First Stages of the Camino

This route is the starting point of the Camino Frances. It begins in France at the town of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and finishes in Pamplona, the town famous for its ‘Running of the Bulls’ festival in San Fermin each July, described by Ernest Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises. At first, it follows the Route de Napoleon over the Roncesvalles Pass (at an elevation of 1,500m) into the Basque country, and then crosses into more gentle terrain in the great region of Navarra.

This first section from Porto to Oia takes you along the Portuguese coastline past beaches, on boardwalks and provides you with some spectacular ocean views. It honours historical figures, – including the city’s native son and one of the patrons of Portuguese exploration, Henry the Navigator! Explore the compact historic centre with its many cafes, ornate religious buildings and narrow shopping streets. Then why not take the funicular up to the Santuário de Santa Luzia for a panoramic view over Viana de Castelo and its surrounding beaches and forested hills.

The first section of the Camino Portugues starts in the capital city of Portugal, Lisbon, and heads north to reach Santarem and its magnificent scenic views over the area. After the urban surrounds at the beginning of the route, the route heads towards a rich agricultural area, often considered as ‘the garden of Portugal’. On this leg, the Camino also coincides with the famous Caminho de Fatima and mainly follows the Tejo River valley. The flat landscape of the area makes it doable for anybody with an average level of fitness.

This first section of the Camino del Norte takes you from the city of San Sebastian to the city of Bilbao. San Sebastian makes a wonderful starting point for the Camino del Norte. Located on the Bay of Biscay in the mountainous Basque Country, San Sebastian is known for its beaches and waterfront promenade. Here you can enjoy world-renowned cuisine as well as the more informal dining experience of pintxos and wine pairings. This route will take you along the coast’s scenic beaches to Bilbao, the capital of Basque culture.

This explores the first section of the Camino Primitivo, or Original Way. Here, you embark from the capital of the Asturias province, Oviedo, and cross the Cantabrian Mountain range. With some steep sections up and down you need to fit for this. But with this great effort comes spectacular views and panoramas over the mountains before descending into the Galician countryside and finishing in the town of Lugo.

This Camino explores the first section of the Camino de Invierno or Winter Way from Ponferrada to Monforte de Lemos. The route begins in Ponferrada and finishes in Monforte de Lemos, traversing initially through the Birezo region of Leon you quickly cross into Galicia and the province of Ourense. Everyday, during your Camino walk, you're guaranteed a high level of comfort and gastronomy. The Camino de Santiago is clearly marked with the scallop shell, showing you the way. This walk can be physically demanding and requires a reasonable level of fitness. However, it's a highly rewarding route that includes numerous cultural highlights and a tremendous feeling of achievement when you receive your Compostela, your Latin certificate of completion, at the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Certificate.

With exceptionally strategic locations to travel on to Santiago de Compostela, the ports of A Coruna and Ferrol were the main two entry points for pilgrims coming by sea from the north. This Camino starts in A Coruna (the ‘glass city’) before passing through O Burgo, Sergude, and Bruma before joining the Camino Ingles (English Way) from Ferrol. This route from A Coruna offers even more quietness than the way from Ferrol - perfect to escape from the crowds of pilgrims in high season and reconnect with yourself and your spiritual side.

Starting from Sevilla, in the heart of the southern province of Andalucia, to Monesteria at the gateway of Extremadura, the ‘Scallop Shells’ lead us north towards Santiago. Heading out from the beautiful city of Sevilla, pilgrims will encounter relics of a past in which Iberian and Islamic culture mixed freely, creating a culture, architectural style, and lifestyle unique across all of Spain.

Starting out surrounded by the Auvergne's green, dormant volcanoes, this first section of the Le Puy Camino runs through undulating landscapes. Passing over the Velay massif and the Gévaudan plateau, pilgrims stop in notable regional towns including Sauges before traversing light woodlands and hillside scrub before reaching Aumont-Aubrac, gateway to the mythic Aubrac high plateau.