people, the Camino de Santiago has a mystical element as its origins are religious: a tribute to the apostle Santiago (St. James) however many pilgrims set out on the Camino inspired by a different kind of spirituality, which is the need to find out more about themselves, to find the answers to certain personal questions and to discover inner peace. For many, this journey through Spain also becomes an inner journey. This is an experience that will stay with you for years to come.

get back in touch with real people

Pilgrims are never strangers on the route. You will meet friendly, hospitable people who may even offer you a place to stay in their houses. On this very special trip through Spain, you will also share extraordinary experiences with pilgrims of all ages, from all over the world, whether in the hostels, on the trails or out on the road. You will have the chance to make new friends and become a better person.

Whatever your motives, it is clear that doing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route will be a highly rewarding experience. Go and try it for yourself. You will be captivated by the unique magic of this special route through Northern Spain.