Stories
From the trail
Practical writing, food, culture, and the small moments that make a Camino. New posts every few weeks.
Complete Guide to the Camino Francés (Stages, Towns, Tips)
Everything you need to plan the most popular Camino: 33 stages from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago, with town stops, distances, and honest tips.
18 min read
Camino Portugués vs Camino Francés: Which One Should You Choose?
A side-by-side comparison of the two most popular Caminos — distance, scenery, crowds, food, and which one suits which kind of pilgrim.
10 min readBest Time of Year to Walk the Camino de Santiago
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, albergue availability, and what to expect when on the Francés, Portugués, and Norte.
8 min read
How Long Does It Take to Walk the Camino? (Route Breakdown)
Realistic timelines for every major Camino route, with daily distance averages and tips for fitting it into a working life.
7 min readWhat It Costs to Walk the Camino de Santiago (Full Budget Guide)
A real, line-by-line budget for the Camino — from albergue beds to pilgrim menus, gear, transport, and the things that surprise people.
9 min readUltimate Camino Packing List (What I Brought vs What I Needed)
An honest, weighed-out packing list from someone who has walked three Caminos — what made the cut, what got mailed home, and what I'll never carry again.
12 min readBest Shoes for Walking the Camino de Santiago (2026 Guide)
Trail runners, hiking shoes, or boots? An honest review of the most common Camino footwear, with picks for wide feet, hot weather, and the rainy Norte.
11 min readBackpacking the Camino with No Gear: What I Learned the Hard Way
When my luggage didn't arrive in Bilbao, I started the Camino del Norte with the clothes on my back. Here's what I bought, what I borrowed, and what I'd do differently.
8 min readTop 10 Must-Have Items for the Camino (And What to Skip)
The ten things I'd never walk a Camino without — and the popular gear I now leave at home.
7 min readHow to Prevent Blisters on the Camino (Real Tips from the Trail)
Blisters end more Caminos than weather, illness, or homesickness combined. Here's how to keep your feet on the trail.
9 min readTop 10 Places to Eat in San Sebastián (Camino del Norte)
The Basque pintxos capital of the world, walked through on day 2 of the Norte. Where to eat — and what to order — when you only have one night.
9 min readWhat to Eat on the Camino de Santiago (Regional Food Guide)
From Basque pintxos to Galician pulpo, the Camino is a tour of Spain's regional cooking. Here's what to order in each region you walk through.
12 min read
Best Restaurants in León for Pilgrims
Where to find the best cecina, morcilla, and free tapas in the Barrio Húmedo and beyond.
8 min read
Where to Eat in Santiago de Compostela After Finishing the Camino
You've made it. Now eat. The best Galician seafood, octopus, and wine in Santiago — including the spots most pilgrims miss.
8 min readTop Tapas Stops Along the Camino Francés
From Pamplona's Calle Estafeta to León's Barrio Húmedo, here are the towns where you should plan your dinner around tapas — and where they're free with a drink.
7 min readBest Towns on the Camino Francés You Shouldn't Skip
The eight towns on the Francés that deserve more than a passing night — for their food, their beauty, or the quiet magic they hold.
10 min readLlanes Travel Guide (Camino del Norte Coastal Gem)
A medieval Asturian fishing town, dramatic cliffs, and one of the best beach detours on the entire Norte.
8 min readWhat to See in Burgos on the Camino
Stage 12 of the Francés ends at one of Spain's great Gothic cathedrals. Here's how to spend the afternoon — and why you should consider a rest day.
7 min readHidden Gems Along the Camino Portugués
The towns and detours most pilgrims walk past — and shouldn't. Five quiet stops that make the Portugués richer.
8 min readSan Sebastián to Bilbao: What to Expect on the Camino del Norte
The first week of the Norte takes you through Basque fishing villages, surfer towns, and dramatic cliffs. Here's what each day actually feels like.
9 min readHow I Accidentally Ended Up Walking the Camino de Santiago
I was in France for a wedding. Two weeks later I was crossing the Pyrenees with a borrowed backpack. Here's how it happened.
7 min readThe Hardest Day on the Camino (Storm Miguel Story)
Twelve hours of horizontal rain on the climb to O Cebreiro. The day I learned what the Camino actually asks of you.
8 min readWhat the Camino Teaches You About Yourself
Walking 800 kilometres with everything you own on your back changes your relationship with time, possessions, and other people. Some honest reflections.
9 min readWhy People Walk the Camino (And What They're Searching For)
Grief, faith, transition, curiosity, escape. The honest, unexpected reasons people give when you ask them on the trail.
8 min readThe Best Day of My Life: Reaching Finisterre
Most pilgrims stop in Santiago. The ones who walk three more days to the Atlantic say it was the real ending. Here's why.
7 min readI Walked the Camino with the Wrong Gear — Here's What Happened
Cotton t-shirts, old running shoes, a 65L pack stuffed with books. The mistakes I made on my first Camino, and what they cost me.
8 min readThings Nobody Tells You About the Camino de Santiago
Bedbugs, snoring, the bizarre social life of an albergue. The unfiltered things you'll wish you'd known before day one.
9 min readIs the Camino Worth It? My Honest Experience
After three Caminos and a lot of conversations on the trail, here's the honest answer: yes, but not for the reasons you'd expect.
9 min readTop 10 Churches to See on the Camino Francés
From the Romanesque jewel of Eunate to the Gothic glass of León, the Francés is a moving cathedral of stone.
9 min readThe Honest Packing List: 7 Things Every Pilgrim Forgets
After three Caminos, here is the gear I would never leave home without — and the things I now refuse to carry.
11 min readThe Complete History of the Camino de Santiago
From the legend of Saint James and medieval pilgrimage routes to the modern revival — a thousand-year story behind the Way of Saint James.
14 min readWho Was Saint James and Why Is He Connected to Santiago?
Learn who Saint James was, why he is connected to Santiago de Compostela, and how his legend became the foundation of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
12 min readWhy Is Santiago de Compostela Important?
Discover why Santiago de Compostela is important, from the legend of Saint James and its medieval pilgrimage history to its role as the final destination of the Camino de Santiago.
11 min readThe Discovery of Saint James' Tomb
Learn the story behind the discovery of Saint James' tomb in Santiago de Compostela and how this legend became the foundation of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
12 min readHow the Camino de Santiago Became One of Europe's Great Pilgrimages
Discover how the Camino de Santiago grew from a local shrine in Galicia into one of medieval Europe's greatest pilgrimage routes.
14 min readThe Medieval Pilgrim Experience on the Camino de Santiago
Discover what life was like for medieval pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, from dangerous roads and simple shelters to faith, hardship, and hospitality.
13 min readThe Role of Monasteries and Churches Along the Camino de Santiago
Explore the role of monasteries and churches along the Camino de Santiago and how they supported pilgrims through shelter, prayer, hospitality, and history.
12 min readThe Codex Calixtinus: The First Camino Guidebook?
Learn about the Codex Calixtinus, the 12th-century manuscript often called the first Camino guidebook, and its importance in the history of the Camino de Santiago.
12 min readWhy Do Pilgrims Carry a Scallop Shell on the Camino de Santiago?
Discover the meaning of the Camino scallop shell, why pilgrims carry it, and how it became one of the most powerful symbols of the Camino de Santiago.
10 min readThe Meaning of the Yellow Arrows on the Camino de Santiago
Discover the meaning of the yellow arrows on the Camino de Santiago, where they came from, and why they have become one of the most beloved symbols of The Way.
9 min readThe History of the Camino Francés
Discover the history of the Camino Francés, the most famous route of the Camino de Santiago, from its medieval origins to its modern revival.
13 min readThe History of the Camino Portugués
Discover the history of the Camino Portugués, one of the most important routes to Santiago de Compostela, from medieval Portuguese pilgrims to the modern Portuguese Way.
12 min readThe History of the Camino del Norte
Discover the history of the Camino del Norte, the Northern Way to Santiago de Compostela, from early coastal pilgrimage routes to its modern revival.
12 min readThe History of the Camino Primitivo
Discover the history of the Camino Primitivo, the Original Way to Santiago de Compostela, from King Alfonso II's early pilgrimage to its modern revival.
12 min readThe History of the Camino Inglés
Discover the history of the Camino Inglés, the English Way to Santiago de Compostela, used by medieval pilgrims arriving by sea from England, Ireland, and northern Europe.
12 min readWhy Did Pilgrims Walk to Finisterre?
Discover why pilgrims walked from Santiago to Finisterre, the "end of the world," and how this Atlantic extension became one of the most meaningful parts of the Camino.
11 min readThe Templar Knights and the Camino de Santiago
Explore the connection between the Knights Templar and the Camino de Santiago, including medieval protection, castles, legends, and the Templar presence along the Way.
12 min readThe Camino During the Reconquista
Explore the history of the Camino de Santiago during the Reconquista and how pilgrimage, politics, faith, and medieval Spain shaped the Way of Saint James.
13 min readHow the Camino Shaped Towns Across Northern Spain
Discover how the Camino de Santiago shaped towns across northern Spain through pilgrimage, trade, churches, hospitals, markets, and medieval hospitality.
13 min readThe History of Pilgrim Hospitals on the Camino de Santiago
Discover the history of pilgrim hospitals on the Camino de Santiago and how medieval hospitality, shelter, food, and care helped pilgrims survive the journey to Santiago.
13 min readThe Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: History and Meaning
Discover the history and meaning of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the spiritual heart of the Camino and the traditional resting place of Saint James.
13 min readThe Botafumeiro: History of Santiago Cathedral's Giant Incense Burner
Discover the history of the Botafumeiro, the giant incense burner of Santiago Cathedral, and why it has become one of the most famous traditions of the Camino de Santiago.
12 min readHow the Camino de Santiago Declined and Was Revived
Discover how the Camino de Santiago declined after the Middle Ages and how it was revived into one of the world's most famous pilgrimage routes today.
13 min readThe Camino de Santiago in Modern Times
Explore the Camino de Santiago in modern times and how an ancient pilgrimage became a global journey of faith, adventure, healing, culture, and self-discovery.
13 min readWhy the Camino de Santiago Still Matters Today
Discover why the Camino de Santiago still matters today and why this ancient pilgrimage continues to attract modern walkers seeking meaning, healing, adventure, and connection.
13 min readWhat I Wore on the Camino de Santiago (And What I'd Do Differently)
I walked 800km across Spain in Adidas running shoes and gym shorts. Here's exactly what I wore on the Camino de Santiago — and the gear I'd actually recommend instead.
9 min read