“Once you’ve walked, more will follow.”
Lotus Eaters Travel
The CAMINO DE SANTIAGO is undoubtedly one of the most famous walks and pilgrimages in the world. With all routes advancing on Santiago de Compostela in Spain’s north west area of Galicia.
OUR CAMINO STORY
In the high summer of 2022, we landed at Biarritz airport ready to walk our very first Camino – the Norte. 800km lay ahead of us, and I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a few nerves.
I’d also be lying if I said our first Camino was idyllic.
Sure, there were hot, hazy days that seemed to stretch on forever, just like the road ahead of us. There were views and encounters that left us in awe. And warm nights filled with wine and conversations with newfound friends. But there were also dreadfully hard moments – injuries, the wrong footwear, packing blunders, and more than a few teething problems as we adjusted to shared accommodation, constant socialising, and walking together as a couple.
That said, the experience was incredibly special to us. So much so that, since then, we’ve walked thousands of kilometres across Europe – so many that we’ve honestly lost count. We’ve tackled the most popular Camino routes, as well as some you may never have heard of, and lots of other routes in Europe too.
I’ve often thought about why we keep coming back to the Camino, and it’s surprisingly hard to articulate (although I’ve tried to here). Really, it comes down to one simple thing: the Camino is magic.
Since creating Lotus Eaters Travel in 2022, one of our core missions has been to write about the Camino de Santiago. Because if we can inspire even one person to walk it, then it all feels worthwhile.
This page is a bit of a labour of love. You’ll find detailed guides to every route we’ve walked, along with extensive information on training, packing, and preparing. There are also a few sprinkles of fun along the way – ideal for anyone who wants to make their Camino a little bit “extra.”
Please browse at your leisure, and feel free to get in touch if you can’t find what you need – or if you just need a little pep talk.
I’ve also written a book – available on Amazon – which distils much of this information into one handy paperback.
Our Camino de Santiago CV:
- July ’22: Camino del Norte
- Oct’ ’22: Camino Portuguese Central
- Oct’ ’22: Camino Finisterre
- April ’23: English Camino
- September ’23: Camino Frances
- March ’24: Camino Frances II
- April ’24: Camino Portuguese Coastal
- April ’25: Camino Mozarabe
- August ’25: Camino Primitivo
- September ’25: Camino Sanabres
- March ’26: Via de la Plata
A FEW REFLECTIONS ON THE CAMINO
Before jumping into the more informative guides, you may want to take a look at some of our general musings on the Camino de Santiago.
FIRST TIME WALKING: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you’re setting out to walk the Camino for the first time – first of all, congratulations. It’s a wonderful decision, and one I hope you’ll never regret for a moment.
Starting the Camino can feel a little overwhelming at first. Suddenly, you’re stepping into a whole new world, complete with unfamiliar words (albergue… what exactly is that?), endless route options, and plenty of decisions to make.
Which Camino should you choose?
How many kilometres a day feels realistic?
Do you book ahead, or stay flexible?
And then there’s the packing – which quickly becomes a “thing” all of its own. Add training plans, walking shoes, backpacks, and all the pre-trip preparation, and it can feel like the journey begins long before you actually take your first step.
The good news? You do not need to have everything perfectly figured out before you start. Every experienced pilgrim was once a first-timer too, and most people learn as they go. The Camino has a way of teaching you what you really need – and what you can let go of.
For anyone setting out to walk the Camino for the first time – firstly, a huge congratulations on your decision – I hope that you won’t regret it for a moment.
That said, after walking more than 10 Camino routes, I’ve spent years trying to distil the information that truly matters – the things that are genuinely helpful when you’re preparing for your first walk. On this page, you’ll find links to everything from packing lists, training tips, and preparation guides, to route advice for some of the most popular Caminos. You can also find our guide to the 26 things you can do to prepare for your first Camino de Santiago here.
But when it really comes down to it, the Camino is much simpler than it first appears. You don’t need to have every detail perfectly planned. You just need to book the flight, choose a route, and start walking.
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO ROUTE GUIDES
Below, you can find detailed guides for each of the Camino routes that we’ve walked. On each page, you’ll find information on accommodation, experiences on route and daily stages.
CAMINO DEL NORTE
All you need to know about this special costal route.
CAMINO FRANCES
All you need to know about this iconic Camino route.
CAMINO PORTUGUESE
All you need to know about this route, including variants.
CAMINO FINISTERRE
How to walk from Santiago to Finisterre and why you should do it.
CAMINO MOZARABE
A lesser known route in Southern Spain. All you need to know.
CAMINO PRIMITIVO
Is this really the toughest Camino route?
VIA DE LA PLATA
It’s long, it can be flat, but it’s certainly not boring.
CAMINO SANABRES
An alternative route that you may not have considered. The quietest entrance to Santiago.
ENGLISH CAMINO
A Camino in England? Yes! Find out more.
NOT SURE WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE?
You can take our quiz to help you decide which route is best for you.
CAMINO ACCOMMODATION GUIDES
ALBERGUES & HOTELS ON THE CAMINO
Everything you need to know about accommodation – albergues, B&Bs and hotels on different Camino routes.
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE CAMINO
PACKING GUIDES
All our Camino packing guides in one place.
PREPARING FOR THE CAMINO
PREPARING FOR THE CAMINO
Training, cost, picking your route – key things to prepare before your Camino adventure.
WHAT TIME OF YEAR TO WALK THE CAMINO
CAMINO SEASONS
When to walk and what to expect.
FOOD & DRINK ON THE CAMINO
FOOD & DRINK ON THE CAMINO
Our guide to the best food and drink to try on the Camino de Santiago.
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO FAQs
CAMINO FAQs
Any final niggling questions, answered.
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
WHAT TO DO IN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
A detailed guide on what to do and where to stay in Santiago de Compostela.
LOOKING FOR MORE ADVICE ON THE CAMINO?
We have two additional offers to help you prepare for your big Camino adventure.
BOOKS & E-BOOKS
Our popular book, The Camino Survival Guide, will help you prepare for the Camino. We also have a guide specifically for women, written by Emma. For detailed route guidance, we have e-books here.
CAMINO PLANNING SERVICE
We can offer a bespoke daily stages plan for any of the Camino routes. Tailored to your requirements and unique to you.
LATEST CAMINO DE SANTIAGO GUIDES
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