How to Choose a Camino de Santiago Route

Keen walkers are spoiled for choice along the Camino. Choose your path from the Camino’s seven most popular pilgrimage routes: Camino Francés, del Norte, Primitivo, Portugues, Ingles, Finisterre, and Invierno.

The Camino de Santiago is both a holy pilgrimage and an epic long-distance walk across Spain. It’s a local tradition that traces its roots back to medieval times and a right of passage that travellers have been undertaking for hundreds of years. 

Many walkers familiar with the Camino know that the journey ends at the famous Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. But what many Camino walkers don’t know is that while the end of the route is fixed, the start is, in large part, up to you. In other words, there are many ways to walk the Camino de Santiago. 

Which Camino is for me?

Deciding to walk a Camino pilgrimage route is a decision many people take for lots of different reasons! Whether it has been a life-long bucket list challenge to walk the 30 plus days it takes to reach Santiago de Compostela from the French borders on the Camino Frances, or you have reached a time in your life where some quiet contemplation is needed. Perhaps it’s the physical challenge you aspire to, or maybe you want to discover a more authentic and traditional part of a country away from the well-trodden tourist routes.

It can be tough to decide which Camino de Santiago, or pilgrimage trail, is the one for you. Here, we try to highlight what we think are the most important reasons to walk each of our options, hopefully making that decision a little bit easier.

How Many Camino de Santiago Routes are There?   

There are numerous ways to walk the Camino de Santiago, and more than 200 routes are currently recognised. However, there are seven popular routes that the majority of Camino walkers tend to choose from. These are the Camino Francés, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, Camino Ingles, Camino Finisterre, Camino Invierno, and Camino Portugues. These routes crisscross Spain, starting as far south as Lisbon, Portugal, and as far north as Ferrol. 

The benefit of walking one of these popular routes is that you’re more likely to meet fellow walkers and local pilgrims. That rich cultural exchange is considered a quintessential Camino experience. Popular routes also tend to have plenty of infrastructure for Camino travellers, including hostels, local restaurants, and places to pick up supplies. 

The Official Camino de Santiago Routes

Here’s a brief overview of the seven most popular Camino de Santiago routes.

Camino Frances

• Easy to follow – you cannot get lost on the most well-known of all the Caminos. Simply follow the scallop shells and yellow arrows, and you won’t go wrong!

• Great sense of camaraderie – as it is the most popular, this is the pilgrimage for you if meeting other walkers is all part of the experience. You build incredible friendships and bonds with fellow pilgrims along the way.

• Good for solo walkers – for the same reason as above, really, there are always lots of people walking this route, so you are guaranteed to see people every day and, therefore, feel safe.

• Know as the “French Way” – it starts at St. Jean Pied de Port on the Spanish-French border. From there, the route travels 492 miles across the mountains of northern Spain. This makes it a good option for solo travellers looking to bond and build friendships with fellow pilgrims. 

• Go at your pace – you can extend your trip by adding on the Camino de Puy (or “Chemin du Puy” in French), a 461-mile trail that crosses the pastoral landscapes of southern France from Le Puy to St. Jean Pied de Port. 

Camino Portugues Traditional Route

• A quieter route – slightly less busy than the Camino Frances, but becoming more popular by the day.

• See more of Portugal – this route travels through authentic Portugal, and you get to see a side of this country that tourists would never touch.

• History and culture abound on the Camino Portugues – from towns like Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal, to historic Templar towns such as Tomar with its Templar Castle.

• Known as the “Portuguese Way” – it begins in Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant seaside capital. As you journey north, you’ll travel 381 miles through vineyards, pastoral valleys, and medieval villages. 

• Switch to two wheels – if walking isn't your style and you prefer to journey on two wheels, choose from our Camino Portugues Coastal Way trip or the classic Camino Portugues Central Way by Bike.

Camino Portugues Coastal Way

• Discover the beautiful, undeveloped coastline of Portugal

• Less crowded than the Camino Frances but is again becoming more and more popular.

• Seafood and wine – walking along the coast, you will get to enjoy some wonderful fresh seafood including over 300 varieties of cod dishes, oysters and the mouth-watering Albarino wine.

Camino del Norte

• A classic route – this route offers a greater challenge to those looking for a slightly more strenuous way to get to Santiago! It covers mountains, rolling hills and steep cliffs in parts, so the terrain is a lot more challenging

• Great food! – the Basque Country in Spain is renowned for its fantastic food. One of the highlights of walking the Camino del Norte will definitely be sampling tasty pintxos (small tapas-like dishes) at the end of the day

• Stunning sea views – a large part of the route runs close to the coastline and what is known as the “Green Coast” of Spain.

• Known as the “Northern Way” – it traces Spain’s northern coast for 487 miles. It passes through tranquil Spanish towns and offers nearly nonstop views of the sea.  

Camino Primitivo

• Mountain views – the Camino Primitivo crosses the verdant, mountainous regions of northwestern Spain. It begins in the former medieval capital of Oviedo and ends at Santiago de Compostela 205 miles later.  

• Follow in royal footsteps – one for the purists, as this is the original pilgrim route to Santiago, taken by King Alfonso II in the 9^th century.

• A much quieter route – if you are looking for time to contemplate and lots of solitude, this option is perfect for you!

• Again, a challenge – much of the route runs through the mountains of Asturias, so ideal if you are looking for a tougher walk.

Camino Ingles

• Known as the “English Way” – it begins at the docks of Spain’s northern coast. It traces the same 78-mile journey that English and Irish pilgrims have followed for hundreds of years. 

• Beautiful views – the Camino Ingles offers a great combination of coastal and rural landscapes.

• One of the shortest Camino’s – so perfect if you don’t have as much time but would still like to experience a pilgrimage.

Camino Invierno

• Known as the “Winter Way” – the Camino Invierno is a popular choice for the colder months, as it avoids the high mountains. Instead, it travels 167 miles through warm lowlands and the lush wine-growing region of Ribeira Sacra. 

• Avoid the tourist traps – guiding you along ancient paths, this tranquil pilgrim follows the route used in medieval times to avoid the O’Cebreiro mountains on the Camino Frances.

• A route filled with history – Romanesque architecture, ancient villages and historic monuments.

• Pass through the Ribeira Sacra region – a fantastic wine-growing region – so you will be sure to be well-watered!

Camino Finisterre

• One of the shortest official Camino de Santiago routes – the Camino Finisterre begins in a cerulean bay on the Atlantic Coast and travels 57 miles across the Galician countryside, tracing ancient paths all the way to the Cathedral of Santiago.

• Crossing the finish live – this is the perfect way to complete any Camino finishing in Santiago. The Finisterre will continue from Santiago to the coast, giving a real sense of completing a journey and walking to the “end of the world”.

What are the Shortest and Longest Camino Routes?  

At 492 miles, the Camino Frances is the longest Camino de Santiago route, closely followed by the 487-mile Camino del Norte. 

Don’t have a ton of time to spare? The shortest routes are the 57-mile Camino de Finisterre and the 78-mile Camino Ingles, both of which can be walked in about a week. 

What is the Best Camino de Santiago Route? 

The best Camino de Santiago route for you will depend on your walking goals, your fitness level, and how much time you have. The Camino Frances is both the most popular and the most well-trafficked route, making it a great choice for people looking for a more social trail experience. The full Camino Frances takes about 40 days to complete. (However, we provide different stages of the Camino Frances route you can choose from.) The Camino del Norte, which also takes about 40 days, is more remote and challenging, giving walkers a better chance of solitude. We also offer different stages of the Camino del Norte if you want to do it in a section. 

Each Camino de Santiago route crosses through a different slice of the Spanish countryside, offering its own unique scenery and feel. Your choice will depend on what kind of experience you’re looking for. At Macs Adventure, we have arranged 1000s of walking tours on the Camino routes, with expert guidance, advice, luggage transfer, comfortable lodgings and support (should you need it) included.

If you need further advice on any of our Camino routes, get in touch with the Macs team, or download our Camino Guide for more information.