The Camino Primitivo is the route of the Camino de Santiago that takes us to the real roots of the pilgrimage. Also called Camino de Oviedo or the interior route of the Camino de Santiago del Norte, is considered to be the first route to Santiago de Compostela, hence the name “Primitivo”.
The Camino Primitivo departs from the steps of Oviedo Cathedral and runs through the interior of the Principality of Asturias. It enters Galicia by Lugo and meets the Camino Frances in Melide, about 55 kilometres from the tomb of Santiago the Apostle.
The route has a distance of 313 km, of which 255 kilometres belong to the Camino Primitivo. The route to Santiago is generally divided into 13 or 14 stages, of approximately 20 or 25 kilometres each one, the last three belonging to the Camino Frances.
Given the historical importance of Oviedo Cathedral on this path, most of the pilgrims who opt for this unfrequented route stop there. Respecting the medieval tradition of visiting the Cathedral in the pilgrimage to the capital of Compostela.
The Camino Primitivo to Santiago is one of the most charming routes of all the available in this adventure. As we will explain later, it has a number of qualities that make it one of the most special adventures that one can live.
Everything is complete: wonderful surroundings, good infrastructure and above all an unparalleled cultural and historical charm.
Why choose the Camino Primitivo de Santiago?
1.- It is the best way to discover the genuine character of the Camino de Santiago. The Camino Primitivo to Santiago contains within itself the very origins of the Camino de Santiago and, therefore, is the best way to discover its historical, cultural and religious nature.
2.-Heritage: The Camino Primitivo to Santiago has a wide historical heritage. For example, it has artistic architectural heritage of such prolific epochs as Romanesque and Gothic. All this is possible to discover it throughout its route.
3.-Infrastructure: The Camino Primitivo is one of the best endowed is in terms of infrastructure. This is complemented from the existing accommodation, correct signalling and, in general, excellent safety.
4.-Landscapes: The Camino Primitivo is surrounded by imposing landscapes laden with beauty that include mountains, cliffs, rivers, forests and, in general, everything that can be expected to enjoy an unforgettable experience.
5.-It is not crowded: The Camino Primitivo is not as crowded as other sections and routes. That allows us to make the most of the whole tour and for those who go on their own have fewer problems to find accommodation. However, for those who go with Santiago Ways, this is not an inconvenience.
The Camino Primitivo is one of the most charming options that can show us the true essence of the Camino de Santiago in general.
Information about the route of the Camino Primitivo
The Camino Primitivo constitutes the very centre of the experience of the Camino de Santiago in general. In fact, the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo is one of the most interesting routes from Oviedo and across the Principality of Asturias to reach Galicia.
In this way, two of the regions with the greatest historical tradition of Spain come together to receive the pilgrims. It hardly has any stretches composed of asphalt, so the landscape has generally been left untouched. That also helps to make it one of the best possible experiences.
Throughout the tour and especially in cities like Oviedo itself, Santiago and other municipalities, we will find a genuine and spectacular heritage.
The Camino Primitivo to Santiago has a length of 371km and is divided into 13 or 14 stages between 20 and 30km each. That some of its stages are shorter is due to their difficulty. And it is that difficulty of the Camino Primitivo which is greater to that of the majority of routes on the way.
In fact, when crossing the terrain in many mountainous sections and, at the same time, they are hardly altered, so our state of fitness may be compromised.
The quietest routes on the Camino Primitivo
We want to talk now about which are the quietest routes on the Camino Primitivo to Santiago. With this, we want you to get an idea of what are the alternativesyou can have with Santiago Ways.
Camino de Santiago from Oviedo
The Camino Primitivo from Oviedo has a distance of 210km that is divided into a total of 10 nights and 11 days. It is one of the hardest stretches of the Camino de Santiago but of incomparable beauty; the experience is really worth it.
With Santiago Ways you will enjoy the best accommodation possible and the option of being able to book breakfast and dinner all year round. It is the first section of the Camino Primitivo and was used by personalities as illustrious as Alfonso II. It starts at the Cathedral of El Salvador, in Oviedo.
Camino de Santiago from Lugo
The alternative of the Camino Primitivo from Lugo runs a total distance of 111km distributed in 7 days and 6 nights. It is possible to book the breakfast-only option or include breakfast and dinner.
In any case, it is also possible to book all year round and be able to stay in the best accommodation with Santiago Ways. It starts in the city of Lugo, of Roman origin, and crosses it 2km of its old town without forgetting its wall, nor the excellent gastronomy to be found in this city.
Route of the Camino Primitivo
The path of the Camino Primitivo from its origin in Oviedoto Santiago de Compostela crosses 3 Spanish provinces: Asturias, Lugo and A Coruña. It is a demanding itinerary, perhaps the hardest of the pilgrim routes that travel through the mainland.
The considerable and frequent climbs, like the dreaded pass of Palo, together with the frequent rains that fall on the regions that it crosses, complicate this path, converted, at times, into a real mud bath. In winter, when snowfalls are common on much of the route, the Camino Primitivo becomes an inhospitable route.
In return, the route gives us many stages where asphalt is totally absent. Enjoyable for the pilgrim who travels by foot and an added inconvenience for those who do it by bicycle. The slopes, weather and the prevailing terrain make it a route not recommended for cyclists.
Unlike other routes of the Camino de Santiago, El Camino Primitivo does not present a multitude of alternatives. Basically, it has two alternatives: the hospital route and Santa Maria de Burón.
The hospital route is the most natural and oldest, as it saves a few kilometres on the route. This variant runs through an inhospitable, but interesting terrain, located above 1,100 metres of altitude, being totally desolate in winter.
The danger of the alternative hospital route, named for the presence of two hospitals that during the Middle Ages gave shelter to the pilgrims who dared to take this path, gave rise to the other variant, the route of Santa Maria de Burón, which runs through the bottom of the valley and has many more towns and services.
The pilgrims who venture to undertake their journey following the Camino Primitivo will enjoy an unpopular but fascinating route. It crosses sparsely populated and little-known mountain areas, where the few residents show great hospitality.
You will be accompanied on your steps through great scenic beauty and the greatest historical legacy of the Camino de Santiago.
Map of the Camino Primitivo of the Camino de Santiago
With the intention of supplying you with all the information possible for the successive stages of the Camino de Santiago and so that you can get an ideaof what you are going to encounter, we enclose the map corresponding to the route of the Camino Primitivo from Lugo and the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo.
Mapa del Camino Primitivo
Profile of the Camino Primitivo
Perfil del Camino Primitivo
We will now talk about the profile of the route, as well as the difficulty of the Camino Primitivo to Santiago. Its criteria are based on the average height of the sections, the distance, length of the stages and the different stages for bicycles of the Camino Primitivo to Santiago. It must be said that the Camino Primitivo has its difficulty to be born in mind.
In particular, on climbs such as the Palo pass or some others where the ground, if not asphalted, can suffer great accumulations of mud. It is well signposted in spite of everything, so in this sense we should not worry. It can be especially tough for cyclists because of the type of terrain and the lack of specific infrastructure such as bicycle lanes.
Infrastructure
Since it is an unfrequented route, there is little to offer related with services (accommodation, catering, specialized bicycle services, doctors, etc.).
Regarding the lodging, there is little accommodation, however, the level of private accommodation is sufficient to cover the demand for this route. For years, some stages have had housing problems, but today the route has a sufficiently large network.
Throughout the entire route, the signalling is enough to keep you from getting lost. However, it should be noted that the part of the road that runs through Asturian soil is better signposted than Galician.
The style of the emblems changes from one community to another. Therefore, on Asturian soil, the round part of the scallop is used to indicate the way, whereas in Galicia rays are used, typical of the routes of the GR.
If you dare to travel on this route, you can contact Santiago Waysand we will take care of all the details of your adventure.
How long does the Camino de Santiago Primitivo take?
As we have said, the Camino Primitivo is divided into two possible sections: The Camino Primitivo from Oviedoand the Camino Primitivo from Lugo. As each one has a different length it must be said that also its duration will be different. In particular, in the case of the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo, the duration will be about 10 nights and 11 days.
In the case of the Camino Primitivo from Lugo, the distance is shortened and also the days necessary to complete it. 6 nights and 7 days will be enough to cover the entire route.
However, although it is best to follow the planning from Santiago Ways in order to benefit from the wonderful accommodations that await us, for it is always possible that we take longer than expected for several reasons.
Among them is the rhythm that we want to take, the climatic conditionsthat could be encountered or, simply, the fact that we want to enjoy more than one particular spot.
The best time to do the Camino Primitivo
In Santiago Ways, we always say that there is actually an ideal time to make the Camino de Santiago in any of its variants if we realize that each person has different tastes.
In fact, each period has its advantages and drawbacks to others. However, some of them provide a beauty that makes the decision a little easier.
Then, and to have all the information possible also in this regard, we will talk about the different times of the year and its greater or lesser possibility to complete the Camino Primitivo.
Spring
Spring is a very good time to complete this route. The temperatures will be mild although there may be two drawbacks: unstable weather and a proliferation of allergies. Therefore, for both cases, we advise you to go well prepared.
In any case, spring will help us enjoy the natural environment of the Camino Primitivo in all its splendour and colour.
Summer
Summer is, by far, the most popular time to do the Camino Primitivo to Santiago for obvious reasons that, above all, have to do with the weather. Besides, it’s when there are more daylight hours.
In many cases, it is the only season that people have time to do it. At the same time, summer is a part of the year when the weather is benign because we are in more northerly latitudes and of course, to do the Camino Primitivo at this time is a great way to escape from the heat in the rest of Spain.
One of the most important handicaps in doing the Camino Primitivo in autumn is the weather instability. Rains may appearmore often which can make the terrain on the Camino Primitivo (much more natural, and in many unpaved sections) become a more difficult experience.
However, with the correct equipment, we can benefit from the wonderful sights that we will enjoy through a deciduous environment for the most part and some magic colors: green, yellow, brown, etc.
Winter
Winter is another interesting time due to the low occupation of accommodation and because, as it is a road that passes through mountains, we can enjoy the snowfalls that occur in those places. So we can enjoy the very beautiful views and the problem of the cold could be avoided by always going well equipped and prepared.
Guide to the places you cannot miss on the Camino Primitivo
Places of interest on the Camino Primitivo from Lugo
The Roman wall of Lugo
This historic complex is a spectacular architectural beauty. You cannot miss witnessing one of the great feats of the great Roman civilization.
The town of Melide
It is another of the places that you cannot miss and is also the point where the Camino Primitivo from Lugo joins the Camino Frances.
Places of interest on the Camino de Santiago Primitivo from Oviedo
The old town of Oviedo
You can’t miss the old town of Oviedo. We also recommend the city’s Episcopal Palace as well as the university.
The parish church of San Esteban
On the other hand, throughout the Camino, in addition to the many Roman and medieval bridges, we also recommend visiting the parish church of San Esteban in Loriana or the bridge over the River Nalón in Peñaflor.
Where to sleep – The best lodgings
From Santiago Ways, we propose that you stay in the best hotels and cottages possible. They will take care of you as you deserve, and at the same time, you can enjoy the rest you need.
Where to eat – The best restaurants
Casa Chelo: They have popular food at popular prices. It is a great way to enjoy the best of Arzúa’s cuisine.
Pulpería Ezequiel: We recommend that you taste the wine in a cup and the speciality – Octopus. This restaurant is in Melide and is one of the most popular on the Camino de Santiago. You can’t miss it.
History of the Camino Primitivo
The Camino Primitivo witnessed the first pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in the 10th century. Like the rest of the pilgrim routes, the origin of the Camino Primitivo goes back to the discovery, in Santiago de Compostela, of the remains of the Apostle James the Elder, in the year 813.
The Apostle James had been assassinated in the year 42, in the lands of Jerusalem by the command of King Herod Agrippa I. However, the discovery took place in a forgotten Roman pavilion, located in a forest of West Galicia.
It tells the story that the Apostle was buried in that place by his disciples, in order to hide the corpse from Doña Lupe, the Queen of those lands, at the time.
The finding is attributed to Bishop Teodomiro, a member of the Diocese of Iria Flavia, who informed Alfonso II of Asturias, nicknamed the Chaste, of the discovery. Between the years 820 and 830 this confirmed that the bone remains found belonged to James the Elder.
On the evidence or reasons that led him to make such a finding, nothing is known. Nevertheless, it was an essential step for the construction of the history of Santiago de Compostela. Only the Asturian king Alfonso II, given his superior authority, derived from God, could make the discovery effective.
Thus the legend was born that the Apostle had been buried in that place and the location of the tomb became called Campus Stelae (Compostela). The monarch didn’t wait too long to see with his own eyes the newly discovered remains of the Apostle’s tomb.
The origin of the Camino Primitivo
As we have said before, the custom of making the pilgrimage that today is the Camino Primitivo began in the Middle Ages, more specifically, with King Alfonso II.
This King is also called “The First Pilgrim” for having been the one who inaugurated the custom of pilgrimage to Santiago. The hermit Paio saw a series of signs in the sky that told him where the Apostle’s tomb was. It was then that Alfonso II ordered to build a church.
It was he who rescued the bones of the Apostle Jamesand who later began the habit of going to visit them as a symbol of respect or simply to ask for some help. Many of the faithful came after this and decided to do the Camino Primitivo so to fulfil some promise or, like the Kings themselves, to ask for something.
The truth is that the original road was slowly moving southward as the Reconquista progressed. It was normal, taking into account that all the routes of the Camino de Santiagonot only had a religious purpose but also commercial one: it was necessary to open new routes easier to travel once it was gaining territory.
Subsequently, the road was branched and the current Camino Frances was made, much more passable, but not so well endowed with landscaped environments.
The first pilgrim of the Camino Primitivo
In the year 834, Alfonso II began, starting the route from Oviedo. He crossed the mountains that separate Asturias from Galicia, to the north of Os Ancares, passing the walls of Lugo.
Then he continued advancing westward, passing through the place where, according to the legend, some celestial signs indicated the place where the tomb of the Apostle was. Some scholars of the time pointed out that, since the Apostle’s body was discovered in a graveyard, these celestial lights were nothing more than wisps of fire, typical of this type of site.
Once in Santiago de Compostela, King Alfonso II, as a major indication of his interest in the sanctuary, embarked on a series of actions that gave rise to the current Cathedral of Santiago.
In the first place, he made a donation of three miles of land located around the tomb of the Apostle, which would be known as the Manor of Santiago and where the first clergymen would live.
This donation was completed with the order to build a Church in the place of discovery, the precursor of the present Cathedral, which was known as the Locus Sancti Lacobi (Holy place of Santiago), and of which hardly any remains are preserved.
At the same time, he requested the creation of a monastic community to guard the remains of the saint, which gave rise to San Salvador de Antealtares, the first Compostela Monastery and present Convent of San Paio.
The monarch is also credited with the creation of thelegend of Santiago Matamoros. As they say, in a historical moment in which the Muslims had occupied a large part of current Spain, the Christian part of the ancient Roman Hispania had been confined in the North peninsular.
The monarch took advantage of the discovery of the remains to make the Apostle an emblem against the struggle of Islam, creating the figure of Santiago Matamoros. It is said that with it, the monarch intended to reassemble ideologically and morally his kingdom which was tottering against the overwhelming Muslim advance.
The apparition of alternatives to the Camino Primitivo
With this journey, the Asturian monarch created the layout of what is the first Camino de Santiago, the Camino Primitivo. Many of his subjects then followed the footsteps of their King. Some of them, in a search for an easier path less, farther away from the strife with the Muslims, opened the known route, today, known as the Camino del Norte.
At the end of the 10th century, with the advance of the reconquest of Muslim lands, the centre of power moved to the south, to León. At the beginning of the 11th century, the Monarchs Sancho III El Mayor and Sancho Ramírez of Navarre, together with Alfonso VI in the lands of Castilla y León, began to promote the Camino Frances.
A route much less harsh than the Camino Primitivo, travelled by Alfonso II of Asturias, the Camino Frances was regarded as well as a safe and friendly route for pilgrims arriving from all over Europe, becoming the main route throughout the Middle Ages.
In this way, the Camino Primitivo was relegated to the second position. However, the weight of the monarch was such in the construction of the Jacobean tradition, that during the Middle Ages, the passage through the Cathedral of Oviedo became a compulsory visit.
Oviedo Cathedral was dedicated to the Saviour. Therefore, according to a popular song of Pilgrim Origin: “Who visits James and not the saviour, serves the servant and ignores the Lord.”
For this reason, even today many of the routes of the Camino de Santiago, such as the Camino del Norte or the Camino Frances that uses the so-called Camino Real, have a variant that passes through the Asturian capital.
Decline and rebirth of the Camino Primitivo
From the 15th century onwards, the Camino Primitivo fell into oblivion. As in the entire Jacobean route, the 1378 schism, wars and diseases affected the number of pilgrim parishioners. On the Camino Primitivo, this impact was even greater given the route’s difficulty and the consolidation of routes much more accessible.
The Jacobean year of 1993, together with the declaration of the Camino Frances as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and of the first European itinerary of Cultural interest by the Council of Europe, Began an important resurgence of all the pilgrim routes. However, the Camino Primitivo was added quite late to this rebirth.
In 2010, which was also a Jacobean year, less than 3% of the pilgrims chose this route. And it is not until the year 2012 that the Camino Primitivo established a delimitation of the route to protect the road, varying in some sections from the historical one.
The Camino Primitivo with Santiago Ways
Reserve with Santiago Ways your next route. We take care of organizing all the details of the route. Accommodation in hotels, rural houses, Galician stately homes and charming hostels. In addition, we move your baggage between the different stages of the Camino Primitivo. We also have a 24-hour hotline and emergency vehicle in case of any urgency.
Opinions of other users about the Camino Primitivo
We also want to offer you the opinion of other users who have completed the Camino Primitivo with us. With this, you can check their opinions and get an idea of how much you can enjoy the route that you choose.
We loved our experience with Santiago Ways! Lucia was great to work with - answered all the questions we had quickly. The accomodations were great - very welcome at the end of a day's walk! You may see us on another Camino sometime... =)
Lucia Novitasari
This is my first time doing the camino. We both my sister and me from Indonesia took the Portuguese route starting from the city of Tui. This journey is very amazing, we discover many things, a journey that takes us to a deeper relationship with God.Thank you Santiagoways, you made everything so easy, you accomodate us very well, and thanks to Lucia Buiatti from Santiagoways who was very responsive, and really helped us. For sure we will come again for the next camino with another route and will definitely use Santiagoways.
Wilma Venter
We decided to walk the Camino Frances nearly a year ago. Initially just from Sarria. During the course of our research, we came across several service providers for the Camino. Santiago Ways stood out head and shoulders and the feedback about them was always positive. I contacted them and we started planning. All questions asked, were answered promptly. Quotations were provided and when we decided to rather start from Leon, it was no problem. We received our accommodation vouchers and route explanations well in advance. Accommodation provided on the route was excellent. When we reach our destination of the day, our luggage was there. We are planning our next Camimo and will use their services again!
Tina Brown
I loved every minute of my Camino and am so sad it has ended, however am already looking to book again soon for my next one. Cannot fault the luggage transfer this was a godsend. Cristina at SW was brilliant and really helped me. I look forward to booking my next Camino. Thanks again for an amazing experience x
Michael Owens
Excellent trip. Thanks to Ylenia at Santiago Ways our trip was amazing. Accommodations and meals, she booked for us and day trip to Finisterre - PERFECT. Ylenia, was very patient with us. Our reservations had to be modified several times due to Covid and number of people in our group changing. We have used Santiago Ways several times. Will use them again for our next “Camino Trail” adventure. Connie Earwood
John Harris
Our contact person with Santiago Ways was Ylenia Conesa. She was excellent to work with, she responded quickly to all our emails with all of our questions. I highly recommend her. Our trip was very well organized, we received all our information for the trip in a timely manner. We enjoyed all our hotels, they were easy to find. The breakfast and dinners were adequate. We did not have any problems the whole trip. We had a wonderful time. Thank you Ylenia, we’ll contact you when we decide to do the Camino Portuguese. Buen Camino!
Tito P
My partner and I finally got to experience our 5 day Camino pilgrimage walk from Sarria to Santiago in June 2022 - organized through Santiago Ways (SW) - after over 2 year delay due to Covid. We couldn't have been more thrilled from our experience once we landed in Spain from Canada.If you are travelling overseas, trying travelling direct to Spain and avoid the lower cost European routes (i.e. easyjet) - flight cancellation/delays is about as common as the sun rising now so plan for this in your travels.SW staff were very professional and very helpful in answering all our questions prior to our trip. The Dossier and Vouchers that were sent to us were very clear and helpful to describe the route each day and where we stayed. Recommend you review your hotel locations on Google so you know where to find them once you arrive at each town/city.Our experience on the walk included breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day and the luggage transfer was a life saver allowing us to pack lightly each day. Strongly recommend you include you transfers as well to and from the airport to enjoy more time and less worry.The accommodations for our walk were well above average and more than we expected. Very clean, showers were hot (likely on demand) and the staff were very friendly at each of our stops.The staff at each place were very friendly but language barrier was there at times but never a problem.I strongly recommend using Santiago Ways in your Camino planning. Wouldn't think of any other group to help out. The peace and tranquility of walking on the countryside, the scenery, and laid back life was truly wonderful. Meeting so many pilgrims from all over and sharing our experience together was amazing and unforgettable.We are looking forward to doing this again in the future with the help of Santiago Ways.Buon Camino!Francesco & Claudette
John Murray
Great five days of walking in the warm weather. Lovely Pilgrims from around the world all with a story to tell. A week l will never forget. Back 2023 to begin from St Jean. Santiago Ways highly recommended.Good Luck and Happiness to you all.
Patricia H
My husband and I completed the Portuguese Camino from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela in June 2022. From the planing to the completion of our trip everything exceeded our expectations.Santiago Ways did a wonderful job of having everything perfectly scheduled, from the airport transfers in Vigo and Santiago de Compostela to the luggage transfers each day and the detailed information about each days walk. Numerous pilgrims commented on how much better our directions were and they were depending on our directions many times. The hotels we stayed at were amazing and the hosts at each hotel were always very helpful with recommendations on what to do and where to eat in each town. We had amazing food and drink along our whole journey and saw so many beautiful places.We have lifetime memories of the Camino thanks to everyone at Santiago Ways.If you are considering doing The Camino with Santiago Ways do not hesitate, go for it you will have the experience of a lifetime!
Ed Vegliante
I highly recommend Santiago Ways for anyone considering walking the Camino de Santiago. Everything went smoothly and all of the accommodations Santiago Ways booked were nicer than I expected. A well organized itinerary contributed to our great experience on the Camino.
Ingrid Gutierrez
What a wonderful company! Santiago Ways was very reliable and helpful. The accomodations were beautiful and clean. The luggage transfer was always on time. I am very thankful for the excellent experience. If you are looking for a company to plan your next Camino trip, I highly recommend Santiago Ways!
Barbara Kamali
This was a long awaited trip : originally booked in 2020 . The service of Santiago Ways was perfect throughout . As 2 couples we wanted the best en-suite accommodation on the way , our luggage transported and also we are vegans/vegetarians .Everything was perfect including a wonderful range of meals in all the accommodation and help when we struggled to get in contact with one accommodation owner . No issues with baggage transfer and the transfer to Porto to Ourense was again perfect .Santiago Ways enables us to have the full Camino experience without any stress . Ylenia was reassuring and knowledgeable in the original planning and at no time did we feel that our quieres were not dealt with well.We all wholeheartedly recommend Santiago Ways to anyone planning to do the Camino .Thank you
John Spencer
Highly recommended. Great help with planning and execution. No problems at any point. Will use them again.
Steve McManus
Well organised trip, good communication throughout. All accommodation was clean and comfortable with luggage transfers working perfectly.
anthony golden
A delay of 2 years but my wife, Geraldine and I have just returned from our Camino from Sarria to Santiago about 120km.Santiago Ways we’re excellentAll hotel bookings, luggage transfers, meals etc sorted out efficientlyWe had a great Camino thanks to all the staff at Santiago WaysWould recommend themGoing with them again next yearCan’t waitThanksTony and Geraldine Golden
Sarah McCleary
I had zero issue with my trip. The baggage transfer worked like clockwork, and I loved having the confidence of a 'local' number to call in case of emergency. (Never needed to call, but it felt good).
Darlene B
I would like to thank Alba Martinez and the whole team of Santiago ways for the job well done. My Husband really enjoyed the experience, of course without the helps of Santiago ways in organising everything, the Camino hike would be a very tough journey otherwise. But the attention to details, communication, and so on..were excellent and highly recommended.
Jerry Campbell
If you are planning a Camino pilgrimage I highly recommend this company. Very professional yet personable. The accommodations they arranged for me across Spain on my Camino were very good. They are reliable and provide good value. I would use them again if I plan my next Camino.
Bill Bearce
Four of us 65 years old, used Santiago Ways (SW) and they took great care of us every step of 500 miles. This included one (1) night when, after some slow going, they even called us to make sure we found the hotel! (We did!) SW and their professional handling our our itinerary could not have been better. Our top recommendation for them! Fourontheway- October 2021 Falmouth MA USA
Jerry Campbell
If you are planning a Camino pilgrimage I highly recommend this company. Very professional yet personable. The accommodations they arranged for me across Spain on my Camino were very good. They are reliable and provide good vale. I would use them again if I plan my next Camino.
Tina Marchetti
We were very happy with our experience with Santiago Ways. They were very professional, very responsive, extremely organized, and booked lovely places for us, including an exceptional casa rural. They provided detailed instructions about where we were staying and our luggage was always waiting for us at our destination. All this at an excellent value. For reference, we completed the last stage of the French Camino, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Five stars for Santiago Ways!
Samira Miranda
Such a wonderful experience!From the beginning of the entire management, everything has been very easy. All the questions that I've had have been answered by mail or by phone and they always had been very kind.They made me a budget adjusted to my needs and it has been the best way to make the Camino de Santiago for the first time with the security that I always had them for anything I needed! I would definitely book them again since I'm thinking about doing another part of the Camino next year 🙂
Shaoor Ali
hello santiago ways....i travel with santiago ways... i have very Good time with them... i did walk hike with them....they have v nice people who guide people with very good behivour... i know one of best Representatives in santiago ways which name is Cristina Ostraiz... she guide me v well..i must want to tour again with you... best wishes for all of you....RegardsShaoor Ali Basheer
Ed Akavets
Did the camino with guys ! Everything was great!
Karin E
Excellent company. They were super helpful in putting together my last minute trip to do the camino inglés. I will definitely use them next year when I do another route. Thank you SantiagoWays!
Lisa B
Fabulous experience. Santiago Ways made this trip such a memorable trip. I will definitely be using their amazing service again for the next 200 km. The accommodations were super. The transfers and itinerary were perfect . Thanks Ylenia ans everyone at Santiago Ways!
Fabiana Lima
Very good service. Ylenia Conesa was the one who helped me and she was always very effective and courteous. Will definitely use them again!
Christine Tranchina
My husband and I hiked the Camino De Santiago from Pamplona to Logroño. We used Santiago Ways to help plan our adventure... booking our hotels, breakfast, picnic and dinner as well as transferring luggage during the hike. It was extremely helpful because we traveled in February which is not a popular time and all services are not available. The communication and service was excellent. Before, after and during the hike Angie Rinaudo kept in contact and answered all our questions in a timely manner. All the accommodations were excellent. We are planning to do more sections in the future and will definitely use Santiago Ways again.
Karen Srajer
We took the French Way, Leaving from Saint Jean Pied de Port. Santiago Ways booked our rooms the entire trip and make sure our luggage was transported. The rooms were a delight the walk was wonderful. Santiago Ways made sure to have support for us on the trip as well as needed. I would highly recommend this company. The entire group was a delight to work with and Cristiana on it especially was helpful.If we should decide to do another way, we would definitely use this company.
Diane Nunez
This was our first time in Spain and first time walking on a daily basis. Santiago Ways answered our many questions and concerns over many emails. We started our walk September 1st 2019 in Sarria and took 10 days to walk to Santiago de Compostela. Santiago Ways booked our lodging in 10 different places along with luggage transfers. We asked that all breakfasts,dinner and picnic lunch be included. Our accommodations varied from Albergues. Inns, Boutique hotel, to Bed and Breakfast. We truly enjoyed our picnic lunch as we could stop anywhere and enjoy the view. The accommodations - private room and private bathroom as we requested were not disappointing. We would recommend Santiago Way to anyone that needs some assistance in walking The Way.
Richard Luna
I changed my itinerary about 10 times before finalizing my vacation, 2 weeks prior to my trip date. Santiago Ways (Sara Mateo) was so polite and understanding throughout the entire process. My wife and I loved our great 2 week walk on the Camino. Every reservation, baggage transfer, excursion and transportation worked out exactly as planned. Thank you Sara for our memorable vacation.
Mark Nichols
This is a very professional company that helped create a fantastic journey. My contact person, Ylenia, responded to my emails and answered my questions. I highly recommend this company.
Kat Cust
I have walked with Santiago Ways twice and have been impressed by their professionalism and services both times. I wanted to support a Spanish company for the walks, and found them to be a competitive option - in a crowded industry. Am planning to walk with them again as I’ve enjoyed my caminos so much!
Richard Luna
I changed my itinerary about 10 times before finalizing my vacation, 2 weeks prior to my trip date. Santiago Ways (Sara Mateo) was so polite and understanding throughout the entire process. My wife and I loved our great 2 week walk on the Camino. Every reservation, baggage transfer, excursion and transportation worked out exactly as planned. Thank you Sara for our memorable vacation.
Richard Luna
I changed my itinerary about 10 times before finalizing my vacation, 2 weeks prior to my trip date. Santiago Ways (Sara Mateo) was so polite and understanding throughout the entire process. My wife and I loved our great 2 week walk on the Camino. Every reservation, baggage transfer, excursion and transportation worked out exactly as planned. Thank you Sara for our memorable vacation.
Rachel Mckeeve
We recently walked part of the Camino de Santiago Trail. Our trip was arranged by Santiago Ways. We were part of a larger group we had a tour guide and our luggage was transferred each day. Our trip was an immense success, everything went very smoothly and that in part was down to Veronica who arranged the trip. She was very helpful throughout the whole planning procedure even arranging for a private transfer from the airport to Sarria, our start point. I would recommend Santiago Ways and Veronica and would definitely use them again.
Eilish Bye
After comparing several agencies, our group of 7 decided to go with Santiago Ways for our first Camino experience as they offered an all round better price for our customised package that included insurance, meals, accommodation, luggage transfers and any required transportation to accommodation. The booking process was straightforward, they responded quickly to various enquiries and changes that we requested and they provided guidance on preparation and the Camino route which we referred to throughout our trip.We had a couple of issues including one of our group injuring her ankle but Santiago Ways were available 24 x 7 and they resolved everything efficiently including all communications required with local accommodation providers, taxis etc. which was very reassuring. Pilgrims we met who organised their accommodation en route had to deal with lack of accommodation in some locations and then they had to organise transport to and from the nearest hostels. We didn’t have any stress like this at all which left us free to enjoy the stunning scenery and great camaraderie on this wonderful trip. We will use Santiago Ways again and we can highly recommend them.
Kerry Mannette
I booked my Camino de Santiago for Sept 2019 through Santiago Ways and the company made the experience absolutely wonderful. Vanessa Veiga was a pleasure to deal with, very professional and informative and made it very easy to arrange the entire trip. The accommodations and board booked through Santiago ways were amazing, we were very pleased with the diversity (B&B, hotel, hostel) of the accommodations along with the service and cleanliness of the accommodations. The luggage transfer worked flawlessly. I would rate Santiago Ways 10 out of 10 and recommend them to anyone looking to book their Camino.
Karen Henderson
I was so pleased with the trip Santiago Ways set up for me to Walk The Camino Francés. My first experience was when I requested a quote in October 2018 for a August 2019 walk. Ylenia went above and beyond to answer all our questions and to provide numerous options for me before I made my final decision on the trip. She was patient and thorough as I gathered information. Her follow up was amazing and her attention to detail was very assuring! Once I booked the trip she continued sending updates until we departed for Spain. Once we arrived in Spain Ylenia and the Operations team stayed in touch via email to answer any questions. The hotel accommodations for 39 days were all wonderful and the baggage transfer was perfect. Every day our bags were at the hotel by the time we arrived. One day my friend left her hat in the hotel room and Santiago Ways Operation team sent an email saying the hat would be waiting at our next hotel. That’s going “above and beyond”. I highly recommend using Santiago Ways for your Camino!!!!! We walked with numerous people who had used other companies and they all thought Santiago Ways had the best hotels. I’ve already referred a friend to them and definitely will use them for my next Camino. Thank you Santiago Ways!!!!!!!!
Alison McEvoy
Ylenia Conesa from Santiago Ways was very helpful answering all my question prior to my Camino trip. A truly memorable experience beautifully organised by Santiago Ways
Chantal Ryan
This was a great experience from start to finish. From the on-line booking team that answered my numerous questions and comminucated with me in an efficient and friendly manner to the amazing guide we had and the quality of the hotels we stayed in. It all exceeded my expectations
Jon Lucas
Excellent company with excellent staff, couldn't fault their organisation and execution of my Camino walk. My special thanks to Ylenia who looked after my bookings and organised things for me.
LUCIA CARABINE
Fantastic service and Ylenia Conesa who handled the booking was a delight and very efficient
Jasmine Pantuso
Santiago Ways, and our advisor Ylenia Conesa , provided an outstanding travel experience! Ylenia answered every question that I had during my trip planning process! The accommodations were absolutely charming, and the food was perfect! Thank you for the experience of a lifetime!
Yuko Fujita
Celebrating 60th birthday, we walked 100 kilos for 10 days. No pain and no blisters. Santiago ways transported our luggage on time every day even we changed one of the hotel to Paradores. Taxis were always on time waiting for us. All hotels were clean, friendly and conveniently located. The food and buildings and history of each accommodations were all unique and wonderful! I will use Santiago ways for my next Camino. Andriana was very helpful. Thank you! Muchas Gracias!
Yana Mileva
We booked our "Camino" trip via this agency. Our agent was Vanessa and we are ecstatic with the service! The booking went very smoothly. All our questions were answered and all our wished addressed in a very quick manner. Actually, the agency had to ping us a few times via email and WhatsApp, as we were the ones too slow to answer them. They even made arrangements for us to take our dog on the trip and book the appropriate hotels. The luggage transfer was wonderful. We had a pickup from Santiago to our starting point on "Camino" that also worked perfectly. We can highly recommend the services of this agency. I have to admit that I have not compared prices and if there is something cheaper on the market, but the service we received here was impeccable. We had a wonderful trip and are planing to come back next year and walk another "Camino" again. Buen Camino everyone!
Peggy White
Walking the Camino was the best experience of my life! Partially because I had such a great support crew of Santiago Ways! I worked with Vanessa Veiga who organized my trip to suit my needs. When some details needed to be changed, she kindly worked with me to make it happen. My accommodations were all very different- from Casa Rurals to hostels to Pensions, but they were all excellent. The luggage transfer worked perfectly, too. I highly recommend this company to anyone planning to walk the Camino!
Tamir Shemer
excellent experience with Santiago way team, all that was promised accomplished to the last detail , the transportation, the hotels choices , the path segment choice, the information provided ,the luggage transfer just a perfect vacation
mary ellen canal
Santiago Ways is the perfect agency to help you plan you Camino de Santiago.Since the first day that i wrote my email the response was very fast, gladly i began speaking to the agent Vanessa Viega and she made sure i had all the information and helped me plan everything, she was really great .i really enjoyed my Camino, i was looking forward for it and it did satisfied my expectations.This experience for me was the most special in my life, i am really thinking about doing it again starting in Portugal
Winston Fernandez
I used Santiago Ways on my first Camino in March this year. The trail that I did was from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela. The experience was truly fantastic ….. mainly because of Santiago Ways.My contact person at Santiago Ways was Vanessa Veiga. Right from the onset Vanessa was extremely helpful , sensitive and very attentive to all my requests. She responded swiftly to all my mails. She selected the right hotels which were excellent and the luggage always arrived on time.I am planning my second Camino next April and I would continue to use Santiago Ways and in particular Vanessa. Thanks a million Vanessa and continue the good work to all the pilgrims who want to experience a true Camino.Winston FernandezKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Marion Tilley-Vyner
Santiago Ways made it possible for me to do the pilgrimage. At 69 I did not like the idea of staying in a hostal, I like a bit of privacy and comfort! And I could not have done the walking while carrying my luggage. Adriana at Santiago Ways helped me work out my route and booked hotels and luggage transfers. Also, having them there in case I had any problems, was very reassuring. Adriana was only a phone call away. I recommend using Santiago Ways for anyone having doubts about doing the pilgrimage - they make it so much easier!
Tammy Shain
Vanessa was awesome and we loved Santiago Ways! We had a group of 8 college friends that were all around 50-years old. The deciding factor in choosing Santiago Ways was the group discount offered for groups of 6 or more. All other companies threshold for a discount was 10 people. Vanessa and the staff were awesome to work with throughout the process. We did the five day hike from Sarria to Santiago. We requested superior accommodations in places that were on the trail. The accommodations were top notch and 4 of the 5 places were directly on the trail. The exception was our night in Lavacolla in which we were .4 miles off the trail. It was our choice to stay in that location in order to have a shorter walk to Santiago on our final day so we could make the noon mass. We were pleasantly surprised at how clean each place was and they all had great bar and restaurant choices in close proximity - with the exception of Lavacolla so we recommend eating on-site - it was very good.
Sandi Frost Steensma
We had an excellent experience on the Camino with Santiago Ways. We had 14 women and everything was wonderful. We enjoyed the hotels, loved the daily luggage transport and the food was terrific. Santiago Ways communicated throughout our trip. We felt well-supported when we needed to make changes. Thank you!!
Sandi Frost Steensma
We had an excellent experience on the Camino with Santiago Ways. We had 14 women and everything was wonderful. We enjoyed the hotels, loved the daily luggage transport and the food was terrific. Santiago Ways communicated throughout our trip. We felt well-supported when we needed to make changes. Thank you!!
Beatriz Beltranena
Santiago Ways is excellent they exceeded my expectations!! they do a great JOB and we had a "Buen Camino" in part thanks to them... lovely hotels.. flawless bag transfers and great great service!!! I would totally recommend them and please look for Vanessa she is the best.
Jan Schubert
My family and I used Santiago Ways to organize our recent pilgrimage from Lisbon to Porto. They did an excellent job booking us (as much as possible) into wonderful, small, family-run hotels and coping with the many changes dictated by "group" travel. In addition, one of us was traveling by bicycle whilst the rest were walking, necessitating even more planning which Santiago Ways did with patience and grace. We recommend using Santiago Ways for Camino support and planning!!! Jan Schubert
Jill Scher
My family and I (6 of us) just finished walking the Lisbon to Porto section of the Camino Portuguese. It was a wonderful experience for us. The hotels we were booked into were well chosen and the food was great. We also found the path to be well marked making way finding fairly easy. A great relief as we had heard it was not well marked. Our luggage was efficiently transferred each day and everything ran very smoothly. Thank you Santiago Ways! We would definitely recommend your services to our friends. Jill
Kenneth E. Nowell
Santiago Ways made my memorable hike trouble-free. I had excellent hotels, tasty breakfasts, dependable baggage forwarding, informative advance information, and a dependable drive to deliver me to Sarria. I really appreciate their attention to detail!
Margo Gosia Barker
We booked our El Camino with Santiago Ways and we were very lucky to have Silvia as our agent. She did a fantastic job organizing our trip, always promptly responding to our inquiries, impeccable English, all accommodations that she arranged for us were great, and our luggage was always delivered to the next location timely, before our arrivals to sites. I would definitely recommend Santiago Ways and ask for Silvia to be your representative.
Patricia Bazán
This trip changed my life in ways I could not describe! I knew the hiking was going to be a challenge, but Santiago Ways made it so easy to plan and execute. They are truly the best and I am already planning my next trip with Santiago Ways and would not think of going anywhere else. Silvia Rivera was particularly helpful in the planning, as she answered all my questions patiently, and help me through the process. Great job, Guys, and I will see you next year!
Roberto Canto
Have just finished El Camino de Santiago from Sarria with the help of Santiago Ways. They have been extremely accesible from day one. The transfer of the luggage throught the five days was impecable, always finding the luggage in the room on every stage of the way. The food and lodging was very acceptable. If I were to do it again I would not hesitate to contact them once more for their assistance! "Buen camino".
Edmee Flores
Our experience with Santiago Ways was flawless. We highly recommend this outfit for your Santiago way experience. A perfect 10!
Barbara Melinska
Very nice experience. Good and professional organization.Nice and friendly environment during the event. Recommended 100 %. Saludos para Jose 😉
Hanna Ringel
Simply put - an incredible experience! This agency looks after every last detail. I walked the last 100 km of the Camino with their help and I definitely want to go back soon and do a longer part of the route. When that happens (which I hope is soon) I'll definitely be using Santiago Ways again! Thanks for everything.
