Camino de Santiago main routes and Spiritual Variant in Galicia

The Camino de Santiago offers a unique invitation to connect with the landscape, with history, and, for those who wish, with the deep symbolism of a singular route. In Galicia Original, with the blog Camino de Santiago main routes and Spiritual Variant in Galicia, we help you choose the Camino that resonates best with you —whether it’s the classic Camino Francés, the Portuguese, the Northern, the Primitivo, the English, the Silver Way… or the beautiful Spiritual Variant of the Portuguese— in a personalized, safe, and authentic way. 

1. Camino Francés

• Approximate length: ~780 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago.

• Duration: usually completed in about 30-35 full days, although many do it in stages.

• Difficulty: moderate; there are flat stages but also mountainous ones, especially at the beginning in the Pyrenees and as you enter Galicia.

• Landscapes and features: crosses Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y León, Galicia. Vineyards, plateaus, Galician forests, historic towns. Good number of hostels, frequent services.

2. English Way

• Approximate length: ~120-130 km from Ferrol, there is also a variant from A Coruña.

• Duration: 5-7 days if walking from Ferrol.

• Difficulty: low-moderate, shorter stages, less demanding terrain.

• Landscapes: Galician coast, forests, quiet towns, sea, a more intimate arrival in Santiago.

3. Northern Way

• Length: about 831 km in Spain (from Irún to Santiago), coastal part of the north. 

• Duration: approximately 30-35 days, depending on the pace.

• Difficulty: medium-high. Problems with frequent ups and downs, coastal terrain with elevation changes, especially in the Basque Country and Asturias.

• Landscapes: Cantabrian Sea, cliffs, fishing villages, northern forests, hamlets, continuous green. Great natural appeal, greater solitude in some stages.

4. Primitive Way

• Length: around 320-340 km between Oviedo and Santiago.

• Duration: around 12-14 days.

• Difficulty: high. Mountainous stages, irregular terrain, fewer shelter options compared to the French or Portuguese routes, physically demanding.

• Landscapes: Asturias and inland Galicia, mountains, rivers, wild nature, sense of isolation, a lot of authenticity.

5. Winter Way

• Length: With its 263 km connecting Ponferrada with Santiago de Compostela via the Sil River Valley

• Duration: 10 days.

• Difficulty: moderate-high, due to mountainous areas, variable weather conditions, less traveled paths.

• Landscapes: inland Galicia, rivers, lush forests, rural villages, less crowding, tranquility, contact with the authentic.

6. Silver Way

• Length: very extensive, depending on the starting point. From Seville it usually ranges around ~1000-1000+ km towards Santiago.

• Duration: 5 weeks or more, if done in full.

• Difficulty: high in terms of time, logistics, and physical demand, although many stages are flat.

• Landscapes: Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Andalucía, experiencing very different climates, diverse cultures, towns with Roman history, thermal baths, and great contrasts.

7. Portuguese Way

• Length: from Lisbon about ~620 km; from Porto ~240-260 km.

• Duration: from Porto, about 10-14 days; if done in full, several weeks.

• Difficulty: easy-moderate. Better infrastructure than many less-traveled routes; mild climate; coastal or inland routes.

• Landscapes: historic Portuguese cities, vineyards, coastline, charming villages, Portuguese and Galician cuisine.

Do you want to know our version of the Portuguese Way + the Spiritual Variant? Take a look here

8. Spiritual Variant of the Portuguese Way

• Approximate length/section: around 70 km for the variant itself, divided into about 4 stages (one of them maritime-fluvial) from Pontevedra to Santiago, combining sections on foot and a section by boat.

• Highlighted features: includes the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga, the Monastery of Armenteira, coastal towns like Combarro, maritime stage through the Ría de Arousa to Pontecesures, along the Ulla River to Padrón.

• Difficulty: moderate. There are demanding parts, ascents, road sections, wind on the river, the need to coordinate boat schedules. 

• What captivates: symbolism of the maritime/fluvial section, combined landscapes of coast, river, forest, history; lesser crowds, greater sense of intimacy; very beautiful routes like the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga.

Quick comparison table

How to choose your Camino with Galicia Original

To find the Camino that suits you best, we suggest you consider:

• Available time: if you only have a week, perhaps the English or part of the Portuguese are ideal; if you can dedicate 3-4 weeks, complete routes like the French or the Silver Way.

• Physical condition: some routes have long and demanding stages; others are milder.

• Type of landscape that attracts you: coast, mountain, interior, sea, river. Galician or mixed.

• Level of tranquility or influx: some routes are crowded (Frances, some sections of Portuguese), others much more solitary (Primitive, Spiritual Variant).

• Desire for something symbolic or personal: the Spiritual Variant offers special symbolism through the stretch of sea/river and the tradition of the Traslatio; other routes have churches, monasteries, living history.

With Galicia Original you make your Camino a reality

We at Galicia Original accompany you so your experience is authentic and well planned:

• We organize quality accommodations, with charm, respectful of the environment.

• We take care of backpack transportation if needed, bookings, stages, maps, local guides who truly know Galicia.

• We adapt the itinerary to your rhythm, priorities, and taste: you can combine routes or choose variants like the Spiritual Variant if it calls to you.

• We provide personalized advice to prepare you (what to bring, when to go, best times, how to avoid surprises).

Doing the Camino de Santiago can be an exterior and interior adventure, a journey that transforms you. Whether it's the French Way with its history or the Spiritual Variant with its symbolic stretch of sea, each step has the potential to touch something within. The physical goal is Santiago, a beautiful city that welcomes and embraces pilgrims. The spiritual goal is set by you.

Are you excited to explore one of these routes? Get in touch with Galicia Original  and let's design together the Camino you are eager to experience. Buen Camino!

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