With many options — there are more than 14 well-known routes — picking the right Camino for you and your group can feel overwhelming. In order to make your decision a bit easier, we present you with the first of our three-part “Choosing My Camino” series, where we give our expert insights into which Camino route you should embark on based on your personal interests.

Fitness Enthusiasts

Top Choice

If you’re in good shape and want your Camino to be challenging, the Primitive Way is for you. Although this passage is considered the original Camino route and has been traveled since the 9th century, its physical difficulty prevents its popularity among the casual pilgrims of this day and age — only around 16,000 or 4.4% of pilgrims walk it each year. This route’s terrain is pretty rugged and most of its paths are unpaved and have cobbled or lose surfaces. During a demanding first section between Oviedo and Lugo, you’ll have to go through a sparsely populated mountain range 1,100m above sea level to descend into Galicia's mountainous hilly countryside. Going through this testing route is worth it: the athletic challenges of the Original Way are well rewarded with beautiful views and wild landscapes.

Plan B

Are you a distance person? Test your body’s endurance by walking the full length of the French Way from Saint Jean Pied de Port and the Northern Way from Irún: with an approximate distance of 800 km, these are the two longest routes of the Camino network.

A Pilgrim’s Experience

“As an avid hiker, I wanted to face some kind of physical challenge on my Camino, but boy was I caught off-guard while walking the Pola de Allanade - La Mesa stage of the Primitive Way. The continuous 8 km steep climb from the banks of the Nisón River up to Puerto del Palo was one of the hardest ascents I faced, but the climb rewarded me with some spectacular views of the Lugo mountains and its green valley. For me, the Camino is a bit like life itself, the biggest satisfactions it offers come from overcoming the daily challenges that surprise you along the way.” - Alberto

Foodies

Top Choice

Spanish gastronomy is known globally as one of the richest in the world, so no matter what Camino route you choose you can be sure you’ll find many delicious local dishes to try. Nevertheless, the Northern Way stands out as a “foodie” favorite thanks to the culinary traditions of the northern Spanish regions such as the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. Due to its proximity to the sea, there’s an abundance of fresh seafood throughout most stages of this route. Oysters with white albariño wine, polbo á feira (Galician style octopus), pil pil Cod or a shellfish platter of grilled navajas (razor shell), zamburiñas (variegated scallop), percebes (gooseneck barnacle), nécoras (velvet crab) and vieiras (scallops) are the best reward after a long day of walking. The Spanish north is also famous for its traditional preservation methods, producing some of the most coveted canned delicacies in the world such as the Galician mussels, Cantabrian anchovies, and the Basque bonito del norte (longfin tuna). If you’re looking for the most luxurious award-winning meals in Spain, five of the country’s eleven Michelin 3-star restaurants are located near the Northern Way route: Martín Berasategui (Lasarte-Oria, Guipúzcoa), Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Vizcaya), Arzak (San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa), Akelarre (San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa), and Cenador de Amós (Villaverde de Pontones, Cantabria)

Plan B

Being the most popular route, the French Way also offers the widest variety of gourmet experiences and you’ll only have to slightly deviate from your route to find several restaurants featured in the prestigious Michelin Guide. Molino de Urdániz (near Roncesvalles), Restaurante Europa (Pamplona), Rodero (Pamplona), Cocinandos (León), El Capricho (near Astorga), La Lobita (Navaleno) and Casa Marcelo (Santiago de Compostela) are just some of the high-quality options that will surely indulge the rich palate of any food lover.

A Pilgrim’s Experience

“I’m a massive fan of white wine and seafood, so it’s no surprise that the highlight of my Camino was enjoying a cold bottle of albariño and a dozen fresh Galician oysters to celebrate the end of my journey in Finisterre. During one of my long walks through Galicia where I felt particularly tired, I hyped myself up picturing the delicious pulpo a la gallega and the almendrados that would be waiting for me when I arrived in Melide. Thanks to the recommendations given by our Camino Sherpa, I was able to explore a vast variety of local dishes in restaurants that perfectly fit my cravings and budget: one day I enjoyed an empanada gallega at a small traditional taberna and the next I sat down in a gourmet restaurant and ate the most delicious chuletón I’ve ever tasted.” - Maria Carlota

Sea Lovers

Top Choice

If you favor beaches over mountains, the coastal route of the Portuguese Way is your best bet. Starting in Oporto and running parallel to the Galician Atlantic coast, it boasts beautiful maritime landscapes and picturesque coastal villages before joining the Central Route in the Galician town of Redondela. During this route you’ll be able to taste a rich seafood-based gastronomy — bacalhau (cod), sardinha assada (grilled sardine), and rissóis (shrimp turnovers) — and take a swim in blue flag beaches such as Playa América (Nigrán), Paria do Codesal (Pontevedra) or Praia de Loira (Marín). You can extend your beachy Camino after arriving in Santiago by walking the epilogue route of Finisterre and Muxía, where you’ll enjoy scenic views of coastal cliffs and the lovely white sand Praia Da Langosteira (Finisterre).

Plan B

Fancy exploring the marvels of the Cantabrian Coast? From the 34 stages of the Northern Way, only 12 run away from the sea. On this route, you’ll walk along the coast of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. Remember that in the Sebrayo-Gijón stage you’ll have the option to deviate inland towards Oviedo and join the Camino Primitivo. If you want to keep enjoying the sea, keep following the coast all the way to Ribadeo. Playa de La Concha (San Sebastián), Playa de Zarauz (Guipúzcoa), Playa de Andrín (Llanes), Playa de San Lorenzo (Gijón) and Playa de las Catedrales (Ribadeo) are some of the most precious seaside gems of the Spanish north.

A Pilgrim’s Experience

“This year I decided to walk el Camino del Norte, my 4th Camino, and it quickly became my favorite route. Walking barefoot through beaches and soaking my aching feet in the cool waters of the sea were small pleasures that made this pilgrimage an unforgettable experience. I was pleasantly surprised by the village of Castro Urdiales, where I stumbled upon the clear waters of the beautiful natural pool of El Pedregal. The constant presence of water throughout my journey provided impressive vistas and refreshing energy that supported me throughout my Camino.” - Domingo

Remember that we at Bukitt Camino are here to make your pilgrim experience memorable and comfortable! If you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to contact our Camino Sherpas via email, fill out our website form, or drop us a message on social media. For more tips, recommendations, guides, and all things Camino follow us on our Instagram and share your pilgrim adventures with #AllCaminosLeadToSantiago and #YourCaminoIsOurCamino. We hope to see you on The Way soon but in the meantime…Ultreia et suseia! Buen Camino!