Not all routes are equally demanding, but the harder the route, the more impressive the scenery.
It is up to you to decide and it will shape your experience from start to finish. We would like to give you a few notes on the 4 most famous routes:
The French Way
It is the busiest and therefore also the busiest, especially in the summer months. If you are looking for peace and quiet and want to stay in a hostel, avoid the high season. Finding a place to sleep becomes a competition if you don’t have a reservation.
The Portuguese Way
It is the one with the longest stretch of road, so it loses its charm for pilgrims who enjoy more natural surroundings. If you don’t like crowds, it has the advantage that it is not one of the busiest.
The Northern Way
The routes are quiet and uncrowded… this is an indication that the stages are a little more demanding. For us it is the best in relation effort/beauty of the environment. The coastal roads are a real spectacle.
The Primitive Way
The quietest, the most natural and the least travelled. Can you guess why? Because it is the most demanding. In our opinion, the best of them all, but probably the least recommended for a first time.
THE STAGES: HOW TO PLAN THE WAY OF SAINT JAMES?
We anticipate that there are 3 elements that can make your Camino a cross, especially if you are going to do it on foot: weight, rest and footwear.
Based on these, you should draw up your travel plan. By clicking on the following sentence in green we show you which are the stages of the Camino del Norte to Santiago in Spain.
How to mark the stages of the Way of Saint James
Whether it is your first time as a pilgrim or if you do not know the new route:
- Look for information about the stages, the different routes and places to sleep. Take into account the means of transport you will use to get there: on foot, in a wheelchair, on horseback, by bicycle…
- Set the length of each section according to your fitness or ability. If it’s your first time, between 20 and 24km a day is more than enough to enjoy it without stress. If you are accompanied, plan routes according to the person with the least preparation or ability.
- Be aware of the weather because it doesn’t always rain in Galicia. We spent 7 days at 40ºC. If you can anticipate it, count the hours you can walk each day and mark the kilometres accordingly.
- Assess where you will be able to stay before you leave. Not all of us are meant to sleep in a hostel or share a room. Travelling without a reservation can be overwhelming, stressful or disturb sleep, especially on crowded routes.. In addition, sleeping in hotels or cottages can make your backpack much lighter.