Gateway along the Camino Frances stages between Leon and Sarria
As the popularity of walking the Camino de Santiago continues to grow, crowding and commercialization have become unavoidable on some routes. After walking multiple Caminos over the past 13 years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the experience has changed as numbers on the trails grow.
When I first began walking, many routes felt quiet and personal. In fall 2024 while leading a group from Sarria to Santiago, the growth of Camino travel was impossible to ignore. The crowds were shocking—on the trail and at every rest stop. Cafés were packed, seating was scarce and souvenir shops selling refurbished walking sticks and Camino memorabilia had appeared in nearly every village.
While the economic boost to rural communities is real and positive, the sheer volume of walkers on more popular routes can leave some pilgrims feeling overwhelmed. This reality makes choosing the right Camino route a process for some travellers.
How to Choose the Best Camino Route for You
Your personal goals should always drive your Camino route choice. There are many routes to choose from and applying your priorities as primary criteria helps narrow the options.
Understanding the Compostela Rules
For first-time pilgrims, one common goal is earning the Compostela—the official certificate of completion of a designated route issued in Santiago. If this matters to you, planning around eligibility requirements is essential.
In recent years, the Pilgrim Reception Office in Santiago has updated the rules to ease congestion on the popular “last 100 km” routes. Pilgrims can now qualify for a Compostela by walking any contiguous 100 kilometers on an officially recognized route, as long as they collect at least two stamps per day in their pilgrim credential (also known as a pilgrim passport).
This change opens up many more route options beyond the busiest paths. For official details regarding the Compostela and statistics on route use, visit the Pilgrim Reception Office website.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Camino
With dozens of Camino routes and variants, narrowing your options can feel overwhelming. One helpful starting point is deciding which initial host country you prefer – Spain or Portugal.
Spain vs. Portugal: Which Host Country Is Right for You?
Although all roads lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a fundamental choice for first time walkers is whether they prefer to start in Portugal or Spain.
Time Available
If you’re planning to walk an entire route, some Caminos—particularly in Portugal—can be completed in about two weeks. The main Spanish routes, however, require a month or more.
For example, the full Camino Francés begins on the French side of the Pyrenees and typically takes 35–45 days. Partial routes are possible on all Caminos, but a minimum of one week is recommended for a meaningful experience.
Access and Transportation
Portugal offers easy access via Lisbon and Porto, both well connected with international airport hubs, trains and buses. Spain has also made major transport improvements in the last decade – allowing ease of access to starting points on different routes. Santiago’s airport (SCQ) now supports more international routes, including from summer 2026 the first direct flight from the U.S. (Newark). Madrid’s internal air connections and rail network also makes reaching León, Santiago, or Seville straightforward.
Exploring your ground transportation options is made easier with various web-resources like The Trainline for train connections and bus connection planners from Alsa and Monbus. Taxi and baggage services have greatly expanded their presence online with operators like Caminofacil making arrangements easy. A google search for your route choice and baggage services will turn up an array of options that was not available even 5 years ago!
Culture and Cities
Both Spain and Portugal deliver rich cultural experiences on and off the trail. Walking in Spain offers the opportunity to discover different regional traditions, food and languages. If you dream of pairing your walk with iconic cities, consider building time into your itinerary to visit places like Lisbon, Madrid, Porto or Bilbao before or after your Camino.
Desired Experience
Ask yourself what kind of Camino experience you want:
- Solitude or community?
- Physical challenge or gentler terrain?
- Remote paths or well-serviced routes?
Your answers will naturally guide you towards routes that fit your needs.
As you conduct your research on different routes you can find statistics about distance, stopping points and itineraries from both commercial and individual sources. A good place to start may be the Camino society in your country – for example Americans/English speakers may like to peruse The American Pilgrims site. Reading individual blogs (like this one) and route descriptions from sites like Stingy Nomads can be very helpful. Instagram also provides a lot of experience-based quick peeks and day to day experience content from different routes that may be useful and you can search that app for specific routes to see posts (check out The Caminoist IG site or a useful IG site like Camino Hacks and Tips). General research on the Camino or Camino routes online will turn up reams of information to help guide you.
Our Favorite Camino Routes
Best Short Camino: Camino Finisterre & Muxía
This trail from Santiago to the Atlantic coast leads to either Finisterre (89 km) or Muxía (118 km). Both qualify for a special Finisterre Compostela. Regular bus connections make returning to Santiago easy. Expect beautiful scenery and moderate challenges, such as steep, rocky descents near the coast. The route can be walked as a specific trip or as an extension of an already planed Camino.
Best Long Camino: Via de la Plata
At nearly 1,000 km, the Via de la Plata is a long and demanding Camino route. Walkers face significant stretches without services on some stages. The reward of this route is a journey that promises immersion in southern Spanish history and culture – as well as plenty of time for reflection and solo experiences on a far less traveled path. The route can be broken into shorter walks – such as the initial stages between the beautiful cities of Seville and Zafra. However, it is noted walking in summer is discouraged due to extreme heat and minimal cover.
Best Camino for Walking in Stages: Camino Francés
The Camino Francés is ideal for breaking into sections over multiple trips. Popular segments include:
- St. Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona over the Pyrenees
- The final 120 km from Sarria to Santiago
- Mountain stages from León to Sarria
- Pamplona to the Cathedral city of Burgos
This heavily travelled route offers community and companionship. Different starting points can be accessed through excellent transportation links including train and bus options from Santiago, Bilbao, León and Pamplona – making planning easy.
Researching Camino Routes: Where to Look
Route statistics—distance, stages, and services—are widely available from both commercial and volunteer sources. The Official Pilgrim Reception Office is a useful starting point. As you begin your research, looking at some of the travel planning sites (commercial) as well as volunteer sites run by individuals or Camino societies help you to think through your itinerary. However, firsthand accounts from blogs and social media put a more personalized touch on your planning and can be invaluable resources.
Helpful resources include:
- Travel guide book. The most well known English speaking guide series are the books originally written and published by John Brierly. Brierly’s Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino is one of the most useful guides you will find for the French Way. Although Brierly passed in 2023 his daughter continues to update and maintain his guidebook series.
- Blogs and route guides. There are many online resources but one of the most useful sites is Stingy Nomads with practical overviews and advice for a multitude of routes.
- National Camino organizations (e.g., American Pilgrims on the Camino)
- Commercial travel planning sites like Mac’s Adventure, CaminoWays and Orbis that offer itineraries with accommodation booking and other services.
- Small service providers like the Caminoist, Your Camino and Wild Camino that offer personalized planning.
- Facebook groups that offer advice, support and experience sharing. Search for groups using “Camino de Santiago” or specific interests like “Women Walking Camino”
- Instagram accounts that show real, day-to-day trail life
(search by route name or broadly for Camino Santiago or Camino Portuguese); good examples include The Caminoist, Camino Hacks and Tips, Camino Lovers, Wild Camino and Your Camino)
The Bottom Line: Your Camino Is Your Own
There is no single “right” Camino. Every route offers something unique, and every pilgrim experiences it differently. Choose the path that aligns with your goals, abilities, and sense of adventure—and trust that it will give you the experience of a lifetime.
Disclaimer: No sponsorships or compensation were received from any companies or individuals mentioned in this post.
The Caminoist
Email: 3roofedhouse@gmail.com
Instagram: @the_caminoist
Substack: danastinson.substack.com
Visit The Caminoist Instagram To See Overviews of Different Routes
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