Where To Start The Camino De Santiago?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Camino Francés starts from

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees

, and crosses sizable mountains (check weather), open plains and lush hills on its way to Santiago de Compostela.

Where does the Camino de Santiago begin and end?

It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side before making its way through to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León.

Which route is best for the Camino de Santiago?


Camino Francés

: the classic Camino route

While it is not the oldest route, the Camino Francés has definitely become synonymous with ‘The Camino’ and it is by far the best known and most transited of all the Camino routes; although the trail starts getting busier mainly on the last stages into Santiago.

How long does it take to walk the Camino de Santiago?

Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the walk should take you about

30 to 35 days

; in order to achieve this time, you would need to walk between 23 and 27 kilometers per day (14 to 16 miles). The Camino de Santiago is known in English as the Way of Saint James.

What is the most scenic part of the Camino de Santiago?


The Northern Way

is arguably the most scenic, running along the Bay of Biscay coast from foodie San Sebastián, via Bilbao and Santander and an array of beautiful beaches, to Oviedo; from here you can join the Camino Primitivo to reach Santiago.

Where do you fly into for the Camino?

The Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo can be reached from the airports of

Biarritz, Bilbao, Santander and San Sebastián

. The Camino Finisterra and Camino Inglés can be reached from the Airport in Santiago de Compostela.

Is the Camino de Santiago hard?

Average difficulty/success rate: Camino Primitivo has its fair share of challenging climbs and descents as well as paved sections, making it

a difficult route

. Still, if you take your time, the success rate is high.

What are the two Caminos ‘?

There are seven well-established routes of St. James; Camino Frances (the French Way), Camino Portugués (the Portuguese Way), Camino del Norte (the Northern Way), Camino Primitivo (the Original Way), Via de la Plata (the Silver Way), Camino Inglés (the English Way) and Camino Finisterre-Muxía.

How many miles a day do you walk on the Camino de Santiago?

Discover the unique and unforgettable experience of walking an ancient pilgrim route, the Unesco World Heritage Way of Saint James,’Camino de Santiago’. Average daily distance / climb:

12 miles

(20 km) / 976 ft (298 m).

What is the best month to walk the Camino?


May-June and Sep

are the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago, as the weather is lovely, downpours less likely, and you’ll have plenty of company along the way – but it won’t be quite as crowded. Easter can be a busy time, too.

Which Camino is the hardest?


The Northern Way

It is undoubtedly one of the hardest stages due to its loneliness as well as the difficulties of the terrain.

Can you do the Camino without training?


There are some who travel the Camino without any physical preparation

, and they get through it and reach the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela. You will have, however, a far more pleasant experience if you do some hill-walking or aerobic exercise in the months before going on the Camino!

Do I need a sleeping bag on the Camino?

What is this? The Camino de Santiago is not your normal hike in the wild where you have to carry camping gear and food which is a good thing as it’s possible to pack light. Every night pilgrims stay at albergues, no tent and camping mat is needed,

all you need or we’d recommend bringing with is a sleeping bag

.

How long does it take to walk 12 miles?

Miles Relaxed Pace Normal Pace 11 miles 3 hrs, 40 mins 2 hrs, 45 mins 12 miles

4 hrs


3 hrs
13 miles 4 hrs, 20 mins 3 hrs, 15 mins 14 miles 4 hrs, 40 mins 3 hrs, 30 mins

What is the shortest Camino walk?

The shortest Camino walk is the route known as

the Camino Ingles

, in Northern Galicia. The Camino Ingles has, in fact, two official starting points: the port-cities of A Coruña and Ferrol, located 75km and 113kms away from Santiago, respectively.

Who walks the Camino de Santiago?

Although pilgrims originally made the long walk to Santiago de Compostela to see the legendary remains of the Apostle Saint James, today people walk the Camino for all sorts of reasons. In fact,

over 300,000 people

lace up their boots every year to take on the Camino.

Can you do the Camino on a bike?


Cycling the Camino is certainly easier on your joints

(for a full fitness breakdown, check our tips below). Cycling uphill might be hard, but trekking 100 kilometres over undulating terrain is tough on knees and ankles. Leave the walking poles at home and let your wheels take the weight instead.

What is the closest airport to Camino de Santiago?

The nearest airport to Camino de Santiago is

Granada (GRX) Airport

which is 66.3 km away. Other nearby airports include Malaga (AGP) (119 km), Sevilla (SVQ) (158.7 km) and Almeria (LEI) (183 km).

How do you train for the Camino de Santiago?

If you’re not already fit and active, it’s a good idea to

start your training several months ahead if possible

. This way, you can gradually increase your fitness levels and the distances you can cover. Set yourself a target of walking an average of 2 hours per day for at least 2 months prior to your Camino.

How much money do you need to walk the Camino?

Total Trip Costs

Most pilgrim budgets fall in the $30-60 (€25-50) per day range, meaning a 30-day walk would cost

$900-1800 (€750-1500)

. If you don’t already have hiking gear, new gear could easily cost $300-600 (€250-500) if you need to get new footwear, backpack and sleeping bag.

How do I train for the Camino?

Even if you trained before starting the pilgrimage and are used to walking,

try to walk more or less 20 km/12,4 mi per day during the first week on the Camino

. If you feel tired or start getting blisters, rather stop early or even take a day off. Don’t push yourself hard from the start, just take it easy.

Can you wild camp on the Camino de Santiago?

Camping is possible on all of the Camino’s routes, but here organisation is key as designated campsites are few and far between. Some hostel owners will let pilgrims camp in their gardens for a small donation, and

there are frequent grassy rest areas with basic facilities where hikers can wild camp

.

Can you do the Camino de Santiago alone?

As I’ve said,

hiking the Camino de Santiago alone is pretty safe

, but you don’t have to walk at night. Chances are there will be stretches of the walk you’ll take completely alone, and if you need some help or assistance, you’ll have no one to turn to.

What is the famous religious walk in Spain?

Hike the famed

El Camino de Santiago

—Europe’s longest and most storied pilgrimage route—and stay in historic monasteries and centuries-old paradors along the way. Trace the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway—and many a bull—through Pamplona, and explore the spectacular historic center of Santiago de Compostela.

How do you walk the Camino?
  1. Do it your own way. …
  2. Go at your own pace. …
  3. You don’t have to do it all in one go. …
  4. Take clothes for every eventuality. …
  5. Remember to get your stamps. …
  6. Spend time sightseeing along the way. …
  7. Walk the last 100km to get the Compostela. …
  8. Budget accordingly.

What is the symbol of El Camino de Santiago?


The scallop shell

is one of the most iconic symbols of the Camino de Santiago and today it is used, along with the yellow arrow, to guide pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela along its many different routes.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.