There are caminos where the landscape changes every few hours, where villages appear around every bend and where you rarely walk alone for long. The Via de la Plata is different. Leaving Mérida behind, the route continues north through the heart of Extremadura, a region of vast open countryside, ancient towns, Roman remains and long stretches of quiet walking. It is a landscape that invites you to slow down and appreciate the space around you. This section is one of the most

There is something special about beginning a camino in the south of Spain. Perhaps it is the warmth of the Andalusian sun, the whitewashed villages, the scent of orange trees, or the feeling that you are setting off on a journey through centuries of history. Whatever it is, the Via de la Plata offers a very different beginning from the more familiar Camino Francés or Portugués. Starting in Seville, this long-distance pilgrimage route takes you north through Andalusia and into

One of the first questions people ask when planning their Camino de Santiago is: “Where do you actually sleep?” And the answer is: there are quite a few options. You can sleep in a traditional pilgrim albergue, share a dormitory with people you met only a few hours earlier, book a private room in a small hostel, stay in a rural house surrounded by countryside, or treat yourself to a comfortable hotel after a particularly demanding day. There are even campsites and more unusua

There is something beautiful about walking the camino in autumn or winter. Misty mornings, colourful forests, quiet villages and dramatic skies can make the journey feel completely different from the busy summer months. But let's be honest: walking several hours in cold rain is not always romantic. Your jacket gets wet, your trousers collect mud, your feet start feeling cold, and suddenly that cosy café at the end of the stage becomes the most wonderful place in the world. If

The autumn and winter Camino can be a completely different experience from walking in spring or summer. The busy paths become quieter, the landscapes change colour, the mornings are crisp, and the familiar Camino rhythm takes on a slower, more reflective feeling. But walking the Camino outside the main season also comes with a few challenges. Shorter days, rain, cold temperatures, muddy trails and limited accommodation can make your journey more demanding than you might expec

There is something wonderfully romantic about the idea of carrying everything you need on your back. Your clothes, water, toiletries, a little notebook, your whole camino life. But then you actually put the backpack on, and walk. And maybe suddenly you understand why people ask: “Can I send my luggage ahead?” Yes, you can. And for some pilgrims, luggage transfer can completely change the experience. What is camino luggage transfer? The basic idea is simple. You leave your lar

There are many ways to walk to Santiago. You can follow the traditional Camino Portugués, stay close to the coast, or choose a quieter alternative through the green landscapes of Galicia. About the way from Pontevedra to Santiago on the central you can read here. After Pontevedra, there is another possibility. The Spiritual Variant of the Camino Portugués, or Variante Espiritual, takes pilgrims through traditional villages, vineyards, forests and monasteries before reaching t

Welcome back to the Portugues central camino series, you can find the blogpost about the first part from Lisbon to Coimbra here. Now let's find out how the journey goes on up until Tui, where you cross the Spanish border and enter beautiful Galicia, and join with the coastal route. Coimbra to Sernadelo: towards wine country Leaving Coimbra, the route heads north towards Sernadelo. The landscape continues to change. One of the things I love about walking from Lisbon to Porto i

When most people imagine the Portuguese Camino, they picture the Atlantic Ocean. Long wooden boardwalk, sandy beaches, fishing villages, the sound of waves. But there is another Portuguese Camino. One that begins in the heart of Lisbon and takes you north through vineyards, farmland, historic towns, quiet villages and ancient pilgrimage landscapes before finally arriving in Santiago. This is the Camino Portugués Central. And if you are looking for a quieter, more inland Camin

At some point, the Camino changes. Perhaps you notice it when you cross the River Miño. Perhaps it happens when the Portuguese language slowly gives way to Galician and Spanish. Or perhaps you only realise it a few days later, when you look back and understand that the beginning of the journey feels surprisingly far away. The second half of the Camino Portugués Coastal begins in Galicia, in the area of A Guarda, and continues along the coast through Oia, Baiona and Vigo befor

The Portugués Camino became the most popular route in 2026, and there's a good reason for it. Many people feel that the Frances might be overcrowded and also this one is shorter, but long enough to feel the distance, and get your the real camino feeling. Also the views of the ocean are attractive to many, which I can totally understand. There is something special about beginning a Camino in Porto. Maybe it is the sound of the city waking up. Maybe it is the smell of coffee an

If you are thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago in summer, you are probably imagining sunny days, beautiful landscapes, charming Spanish villages, and unforgettable sunrises. And honestly? Summer on the Camino can be all of that. But there is one important thing you need to prepare for: the heat. Walking the Camino in July or August can be wonderful, but it can also be physically demanding. High temperatures affect your energy levels, hydration, pace, and overall com

Sarria is the starting point of the last 100 km, although to be precise, it is 114 km. As incredible as it may seem, the stone marking the 100 km has been moved several times, and is currently in the Pena area after Ferreiros. There is also a huge 100 stamp in the courtyard of a house there. At the end of the section, after beautiful forests, we arrive in Portomarin, a special small town where 2,500 accommodation units are available and only 450 inhabitants live here. This sh

At the end of the previous part, my journey took me all the way to Sahagún . Arriving in the town, I was greeted by a graffiti on one of the first houses, a scene from the famous Caminos movie. A sign in the town's main square indicates that we have reached half of the entire route, from here there is less ahead of us than behind us. As I learned from two of my lovely Spanish travel companions, there is a hill to the left of the square with a monastery on top. The building is

I was surprised in the last year how many people told me: I came on this route because ChatGPT suggested it to me based upon the amount of time and budget or any requirements I had I planned the whole route with AI, and booked accommodations upon it's recommendation. Planning a Camino used to involve guidebooks, forums, and long evenings comparing routes on maps. Today, many pilgrims open a laptop, type a few questions, and suddenly have a full itinerary, packing list, and ph

hardships of travelling solo, especially on a camino

When preparing for the Camino, after the questions of what shoes and backpack to buy, what goes in the backpack is the next most important thing. I actually think this would come before the other two, but I would definitely put it before choosing a backpack. Why? Because you will only know exactly how big a backpack you need once you have what you are going to bring with you. This causes a lot of anxiety the first time. What if I pack too much and it will be difficult to carr

Arriving in Logrono , you are greeted by a real big city atmosphere, statues, churches, colorful graffitis on buildings, and after the quiet countryside, lots of people. Here the orientation is not so simple and clear, arrows are sometimes painted on the edge of the sidewalks, sometimes on electricity poles, you have to be on your toes to find them all. Tip: in big cities, it's worth using a map, app or gpx file to find your way around, because it's easy to get lost. The sign

The Camino de Santiago is more than a walking route. It’s a living community built on kindness, respect, and shared effort. While there are very few official rules, there is a strong Camino etiquette that helps preserve the spirit of the trail for everyone. Whether it’s your first Camino or your fifth, understanding these unspoken guidelines can make your journey smoother and more meaningful. Etiquette on the trail Respect different walking styles: some pilgrims walk fast, ot

Everyone who has two working legs walks. The lazier ones from the bed to the fridge, the ordinary people to school, work, to meet friends, the more active ones to do sports. And then there are the "camino" type... Those who set out into the world, go alone, go with company, in rain, in sunshine, morning and evening, because the road awaits. This is not an ordinary walk, yet it is simple. One foot in front of the other... But why is walking good anyway? The development of phys