Let’s be honest for a minute – while a lot of pilgrims choose the Camino as a way to challenge themselves, both in a physical and mental way, there’s nothing wrong with choosing the easiest Camino you can find and focus on enjoying your time and your experience. The good news is: the Camino is suitable for everyone and it doesn’t have to be a test AT ALL!
The Camino de Santiago is increasingly popular, and it nowadays attracts thousands of walkers every year. These modern pilgrims are not homogenous in any way: there are people under 20 as well as over 70, both men and women and with a full range of capacities and abilities. How is that possible? With a variety of routes to choose from, ranging in difficulty and length, the truth is that there’s a Camino route for everyone.
That being said, training will be a massive benefit to you during the journey and will also reduce the chances of injury. While there’s no set Camino training plan required to walk the Way, any workout before your departure date will help your Camino feel easier.
If you’re new to the Camino and looking for an easier option, consider one of these routes:
- The Camino Frances: The Camino Frances is the most popular route and is well-marked with plenty of infrastructure. The route starts in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, and stretches 780 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. While the distance may seem daunting, the Camino Frances offers a range of accommodations and services, making it an accessible route for walkers of all ages and abilities.
- The Camino Portugues: The Camino Portugues starts in Lisbon, Portugal, and covers over 600 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. The route is well-marked and offers a variety of accommodations and services along the way. With its relatively flat terrain, the Camino Portugues is an excellent option for walkers who want a less strenuous route.
- The Camino Ingles: The Camino Ingles is a shorter route, starting in either Ferrol or A Coruna and stretching over 100 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. The route is well-marked and offers a variety of accommodations and services, making it an easy option for walkers who are short on time.
- The Camino del Norte: The Camino del Norte is a beautiful route that starts in Irun and stretches over 800 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. The route is known for its stunning coastal scenery and offers a range of accommodations and services along the way. While it may be more challenging than some of the other routes, the Camino del Norte is still accessible to walkers of all abilities.
Keep in mind that we can always modify these routes and adapt them to your needs. After all, your easiest Camino and someone else’s might look completely different! Reach out and let us know your concerns – we’ll be happy to help!
If you’re still hesitating, maybe you should consider our guided group tours. Not only are they a great way to meet like-minded people and forget about some planning and organization details – they can be really useful when you doubt your capacities since you’ll always have someone taking good care of you!
Does This Inspire You?
Walking the Camino is not difficult. Whether it is warmer, or colder, a rainy week or hopefully a perfect week – you will be fine as long as you plan and make decisions adapted to your wants and needs.
Get in touch with us if you have specific questions about the routes or the different stages! We can help you plan a Camino walking holiday that suits you and your fitness level.