Today we would like to help you discover how to decide the best Camino de Santiago route for you. There are so many Camino de Santiago routes, that it can be difficult to choose one of them. However, there are some tips that you can follow to pick up the perfect itinerary for you. At Galiwonders we can assist you finding an answer to this common doubt. Let’s start!
How to decide the best Camino de Santiago route for you
We know the saying “There are as many Camino de Santiago routes, as pilgrims walking them“. On one hand this is great, because you have several itineraries to choose among and you are free to follow the Camino that best suits you. On the other hand, it can be quite confusing when you need to take a decision about the journey and don’t know much about the different options you have. So, if you are also asking yourself “Which is the best Camino route for me?”, keep reading and we will help you out!
Here you have 5 questions that could help you to decide the best Camino route for you.
- How much time do you have available?
- How many kilometers can you walk per day?
- Is this your first Camino?
- Will you be traveling solo? With friends? Big group?
- What are you looking for on the Camino?
Don’t worry if you can’t answer precisely to all these questions, this is just a starting point to know more about your preferences and needs. You can always contact us if you have doubts or questions on the Way of Saint James and a member of the Galiwonders Team will get back to you as soon as possible!
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How much time do you have available?
This is probably the most important question, since you can decide where to start according to the days you have at your disposal. For instance, if you only have one week to do the Camino and you want to get the Compostela Certificate at the end of your journey, you can only choose among the last 100 km of the Camino de Santiago routes. In this way, you can avoid checking any of the complete routes and can choose among the following ways (last 100 km): The French Camino, The Portuguese Way, The Portuguese Coastal Way, The English Way, The Winter Way, The Northern Way, The Via de la Plata, The Primitive Way.
To the contrary, in case you have available more than one month and a half, you can choose among the Full French Way (35 days), the Northern Way (37 days) or the Via de la Plata (48 nights) and adding the Finisterre Way after arriving in Santiago de Compostela.
How many kilometers can you walk per day?
This question is very important when you book an itinerary with Galiwonders, because we are expert in creating tailor made caminos and we can offer you different options depending on your needs and preferences. For example, if you do not feel like walking 20-25 km/day we can suggest you easier options such as the French Way Easy, the English Way Easy and the Portuguese Way Easy. These itineraries will allow you to enjoy a slower camino, especially if you want to walk with kids or with your dog and need some extra time to complete the daily distances.
Is this your first Camino?
In case you walk the Camino de Santiago for the first time, we suggest you to follow one of the most popular route such as the Camino Francés from Sarria or the Portuguese Way from Tui. Thus, you will meet many other pilgrims on your way and this can represent a help for the beginners. Also, you can find a lot of services on these routes such as bar, cafeterias, restaurants where you can stop and have a break. We recommend you to start with the busiest caminos to be sure to easily find someone who can assist you on the path.
Even if in the recent years the Camino started to be more popular also along other itineraries, you could feel a bit alone on some caminos (the more isolated routes are the Winter and Primitive Ways). You might prefer to start from the more social routes and leave the less popular ones for later caminos, when you will be a bit more expert.
Will you be traveling solo? With friends? Big group?
This question is quite connected to the previous one. In fact, in case you are traveling with other people you will not need to follow the most popular routes because you won’t be alone and you will get the help of your friends on any paths. However, if you are walking in a big group you need to consider the accommodation offer of the route you choose (especially during high season). The French Way is the route with more services and it will be easier to find a place for the night for many people traveling together.
What are you looking for on the Camino?
Nowadays, pilgrims follow the Way for many different purposes: for their health, for cultural reasons, to connect with the nature, for self-awareness, for religious and mystical grounds. Every pilgrim has his/her own motivations to walk the Camino and this is one of the main characteristic of this experience. Moreover, these reasons could help you to decide which route to walk.
For instance, if you want to know other pilgrims and have a very social experience we suggest you to do the French Way. In the opposite case, if you want to deepen into the nature and walk far from the noise, the Winter Way is the perfect camino. If you are looking for a physical challenge, you should choose the Primitive Way. In case you like to walk close to the ocean, there are different coastal routes you can decide among.
Remember that most of the pilgrims, walk the Camino de Santiago in sections. Therefore, you can start walking the first part of a route and keep on walking it, from the point you left, in the following years. The Camino has to be a pleasant journey, where you enjoy the experience to the fullest. Don’t get stressed to walk the complete route at one time and contact us if you need any extra information about your trip. Buen Camino!
12 Responses
I would like to do 100 to 150 miles I am 76 years old but a strong hiker. I did a walking marathon and half marathon last year in a 7 day period. I can do 10 to 15 miles a day. I would prefer smaller group and like to do the most scenic route
I am retired and like the coolest months that are normally dry. No hot months as I live in the Austin tx area an get plenty of hot days
Please send info and prices. I do not want to rough it or a roommate
Thanks
Dennis carroll
Hi Dennis! We’re happy to know that you found us all the way from Texas! Of course, we’ll pass the information to our team, and they’ll contact you via email as soon as possible 🙂
Hi, me and my mum want to do the camino next April. She is nearly 70 and has heart issues but really wants to do the walk with me. I would love to know if there are easier routes that are all flat with no inclines that she would be able to do. We would need to choose the shortest route that we can spread over 2 weeks. Any advice on what possible routes there are would be great please!
Hi Joshua, For a gentler, mostly flat route, the Camino Portugués Coastal Route is ideal. You could start in Porto, walk around 12–15 km per day, and spread the trip over 2 weeks.
For more detailed information and help planning the itinerary, please contact our sales team – they’ll be happy to assist you.
Hi guys. I am 70 and have plenty of time to walk around 3 weeks. I am going to start el Camino in the first days of May next year. Will go alone and can do 20-25 km per day. I am healthy and a good walker. Which route would be the best for me? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi Eva! With 3 weeks and 20–25 km/day, the French Way from León or the Portuguese Coastal Way from Porto would be perfect. Both have great services and scenic routes.
We recommend getting in touch with us so we can organize everything for you—from accommodation to luggage transfers, with 24-hour phone support.
Buen Camino! 🌿
Hi, I’m 66 and a good walker, but would also like to have time sightseeing, so wouldn’t want to walk more than 15 km in any given day. I’d have 10 days in total to complete the minimum to acquire a certificate and quite fancy a coastal route that isn’t too hilly.
I’d love to go with friends of similar capability but haven’t asked anyone yet. My dates would be between 24th June, back by 4th July..
Thank you for reaching out, Jan! we’ll send you a free quote with the routes that best match your preferences! 🙂
Hi,
I am planning on doing the Camino in mid September for 2 weeks and ideally am aiming to walk 20-30km a day. Which route would you suggest? I am also doing it solo. Thank you 🙂
Hi Josie,
For a two-week trip in mid-September I’d recommend the Portuguese Coastal Way or the French Way from Sarria.Both routes are very suitable for solo travellers, with plenty of services and fellow pilgrims along the way. 😊
Our sales team will get in touch with you shortly to prepare a personalized, no-obligation proposal based on your preferred dates and pace.
Hi there,
I am interested in doing the Camino with at least one of my friends. We would be looking at any time between mid-June and late July. I would want to do a scenic route that would take about a week and was not with too many people.
Hi Jennifer! 😊We’ll send you some information shortly.Thank you!