What Is the Camino de Santiago — and Why Walk It?

I’ve been asked more than once, “Why the Camino? What is it, and why did you choose that for your first trip to Europe?”

For me, the answer is simple. I’ve always believed the best way to truly see a place is to walk through it. Not just the landmarks or the big cities, but the small towns — the little streets, the cafés where locals gather, the paths where life feels slower and more real.

I’ve never been drawn to chasing the big-city highlights. Instead, I’ve wanted to experience a place — to take it in step by step. That is why I love backcountry road trips through small towns.

So when I started reading and researching the Camino de Santiago, something inside me clicked. A pilgrimage, a chance to move slowly through Spain (and Portugal, depending on the route), a chance to walk through places I had never been before. I knew I needed that. Not just a vacation but a soak it all in journey.

For me, the Camino is that pilgrimage. It’s a way of reconnecting with yourself, with history, and with the simplicity of life that comes from putting one foot in front of the other.

A Brief History

The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is more than just a trail. It’s a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that all lead to one destination: Santiago de Compostela, a city in Galicia, northern Spain, where the Apostle St. James is believed to be buried.

The Camino’s story goes all the way back to the 9th century. King Alfonso II of Asturias is said to have made the very first pilgrimage from Oviedo to Santiago — a route that today is known as the Camino Primitivo (or “Original Way”). The Primitivo was my original plan, but I switched over the The Litoral Way.

Over time, routes branched out from all across Spain, Portugal, and Europe. For centuries, pilgrims came seeking penance and forgiveness. Today, reasons vary: spiritual growth, adventure, a personal challenge, or simply the joy of slowing down.

The Routes of the Camino

One of the biggest surprises for many first-timers is that the Camino isn’t just one path — it’s a web of routes, all converging in Santiago.

Here are some of the most popular:

• Camino Francés (The French Way): The most famous route, starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France. About 490 miles, usually taking 30–35 days. The movie “The Way” with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez based on the French Route.

• Camino Portugués (The Portuguese Way): Begins in Lisbon (400 miles), though many start in Porto (150–175 miles depending on the path). Options include the Coastal (~151 mi), Litoral, which actually hugs the Atlantic Coast much more than the Coastal Route (~170 mi), or Central (~174 mi).

• Camino del Norte (The Northern Way): A stunning but less crowded route that hugs the northern coast of Spain, starting in Irún. About 512 miles.

• Camino Primitivo (The Original Way): The oldest route, starting in Oviedo. Shorter at 200 miles, but known as one of the toughest with steep climbs. This route was my first choice but I changed plans to the Litoral Route.

There are also shorter routes (like the Camino Inglés, about 75 miles) and epic long-distance routes (like the Via de la Plata, 620+ miles).

How Long Does It Take?

The answer: it depends.

• Shorter routes can take 4–7 days.

• The Camino Francés takes 4–5 weeks on average.

• If you don’t have a whole month off, you can always walk a section now and come back another year to continue — plenty of people do the Camino in stages.

Why Walk the Camino?

Ask ten pilgrims why they walk, and you’ll hear ten different answers. Some come for faith, others for fitness, others simply for the adventure of a lifetime.

But most will tell you this: the Camino has a way of giving you exactly what you need — whether that’s quiet reflection, new friendships, or the strength to keep going when you thought you couldn’t.

Walking the Camino is both physically demanding and profoundly rewarding. You’ll average 12–15 miles a day, but what you gain — perspective, gratitude, a renewed sense of self — is worth every step.

Final Thoughts

The Camino de Santiago wasn’t just a walk for me. It’s a journey that has shaped lives for over a thousand years, and continues to do so today.

Whether you start in Porto, Oviedo, or Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, whether you walk for four days or forty, the path will meet you exactly where you are.

And that’s the beauty of it.

✨ “The Camino is not about the miles you walk, but the steps you take toward yourself.”