What is the Camino?

The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St. James, is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes stretching across Europe, all leading to the tomb of St. James the Apostle in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, northwestern Spain.

History

The Camino dates back over 1,200 years to the 9th century, when the remains of St. James were discovered in northern Spain. St. James had been beheaded in the year 44 in the Holy Land by order of Herod Agrippa, King of Judea. According to legend, his disciples transported his body by boat from Palestine to Spain, where it was buried in secret.

In 814 AD, a Galician hermit named Pelayo saw a shining star in the sky and followed it to a burial site. The local bishop declared the remains to be those of St. James the Apostle, a claim later confirmed by King Alfonso II of Asturias, who ordered a church to be built on the site. Thus, the city of Santiago de Compostela was born.

Over the centuries, thousands began walking to Santiago from across Europe, making it one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations—on par with Rome and Jerusalem.

The Camino declined in popularity during the 14th century due to war and the Black Death, and again in the 16th century following the Protestant Reformation. In 1589, St. James’ remains were hidden to prevent theft and were forgotten for nearly 300 years.

The Camino experienced a revival in the late 1970s, thanks in large part to a local priest named Don Elías Valiña Sampedro, who dedicated his life to marking the trail and establishing pilgrim shelters (refugios). Local governments and European pilgrim associations also played a key role in restoring the route. In 1985, UNESCO declared the Camino a World Heritage Site.

The Camino Today

The popularity of the Camino has exploded in the last decade with approximately 500,000 pilgrims walking to Santiago in 2024, representing a 110% increase compared to 2014. Today, less people walk the Camino for religious reasons with growing numbers walking for cultural, health and spiritual reasons.

Check out Pilgrim Stats for the latest pilgrim numbers and Camino Trends to find out who was coming to the Camino with Magic Hill in 2024.

Why should I walk the Camino?

So, why would anyone choose to walk 100km on their holiday? Here are 11 great reasons to walk the Camino:

  • Time Out

  • Live Slower & Free from “Stuff”

  • Exercise

  • Beautiful Scenery

  • Bonding Time

  • Personal Challenge

  • Make New Friends

  • Relatively Easy Walking

  • History & Culture

  • Amazing Food

  • Improve Your Language Skills

Back to Basics

Walking the Camino is about stripping life back to the essentials—walking, nature, and conversation. It offers time to reflect and the chance to have meaningful conversations—not just small talk, but deep, honest exchanges about life, dreams, and the future.

It’s also great fun. You’ll meet people from all over the world and be exposed to new languages, cultures, and ways of thinking.

Completing your Camino and receiving your Certificate of Completion (the Compostela) brings an incredible sense of achievement. Many pilgrims say it changes their lives. It shows that with persistence, anything is possible—on the trail, and at home.

Some say the Camino is their therapy. But ask anyone who has walked it, and they’ll tell you:

“The Camino gives back to you what you give to it.”

For further information about walking the Camino, email us at info@magichillholidays.com for our free Camino Guide.