Maria is from Viveiro, in the misty and beautiful northern coast of Galicia, and now calls Ireland her adopted home. She adores Santiago, where she studied Journalism at Santiago de Compostela University. She also loves travel, food, books, and arty and crafty. She has walked and cycled many trails including many Camino routes, Japan's Kumano Kodo, the Kerry Camino in Ireland and many others.
All you need to know – Read our Essential Camino Tips. Embarking on the Camino de Santiago is more than just a trek; it’s an exploration of culture, history, and oneself. Whether walking the Camino or cycling the Camino, the journey offers a chance to disconnect from everyday life and connect with a centuries-old tradition. …
Top 10 Camino Dishes The various Camino routes cross different regions (and sometimes, countries), each with its own traditions, culture and food. Food is an important part of any journey, and with this in mind, we think there are 10 Camino dishes you absolutely have to try while walking the Camino de Santiago. If you …
Camino Pilgrim Passports, Certificates, and Compostela Most people have a clear idea of why they want to walk the Camino de Santiago. It may be for religious or spiritual reasons, for a healthy challenge, for a break from everyday life, or even just the social aspect. Whatever your motivation for walking the Camino routes, you …
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The Val d’Orcia in Tuscany is one of the must-see regions of the Via Francigena and one of the highlights of the Camino to Rome. The Via Francigena has crossed the Val d’Orcia since Roman times when it was known as Via Cassia. Since then, the trail has linked and facilitated trade as well as …
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The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela – 6 Things To Know The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is an iconic symbol of the city of Santiago and the final point for many pilgrims walking or cycling the Camino de Santiago. Over the centuries, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world have made their way …
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The name of Don Elías Valiña Sampedro might not ring any bells but you will certainly recognise his most ‘famous’ creation: the yellow arrows on the Camino, pointing the way to Santiago de Compostela. Don Elías (1929-1989) was the parish priest in O Cebreiro in Lugo and studied the history of the St James Way pilgrimage to Santiago …
The Fishermen’s Trail: Walk Portugal’s Wilderness I’m sitting on a sun-warmed boulder, applying an undercoat of factor 50 to face, neck and limbs, when the first dollops of a downpour sent me rummaging for my waterproofs. The Fishermen’s Trail: Walk Portugal. It’s late October in southern Portugal, so a drop of rain is to be expected …
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The fishing town of Fisterra (Finisterre in Spanish) is located on the Atlantic Coast of Galicia, some 100km away from Santiago de Compostela. Cape Fisterra and its lighthouse, on a headland just outside the town, has been the final destination for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago for many centuries, completing the Camino Finisterre. Fisterra: …
History of the Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago is considered a bucket list destination for many people, whether you consider yourself a spiritual person or not. But how did the Camino de Santiago come to be so popular among modern travellers and what do we know about the history of the Camino? Thousands …
6 Must-Sees on Le Chemin du Puy Pilgrims across Europe have been taking to the roads to Santiago for many centuries. As pilgrims traditionally started their journey from their own homes, various Camino routes developed over time, including many coming from different parts of France, the ‘Chemins de Compostelle’. Of the Camino routes in France, the …
The city of Siena is one of the highlights along the Via Francigena in Tuscany. Siena is a UNESCO-listed city and one of Italy’s most visited sites. Designed as a work of art to blend in with the Tuscan surroundings, the city’s perfect Gothic beauty will amaze you. If you are walking the Via Francigena …
Camino Culture: The Galician Hórreo If you are walking the Camino de Santiago, you will start noticing some exciting structures close to most homes in rural areas as you enter Galicia. These rectangular structures are granaries called ‘hórreos’, a widespread construction across rural Galicia. Their function is to store grain and other food crops for …
3 Things to know about Ourense The beautiful city of Ourense is best known to Camino walkers as the starting point of the last 100km of the Via de la Plata Camino route to Santiago. Known as ‘Auria’ by the ancient Romans, Ourense is a wonderful place to begin your Camino de Santiago. In fact, …
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5 Special Places To Experience The Camino at Easter Easter, or Holy Week as it’s also known, is widely celebrated across Spain, with many cities and towns along the Camino de Santiago hosting impressive processions. There’s a huge variety of different places to experience the Camino at Easter. Whether you want to celebrate by the …
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The Finisterre Camino has had a magical appeal for pilgrims since medieval times. Having arrived in Santiago de Compostela after walking for many weeks across Europe, they would continue their journey on to Cape Fisterra. Cape Fisterra was once believed to be the last place on Earth, the edge of the known World, Finis Terrae. …
Top 10 Camino Portugues Foods To Try The Camino Portugues is the second most popular route of the Camino de Santiago after the Camino Frances, according to 2020 statistics from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago. Part of the appeal of the Camino Portugues is the delicious Portuguese food on offer. The Camino Portugues route begins …
Lugo Roman Heritage If you are walking the Camino Primitivo, also known as the Original Way, Lugo will be one of the city highlights of your journey along the Way of St. James. As the only city in the world surrounded by intact Roman walls, Lugo owes much of its unique identity and character to …
The Camino is full of interesting facts and phrases, and it’s always a delight to learn of another one. You might have heard or seen the word ‘Ultreia’ mentioned when researching, reading, or while walking the Camino de Santiago. The word “Ultreia” is derived from the Latin word “ultra,” which means “beyond” or “farther.” In …
The scallop shell is one of the most iconic symbols of the Camino de Santiago. Today, it is used, along with the yellow arrow, to guide pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela along its many different Camino routes. Painted on trees, sidewalks, tiles, etc… the scallop shell (or ‘Vieira’ in Galician and Spanish) will help …
Things to do in A Coruña For centuries, pilgrims from northern shores docked in the harbour of A Coruña on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Their Camino de Santiago journey had taken them across the seas, but they would still have 75km to walk before reaching the city of St James, the end of …