Walking Camino de Santiago is one of those must-have experiences in Spain that should be on everyone’s bucket list. That being the case, I decided to write a comprehensive overview of the most important facts about Camino de Santiago to help and encourage people who are planning to embark on their Camino journeys. In this ultimate guide to Camino to Santiago you will find out: what Camino de Santiago is where Camino de Santiago is who Saint James was where Camino de Santiago starts where Camino de Santiago ends the most popular Camino routes the best Camino route the best Camino app What pilgrims’ passport is what Compostela is what Botafumeiro is and when to see it what a Jacobean Year is and how to get a plenary indulgence what to pack for Camino de Santiago the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago Camino de Santiago costs

What is the Way of St James? Camino de Santiago is a network of routes across Europe leading to the tomb of St James the Apostle in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in the Galicia region in northwest Spain. The Way of St James was originally an ancient Christian pilgrimage route. Over time, it became one of the most popular long-distance walking and hiking routes in the world overall.  In addition, UNESCO recognized the importance and universal value of the Camino and declared the Camino a World Heritage Site. To conclude, the Camino de Santiago is a famous pilgrimage, long-distance trekking, and hiking trail of enormous cultural significance.  WHO WAS ST JAMES?  St James the Apostle, or Santiago in Spanish, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. St James is the saint patron of Spain. St James, the Apostle (also called St James the Greater), was a brother of St John the Apostle and one of the most devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. St James the Apostle and his brother St John the Apostle were among the first disciples of Jesus Christ.  They were fishermen along with Peter and Andrew on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus Christ asked them to follow Him and to become ‘fishermen of men’.

St James the Apostle was one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ. St James the Apostle witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor and the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Saint James spread Christianity on the Iberian peninsula for almost forty years in the first years of the new era. 

His remains are in a tomb in the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

St James, or Santiago, is the saint patron of Spain. 

The feast day of St James is July 25. 

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA 

Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago are the three most important Christian pilgrimage sites.

Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage routes (along with Via Francigena to Rome and pilgrimage to Jerusalem).

Remains of St James were miraculously found on the shores of the Galician coast in Spain and were buried in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. His remains rest in a tomb in Santiago Cathedral.

The Way of St James has been one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage routes for over 1000 years.

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO ROUTES

There is no single Camino de Santiago route. The Way of St James is a network of routes.  All Camino routes lead to the same place – the tomb of St James the Apostle (St James the Greater) in the Cathedral of Santiago in Spain.  Camino Frances (the French Way) Camino Portugues Central (the Central Portuguese Way) Camino Portugues da Costa (the Coastal Portugues Way) Camino del Norte (the Northern Way) Camino Primitivo (the Original Way) Camino Ingles (the English Way)  Camino Via de La Plata (the Silver Way)  Caminos Mozarabe starts in Almeria, Malaga, and Jean (the Mozarabic Ways) Camino Sanabres (the Sanabres Way)  Camino Invienro (the Winter Way)

WHERE DOES THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO START? Since Camino de Santiago refers to various routes, it starts in different places depending on the Camino route.  The starting points of the most popular Camino routes are: Camino Frances starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Basque Country, France (French Basque Country)  Camino Portugues Central starts in Lisbon Portugal  Camino Portugues da Costa starts in Porto in Portugal  Camino del Norte starts in Irun in the Basque Country, Spain (Spanish Basque Country) Camino Primitivo starts in Ovideo in Asturias, Spain  Camino Ingles starts in Ferrol in Galicia, Spain  Camino Via de La Plata starts in Seville in Andalusia, Spain  Camino Mozarabe starts in Almeria, Malaga and Jean in Andalusia, Spain  Camino Sanabres starts in Ourense in Galicia, Spain  Camino Invierno starts in Ponferrada in Castilla and Leon, Spain 

DOES THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO END?