Camino Pilgrim

Camino Frances

Route to Santiago

From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (SJPdP) 800km / Leon 320km / Sarria 120km

Hiking season & weather

April to October. April and October are both rainy, so pack waterproof clothes and boots. May to September can be done in sneakers / trail runners.

Terrain

Crossing the Pyrenees in France is quite the challenge. Otherwise the route is running on soft natural terrain and is quite flat most of the time.

Second hardest part is the Messeta from Burgon to Leon. It is a flat, hot and dry 180km stretch that some pilgrims skip by taking the bus. I suggest to challenge yourself and use the solitude for inner thoughts.

Pilgrim support

There is access to fresh drinking water often on the trail. Lots of cafes and restaurants along the way to stay in shade and have some food. Pharmacies come across pretty much every day, so no need to overprepare.

Popularity

From France you will see many internationals starting. It is the most popular route for many as their first Camino experience. From Leon to Sarria the trail gets busier every day, since hordes of locals start from there.

Preparation needed

Go for a few longer walks at least a month before your Camino and you are good to go. Physically the easiest of all longer Camino trails. Start in Pamplona if crossing the Pyrenees feel too much of a challenge.

Camino Portugues

Route to Santiago

From Lisbon to Porto 380km / Porto coastal 270km / Porto inland 250km

Hiking season & weather

April to October. If you start in Lisbon then be ready for quite warm/hot weather. By the time you get north past Porto, the temperature starts to drop.

Terrain

Be ready for walking on car roads next to active traffic. The asphalt reflects heat from the sun, making it extra hot. Lots of small villages and cities that have either concrete or stone tiles for you to walk on. No big elevation climbs to be afraid of.

Pilgrim support

Things are a little less frequent before Porto. After Porto, especially on the inland route, you have constantly everything you would ever need.

Popularity

For Portuguese the holy hike is to Fatima (not Santiago). They go there in mid May and mid October. Rest of the year the walk from Lisbon is quite empty. It gets busy starting from Porto where a lot of the internationals start.

Preparation needed

If you are not friends big with heat, then go in April or September. Road is very easy to walk. You need to be used to walking longer distances on hard surfaces.

It will be quite tough on your feet in sturdy shoes like hiking boots. Preferably, wear something that feels comfortable.

Camino Norte

Route to Santiago

From Irun 835km / Santander 550km

There is an option to switch towards Oviedo and do the last 210km through mountains on Camino Primitivo.

Hiking season & weather

April to October are good times, but the main season is just June to August. It is by far the rainiest of all long Camino trails. Weather constantly changes while walking between the sea and the mountains. April is the rainiest month of the year, but even in Summer be prepared for rain.

Terrain

First and last week will be spent in mountains. The rest is not as challenging, but because of constantly changing weather, you will be walking mostly on hard surfaces to keep things safe.

Pilgrim support

Once a day you pass bigger settlements with everything you might need. There will be longer stretches without water refills or places to eat.

Popularity

Locals across Spain come to vacation on the North coast during Summer, so the accommodation options become difficult if not booked ahead. Prices go up hard during vacation period.

Bed race with other pilgrims is also a very real problem during Summer.

Preparation needed

This is the only Camino trail that needs some actual physical preparedness. You do not need to be a mountain climber, but going constantly uphill and downhill should be something that your feet can manage.

Via de la Plata

Route to Santiago

From Sevilla 1000km (through Astorga)

There is are several options to change routes during the trail. The most popular alternative is Camino Sanabres (360km to Santiago).

Hiking season & weather

March to October for Via de la Plata. For Camino Sanabres the main season starts in April.

From Sevilla to Zamora be ready for an extremely dry hot desert. You are passing the hottest region in Spain. From May to August the daily temperature will often go past +40 degrees Celsius.

Terrain

Its a mix of soft and hard terrain following the old Roman route from South to North. The trail itself is quite flat.

Pilgrim support

You are on your own during the day. Carry enough food and water always with you to manage the whole day. Have at least 2 liters of water always on you (4 liters in the Summer).

Popularity

You walk alone. Around three pilgrims per day start this trail. Albergues will be mostly empty. No one else is crazy enough to attempt this. Only for the brave.

Once the trails connects with Astorga, you will see insane amounts of pilgrims on the Camino Frances. If you prefer to walk alone, then switch to Camino Sanabres in Granja de Moreuela.

Preparation needed

There will be days where you might need to walk 30+ kilometers across the desert without many options to stop.

Doing daily walks of 10-14km several months before the Camino will get you in good enough shape to comfortably get through this trail.