Welcome to our Camino de Santiago blog page! Embarking on this incredible journey, whether on foot or by bike, is more than a physical adventure – it’s a spiritual and emotional exploration, too. Here, we’re thrilled to share insights, advice, and heartfelt stories that make the Camino de Santiago much more than a simple trek.
Are you a seasoned pilgrim looking to reminisce or seeking new routes to explore? Maybe you’re a curious first-timer seeking guidance, tips, or simply a glimpse into this fascinating world. You’ve found the right place!
Our blog is an open road that weaves through the hearts and minds of those who love the Camino de Santiago. Whether you’re planning a future pilgrimage or walking down memory lane, our articles are penned with love, knowledge, and a genuine desire to assist and inspire.
Join us, explore, and be part of this beautiful Camino community. We are here to guide, support, and walk with you, every step of the way. Happy reading, dear pilgrim!
Requesting an audience with the Pope If you are heading off on your Via Francigena trip and finishing in the ancient city of Rome you may like to request an audience with the Pope, so we have put a few tips together to help you make a booking. We do not arrange tickets for the […]
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Spanish Words with No English Translation I’m a little bit smitten with the language and believe that the Spanish have a beautiful way with words. I’ve found that many Spanish words are quite telling of the Mediterranean, family-orientated way of life. There are many Spanish words which have no English translation, today I’ve put together
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Walking Distance, a Camino memoir David Hlavsa heads the Theatre Arts Department at St Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington. His Camino memoir Walking Distance: Pilgrimage, Parenthood, Grief and Home Repairs remembers his trip to Santiago de Compostela with wife Lisa. Here’s an excerpt from his book: Walking Distance: Pilgrimage, Parenthood, Grief, and Home Repairs by David Hlavsa On
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A Clean Camino Un Paso Limpio (a clean step) is an exciting and worthy campaign promoting a clean Camino de Santiago, recently launched by various St James societies in Spain. The campaign aims to raise awareness about environmental issues among pilgrims, encouraging a leave-no-trace policy to keep the Camino clean. The campaign has been launched
Useful Italian phrases When you are walking the Via Francigena a number of the routes take you through the beautiful countryside of Italy. While you might meet many English-speaking tourists and locals, you will need a few useful Italian phrases to communicate in the smaller towns and villages. Here are a few basic Italian phrases
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Lucia’s Camino journey Lucia Ebbs, Fundraising Manager with CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), walked the Camino from Sarria to Santiago with other CRY members to raise funds for the charity and remember their loved ones. She shares that special Camino journey as she prepares for the second CRY Camino, taking place in from 3rd to
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The Great Camino Cleanup Rochelle and Mike from Canadian non-profit environmental start-up A Greener Future are back from the Camino Portugues, where they picked nearly 6,000 pieces of litter. Their goal: raising awareness among locals and visitors about the impact of littering and keeping the Camino clean and wonderful. Here’s how they got on with
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Fantastic news for the Camino de Santiago this week as various Northern Camino routes, including the Northern Way and Original Way, have been declared UNESCO-listed trails as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. The French Way or Camino Francés was the first route to be listed by UNESCO in 1993, a prestigious status
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Camino FAQ: Luggage storage in Santiago de Compostela Many CaminoWays.com customers have been in touch recently requesting information regarding luggage storage in Santiago de Compostela. We would recommend you contact Ivar Rekve, owner and manager of the popular Camino Forum. He provides this useful luggage storage service to pilgrims in Santiago. You can either send the
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Useful Portuguese for your Camino On the Camino de Santiago, you will meet many fellow pilgrims from all over the globe, speaking many different languages. While you might meet many English-speaking along the way (both pilgrims and service providers), you will also need a few basic phrases in Portuguese to communicate while walking the Portuguese Way or Camino
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Gone to the Beach, after walking the Camino… With almost 1500 kilometers of coastline, Galicia and its Rías (estuaries or bays) are home to almost 700 beaches! Galicia’s many coves and beaches are a fantastic place to relax after your journey along the Camino de Santiago. If you are walking the Camino de Santiago in
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FAQ: tourist tax in Italy When you are travelling the Via Francigena in Italy, you will find in some cities and historic towns you will have to pay a local tourist tax, what is called ‘Tassa di soggiorno’. This local tax is collected by hotels on behalf of the local authorities and they are charged
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FAQ: Types of Via Francigena Accommodation There are various types of accommodation available when walking the route from Canterbury to Rome. You will find a mixture of luxurious hotels, rustic hotels and agriturismo (farmhouses) along the way. Due to the long distance that the route covers we won’t be covering every style of accommodation but
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CaminoWays.com awarded Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2015 The entire CaminoWays.com team is delighted to receive the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence again this year! On behalf of the team, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our fantastic clients: many of you have been travelling with CaminoWays.com for many years, you have
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History of the Via Francigena The history of the Via Francigena pilgrim route dates back to the Middle Ages. The full Via Francigena pilgrimage is from Canterbury to Rome, covering 1,700 km, passing through France and Switzerland along the way. The pilgrimage from northern Europe to Rome was first illustrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in
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The Great Camino Clean Up CaminoWays.com is supporting The Great Camino Clean Up this summer. Canadian environmental organisation ‘A Greener Future’ will travel the Portuguese Way for three weeks. To continue our efforts in support of eco-friendly travel, we have developed a special fund for responsible travel and inspirational projects. The Green Life Fund is
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Camino Culture: Casas de Indianos When you are walking the Camino del Norte (the Northern Way route of the Camino de Santiago) you will often encounter magnificent period houses with very unique and exotic styles. They are known locally as ‘Casas de Indianos’ and they were built by locals who emigrated to America or ‘made the
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What is the best time to walk the Via Francigena? The Via Francigena, or Camino to Rome, is a 1900km-long pilgrimage route crossing most of Europe from the UK to Italy, therefore weather will vary greatly from North to South throughout the year. So what is the best time to walk the Via Francigena? While
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Francis Brennan walks the walk for Cappagh Hospital Cappagh Hospital Foundation’s patron, Francis Brennan, got in a bit of hill walking at the launch of the ‘Camino for Cappagh’. The fundraising walk will take place from October 10th to 17th and will cover the last 115km of the spectacular Portuguese Coastal Way route of the
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Following the Yellow Arrows to Santiago The name of Don Elías Valiña Sampedro might not ring any bells but you will certainly recognise his most ‘famous’ creation: the yellow arrow pointing the way along the Camino de Santiago. Don Elías (1929-1989) was the parish priest in O Cebreiro in Lugo and studied the history of the St James
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