From Porto to Santiago: A Pilgrimage of Unexpected Beauty

Wow—what an adventure!

You see, this wasn’t a planned trip or even something on my bucket list. My beautiful friend (and my husband’s cousin) Amarillis invited us as part of her husband’s birthday celebration. She planned an incredible experience for three couples. At first, we were a little hesitant—but after watching a few YouTube videos, we were all in. It looked like the kind of challenge we were ready to take on!

El Camino is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that all lead to Santiago de Compostela, where the tomb of St. James is located. People take on the Camino for religious reasons, personal growth, or simply for the challenge. Some walks can be as short as 6 days, while others (like the French Way) can stretch over 35 days.

We chose the Portuguese Way and planned for 6 days—what was supposed to be 72 miles. But with a few scenic detours, we ended up walking 89 miles!

We flew into Porto, Portugal, and enjoyed two relaxing days before the walk began. Our starting point was Tui, Spain, and our route took us through Redondela, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padrón, and finally to Santiago de Compostela. There are two ways to do this journey. Some pilgrims carry all their gear and stay in Albergues or hostels. At this stage in my life, I need my own room and shower—so we stayed in small hotels, boutique inns, or cozy local spots. Some people carry everything in their backpacks, but we opted for luggage service. Each day, our bags were transported to the next hotel ahead of us, while we carried just a daypack with essentials. I have so much respect for those who carry full packs the entire way—it’s truly admirable. I was also blessed that my husband, Angel, carried our daypack 90% of the time. ❤️

This walk was definitely a challenge. Day 2 was especially tough—15 miles, and we had already walked 10 miles the day before. We actually treated ourselves to a massage to loosen up the knots and relax our hips and calves. It helped so much! What made this journey surreal was everything we saw along the way—quaint towns, peaceful villages, rolling vineyards, charming farms, serene ponds, cobblestone paths, and breathtaking cathedrals. The natural beauty was constant and inspiring. Scattered along the path were cafes, bars, and little shops that warmly welcomed pilgrims.

Most of the pilgrims were super friendly and encouraging. We walked with another couple, but along the way we met people from Holland, the Philippines, Australia, California, Florida—you name it. We saw 80-year-olds and 10-year-olds. Truly, people from all walks of life take this pilgrimage. And how do you spot a pilgrim? It’s easy: besides the backpacks, many wear or carry a scallop shell with a red cross, often hanging from their packs or around their necks. (Check out my photo!)

As Christians, this journey became a sacred time for us—a time of reflection, gratitude, and prayer. We had meaningful conversations with our friends, and I often sang to myself or prayed silently. I also took the time to slow down and soak in the scenery. Sure, there were moments when I doubted myself, asking, “What did I get myself into?” But those thoughts were always followed by a deep sense of accomplishment and a renewed desire to keep going the next day.

How It Works: Pilgrim Credentials

Before or on the first day of your walk, you can register as a pilgrim and get a “credencial” or pilgrim passport. Each day, you collect stamps from hotels, restaurants, churches, or shops—each stamp is different and so fun to collect. You need at least two per day. On the final day, you go to the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago de Compostela, show your stamped passport, and receive a certificate with your name. And for just $3, you can get a second, frame-worthy certificate that shows the number of miles you walked.

Tips for the Journey

Make sure your shoes are comfortable and broken in! I wore trainers and they worked great. Some people wore hiking boots, others had trekking sandals with socks. Bring a comfortable, adjustable daypack, and pack the essentials:

• Water

• First aid kit

• Flip-flops (trust me)

• Dry socks

• Sunscreen & bug spray

• Energy-rich snacks
  

Let’s Talk About the Food

The food was fantastic! One of the things I love about Europe is how fresh and local the meals are. We enjoyed grilled octopus, fresh fish, steak, ribs... and let’s not forget the bread. Oh, the bread! Freshly baked at local panaderías—so many different kinds. My favorite dish? The octopus. Grilled, tender, and served with potatoes—yes, please. And for dessert, the Tarta de Santiago is a must. It’s a traditional almond cake, lightly sweetened, and topped with powdered sugar. Moist but not too heavy. Heaven.

And can we talk about their grocery stores? The high-protein, low-sugar yogurts... the fruits and veggies... the fresh, local meats... I am officially jealous of their supermarkets.

Final Thoughts

We were truly blessed with amazing weather. It was pouring when we arrived in Porto—we saw pilgrims in ponchos braving the wind and rain. But for our entire week of walking, we had gorgeous weather—high 60s to low 70s. The day after we finished? It started raining again. If that’s not divine timing, I don’t know what is.

I highly recommend walking the Camino—but do your homework! There are many routes to choose from, depending on what you're looking for: flat terrain, coastal paths, mountains, short 5-day treks or full 45-day journeys.

Buen Camino, my friends. 🌄💛 - Coach Carmen Carrion