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.
Camino Culture: The story of As Marias As an exercise of made-up statistics, I would guesstimate that nearly 99% of pilgrims and visitors to Santiago de Compostela get a picture taken with the colourful statue of As Marias in Alameda Park. Hands up? If you haven’t been to Santiago but you are about to, or …
6 Unmissable Christmas Activities in Santiago de Compostela Whether you’re heading to Santiago for a little pre-Christmas holiday or if you happen to be finishing up your Camino de Santiago (quite a chilly walk we’d imagine) during the festive season, there are some unmissable Christmas activities to keep you entertained in this Spanish city. If …
Unmissable Christmas Activities in Santiago de Compostela Read More »
There are many wonderful festivals taking place throughout the year on the Camino de Santiago. One of these is O Magosto, Galicia’s classic autumn festival. This festival welcomes the winter season and is dedicated to one special product: the chestnut. If you are travelling along one of the Camino routes in late October and November, …
O Magosto Festival – Celebrating Chestnuts and Winter Read More »
Useful Spanish for the Camino Walking the Camino de Santiago (particularly along the French Way route and as you get closer to Santiago de Compostela), you will meet people of all nationalities. Most people will come back from the Camino having made at least a few friends. You will find some Useful Spanish for the Camino …
Camino de Santiago lingo Heading to the Camino de Santiago routes soon? We have put together a short and fun guide to the most useful Camino de Santiago lingo, a few sentences in Spanish and Galician to help you along the way!: Buen Camino! – This is the one sentence you will always remember. It …
3 Things to do in Lugo Along The Camino Primitivo Lugo is one of the main cities along the Camino Primitivo, the oldest Camino de Santiago route, and a must-see on your visit to Galicia. If you are walking the Camino Frances from Sarria and making your way by public transport from Santiago de Compostela …
3 Things to do in Lugo Along The Camino Primitivo Read More »
Planning your next Camino de Santiago adventure? Wondering which month of the year would be the best for you? What are the busiest months on the Camino? We have taken the most recent statistics from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago de Compostela to give you an idea of the number of pilgrims arriving in Santiago …
Camino FAQ: What are the busiest months on the Camino? Read More »
Have you ever wondered where your country ranks in terms of Camino pilgrims by nationality? These are the Top International Camino Pilgrims It is difficult to determine the top nationalities of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, as data on the nationality of pilgrims is not consistently collected. The popularity of the Camino de Santiago …
August is one of the most popular months to walk the Camino de Santiago but also one of the hottest of the year. To help you get ready for your trip, the CaminoWays.com travel specialists have put together a few helpful Camino tips for walking in hot weather. 1 – Prepare Preparation is always key: …
Useful Galician for your Camino trip While on the Camino de Santiago, you will encounter and befriend fellow pilgrims of many nationalities and many languages, particularly as you get closer to Santiago de Compostela. You might have learnt a bit of Spanish before but did you know Galicia has its own language? It is called ‘galego’, Galician. …
6 Amazing Camino Coastal Trails Waves of the sea of Vigo, have you seen my loved one? Wondered Martin Codax, a famous medieval troubadour in the 13th century. If, like a medieval Galician troubadour, the sea is your muse; these are 6 Amazing Camino Coastal Trails to inspire your next walking trip: 1 – Portuguese …
10 Most Delicious Galician Dishes to try along the Camino If you’re planning your Camino de Santiago trip, it’s very likely that you’ll be visiting Galicia soon. One of the best parts about travelling is trying all the local dishes, especially if you’re a foodie. We’ve picked what we think are the 10 most delicious …
5 Great Camino for cycling Did you know approximately 10% of all pilgrims reaching Santiago de Compostela are ‘Bicigrinos’, bike-pilgrims? Nearly 25,000 Bicigrinos choose to cycle the Camino routes to receive their Compostela certificate each year. Go for cycling the Camino Routes. If you are cycling the Camino de Santiago, remember you must at least …
Cycling the Camino Routes: 5 Great Ways to choose Read More »
A Second Honeymoon on The Camino de Santiago Author Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg shares her Camino experience and why she feels the trail is the perfect place for romance. When my husband got down on one knee in the Sacred Valley of Peru and asked me to spend another 25 years by his side, I teared …
The days at the desk are long, and daydreaming about the next getaway gets you through the most brutal Monday. We’ve all been there. Suppose you are sharing that feeling and, in addition, are showing the following symptoms. In that case, we can accurately diagnose you with acute Camino de Santiago withdrawal syndrome or Caminoitis. …
5 signs that you need to plan your next Camino trip Read More »
To add a Spanish flavour to your next meal, today we are sharing a very easy-to-follow and delicious Camino Croquetas recipe to teach you how to make one of Spain’s classic and all-time favourites: croquetas. You will often find them on the Camino de Santiago. They can be done with different ingredients such as ham, chicken, …
Dos and Don’ts on the Camino Getting ready for your Camino de Santiago trip? Know your Dos and Don’ts on the Camino. Wherever you go in the world, there will be certain cultural customs and ‘travel etiquette’ you should know about, and the Camino will be no different. There are certain conventions you will be …
What is The Botafumeiro And When Can I See it? The ‘Botafumeiro’ is the famous giant thurible or censer in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral. A ‘Botafumeiro’ has been used since the Middle Ages, originally to clean the air when crowds of pilgrims having completed the Camino de Santiago arrived in Santiago de Compostela after their …
A Glass of Queimada to Keep the Evil Spirits Away If you are in Galicia, any gathering is a good occasion and excuse to light a ‘queimada’, but magic nights such as Midsummer and Halloween are just the absolute best time to drink this magic potion. Some think queimada is a Celtic tradition, while others …
Spooky Camino: Queimada to keep evil spirits away Read More »
Halloween is right around the corner so it’s no surprise that we’re getting into the spooky spirit. Whether you’re a fan of ghosts and ghouls or just a little bit superstitious, you can add some ghostly fun to your walk with these 7 spooky Camino facts! As we know, the Camino de Santiago takes walkers …
7 Spooky Camino Facts to Get You in The Spirit of Halloween Read More »