20 Best Books On Camino De Santiago (2023 Update)

Over 1,200 years old, 500 miles long, and rich with tradition, history, and inspiration: embark on the trip of a lifetime with moon camino de santiago. inside you'll find: strategic trekking advice for walking the camino, including where to start to get the compostela certificate and excursions to gateway cities like santiago, léon, and pamplona unique ideas for enriching your experience: admire folkloric art and romanesque churches, stroll through the stone archways and winding alleys of medieval cities, and soak up mountain views as you cross over the pyrenees and descend into green valleys. see the archaeological site where europe's oldest humans were uncovered and breathe in the salty ocean air as you finish your journey at the shores of the atlantic savor the local flavors: enjoy authentic jamón serrano, tapas, and galician wine, or grab cheese and freshly baked bread for a picnic lunch the best detours, festivals, and villages along the way: linger in estella, witness the running of the bulls in pamplona, visit the monastery in nájera, or sip wine in cacabelos essential planning information on when to go, how to get there, where to eat, and where to stay, from pilgrim dorms to private hotels, plus tips on hazards, precautions, and gearexpert advice from beebe bahrami, who has walked the camino more than 20 times, including valuable history and context of the pilgrimage and the sacred sites, landscape, culture, and local etiquette full-color photos and detailed maps throughout, plus a handy fold-out map of the entire route helpful resources on covid and walking the camino handy tools and background information including spanish and french phrasebooks, visa information, volunteer opportunities, and tips for seniors, women traveling alone, religious and secular travelers, and lgbtq travelers start your transformative journey with moon camino de santiago's expert insight, unique suggestions, and practical advice. about moon travel guides: moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. moon travel guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell–and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. for more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

From one of germany’s most beloved celebrities, a cross between bill bryson and paulo coelho. it has sold over 3 million copies and been translated into eleven different languages. pilgrims have increased along the camino by 20 percent since the book was published. hape kerkeling’s spiritual epiphany has struck a nerve. overweight, overworked, and physically unfit, kerkeling was an unlikely candidate to make the arduous pilgrimage across the french alps to the spanish shrine of st. james, a 1,200-year-old journey undertaken by nearly 100,000 people every year. but that didn’t stop him from getting off the couch and walking. along the way, lonely and searching for meaning, he began the journal that turned into this utterly frank, engaging book. simply by struggling with his physical limitations and the rigors of long-distance walking, he discovered a deep sense of peace that transformed his life and allowed him to forgive himself, and others, more readily. he learned something every day, and he took to finishing each entry with his daily lessons. filled with quirky fellow pilgrims, historic landscapes, and kerkeling’s self-deprecating sense of humor, i’m off then is an inspiring travelogue, a publishing phenomenon, and a spiritual journey unlike any other.

This village to village map guide to the camino del norte is a lightweight minimalist guidebook to walking the way of saint james from irún to santiago de compostela on the camino del norte. the camino del norte traverses the rugged and stunning northern coast of spain on a well-marked traditional pilgrimage route replete with pilgrim hostels. with 37 full-color stage maps and over 100 city maps, you ll always know where you and where you re going. detailed accommodations listings show everything you need to know about pilgrim hostels (albergues) as well as private accommodations for each budget. planning and route tips keep you informed, in a pocket-sized book that weighs just 100 grams.

*the international bestseller*64/70 five star reviews on amazon worldwide- 54/59 five star reviews on amazon uk (4 at 4 stars; 1 at 3 stars) – 10/11 five star reviews on amazon usacan an email address scribbled on 20 change a life? yes from the back cover – what would you do if you're given a 20 note in greece with an email address scribbled on it: 1. spend it? 2. slip the suspect counterfeit bill into an enemy's birthday card? 3. send an email, hoping it will lead to you finding everlasting love? brad, a hopeless romantic, chose the latter. – two years later, his love life remains a disaster and his career is misfiring. as he's about to walk spain's fabled camino de santiago to ponder some profound life changes, brad receives a reply. – incredibly, it's from a woman who lives on the pilgrimage path, far away from where the money first crossed his palm. she invites him to sleep… 'on her house.' hiking 900km on the road to santiago to a blind date with the mystery 20 woman, brad has the adventure of a lifetime. – his heart is warmed by fellow pilgrims and natives who give him more reason than ever to believe in the kindness of the human spirit; he befriends a hilarious hungarian who speaks english in song titles and has his raison d' tre revealed to him by a barefoot mayan mystic. will he meet his happily-ever-after along the way too? scroll up and buy this pacy, laugh-out-loud travelogue to find out now… mainstream media praise: "an inspiring, touching, heartfelt and funny memoir that made me howl with laughter throughout. a wonderful read." – kevin hand, bbc london. – praise in amazon reviews for the only way is west: ★★★★★ "i loved this book. for anyone interested in the camino, this is a must read." – kate★★★★★ "probably the best book i've ever read." – d clay. ★★★★★ "fantastic read, can't wait for the next book." – amazon customer★★★★★ "i was hooked from page one and couldn't put it down." – georine★★★★★ "a fast-paced, inspiring romp of a book with a joyous charm throughout." – brendan★★★★★ "i have read over 60 camino books. this fits easily into my top 5." – alastair w. ★★★★★ "best book of 2019." – will. ★★★★★ "a great read for anyone who likes travel memoirs written with honesty, emotion and humour." – french village diaries. ★★★★★ "reading this brilliant, funny book has reignited my desire to do something i'd almost forgotten i wanted to do, walk the camino de santiago." – amazon customer. *bestseller in the uk – humorous essays, travelogues & religious travel categories. *bestseller in the usa – sports essays, ecotourism & literary travel. *bestseller in canada – humorous essays & travelogues. *bestseller in australia – humorous essays & travelogues. *bestseller in india – religious travel.

2023 editionnow updated to include newer maps and photos, this comprehensive guidebook to the camino de santiago and its offshoots contains all the information needed by modern-day pilgrims wishing to walk the sacred way of st. james. overview route planners plus daily stage maps and detailed town plans help sojourners with all the advance preparation they need. the maps feature contour guides to help distinguish the terrain that will be crossed each day, while full information on all pilgrim hostels, as well as details for alternative accommodation, allow travelers to plot adequate nightly stopping points. all reference information is accompanied by helpful spiritual guidelines to support the seeker's inner journey as well as the outer pilgrimage. otherwise known as the camino francés, the main route covered in this volume is the most popular sacred route through spain, from st.

2020 edition updated to include newer maps and photos, the latest edition in these comprehensive guidebooks to the camino de santiago (portuguese way) and its offshoots contains all the information needed by modern-day pilgrims wishing to walk the sacred way of saint james. overview route planners plus all 24 daily stage maps and detailed town plans help sojourners with as much advance preparation as they need. the completely redone maps feature contour guides to help distinguish the terrain that will be crossed each day, while full information on all pilgrim hostels, as well as details for alternative accommodation, allow travelers to plot adequate nightly stopping points. all reference information is accompanied by helpful spiritual guidelines to support the seeker's inner journey as well as the outer pilgrimage. for travelers who wish to walk the coast of portugal, this volume now includes a coastal option as well as a spiritual option and the littoral path.

Noel braun yearns to walk the camino, the ancient pilgrimage route that leads across france and spain to santiago de compostela. since the suicide of maris, his beloved wife of forty-two years, he has struggled to find himself. but is it pure madness? he's an old bloke. at seventy-seven-years, he should be sensible, act his age and relax in a rocking chair. can his body and spirit withstand the demands? can he leave family and friends behind? noel believes this is a journey he must undertake. it's a compulsion, a spiritual quest of self-discovery, an urgent need to commune with the world around and beyond him.when noel begins his journey, he discovers it's not just the rigorous demands of the physical world he must answer. the territory of the heart and soul has its own challenges, which have him searching for spiritual and emotional insights. his travels are interwoven with accounts of the many engaging characters he meets. in time he realises he himself is one of the camino's characters.the day was made for walking merges the spiritual with the physical, the ancient with the contemporary. it is a memoir, but also a glimpse into history and a travel guide.

This guidebook combines two ancient routes into santiago that remain largely undiscovered despite their historic significance. each route offers a very different camino experience but are combined in one volume as they join in a laxe for the final stages. each provides the minimum distance required for a pilgrim to apply for a compostela; but that is not the purpose of this guidebookwhich seeks to off er alternatives to the busy routes through sarria and tui which account for over 80% of all pilgrims to santiago; by contrast the camino invierno currently carries less than 1%. camino sanabrés offers a link from the via de le plata. this guide offers the last 5 stages of that itinerary commencing in ourense with its rich roman heritage and extant thermal baths. excellent rail and road links make the city highly accessible for pilgrims wishing to commence their journey from this point. the acorn would be a fitting symbol for this route that winds its way through ancient oak forest past the pico santo into santiago.camino invierno provides a link from the camino francés and a wonderful alternative to the routes through sarria which carry such a large volume of pilgrims. the 'winter way' is a camino in its own right as it snakes its way through the mystery of las médulas, the largest gold mines in the roman empire and now a world heritage site (see cover photo). it continues along the sacred banks of the río sil, the incomparable ribeira sacra with its vineyards and chestnut forests.

The author and actress chronicles her journey along the camino de santiago de compostela in spain–the famous pilgrimage route that has been taken by pilgrims ranging from st. francis of assisi to chaucer.

Now fully updated in 2020! this village to village guide to the camino de santiago is a comprehensive guidebook to walking the way of saint james, from saint-jean-pied-de-port to santiago de compostela (the camino frances), and also the camino finisterre to muxia and finisterre. this camino guidebook includes full-color detailed topographical stage maps of each day's walk with free gps files online; 135 detailed stage, city and town maps (now easier to read); essential practical information on transport, accommodations and services. it includes detailed listings of pilgrim hostels (albergues) and private accommodations in each town, including prices, amenities, number of beds, contact information, open dates, and more. there are regional introductions to the different areas along the camino including information about traditional foods, flora and fauna, and local culture plus overviews of dozens of medieval pilgrim sites, with information about the historical context of the pilgrimage. all the information you need to embark on this epic pilgrimage walk in a lightweight, attractive book.

At age 60 joyce rupp didn't know what she was getting into when she began a 47-day pilgrimge along the camino de santiago in spain. joined by a friend, joyce learned lessons that can help all of us travel on life's up-and-down journey with more grace and lightness. she shares them in this enjoyable recounting of her journey across mountains and valleys, cities and farms.

When i decided to walk the camino de santiago alone at age 71, it was on a whim. a year and a half earlier, i had had a hip replacement, but felt that i had become complacent in a comfortable retirement, and needed to shake up my life. and that's what i did. i knew walking a camino wouldn't be easy or pain-free. despite months of training and preparation, there was no way i could plan for the unexpected. on my third day of walking, an injury on the trail threatened my ability to finish my adventure. it would be more difficult and demanding than i ever imagined, forcing me to reach beyond physical pain and endurance, battle self-doubts, and draw from a spirit within me to finish the walk all the way to santiago de compostela. along the way, i discover unexpected feelings and surprising emotions. walk by my side takes the reader from the months of preparation in central mexico to portugal where i started a 100 mile journey on the camino portugues to santiago de compestela in spain. i'll take you with me as i walk to the rhythm of the endless ocean surf, navigate sprawling suburbs that have engulfed the ancient way, traverse the camino's paths and the back roads of galicia, and savor the tastes of galician food and wine. along the way, i meet a variety of characters, pilgrims from around the world, who are walking for their own personal reasons, and observe a camino that is changing to accommodate expansive growth and ever-increasing numbers of pilgrims.when i first started writing this book i had a friend read an early chapter where i started walking the camino. her comment to me was "i felt like i was walking with you, walking by your side." that comment inspired the book's title and a promise to the reader to maintain that feeling throughout the journey. read this travel memoir and you'll be there with me…walking by my side.

The book focus on the camino de santiago, an ancient pilgrimage trail that began around 820 ad. a resurrection of interest in the camino since the 1970s has meant that more than 300,000 individuals are nowadays undertaking the pilgrimage to santiago de compostela each year. the author made the pilgrimage in 2016 via the french route from saint-jean-pied-de-port in france to santiago de compostela in spain, a journey of some 500 miles. her book incorporates a blog and travel journal she kept during that pilgrimage. the book is also a memoir, with ms. connor explaining how and why she decided to make the pilgrimage.savoring the camino is also a practical guide to the camino for those interested in it. while the prevailing culture of the camino is to walk the route, ms. connor believes that walking is not the only way to undertake the route. taking buses, taxis, or even driving are also valid ways to experience the camino, in her opinion. she advocates for pilgrims to slow down and savor the pilgrimage by stopping in churches, cathedrals, museums, and interesting towns and cities along the route. not everyone experiences spiritual or personal growth through the act of walking; ms. connor urges pilgrims to take the trip in the manner that will most connect them with their spiritual, religious, and transcendent well springs.after completing the pilgrimage, the author journeyed on to madrid and toledo, and there are chapters in the book covering those visits. ms. connor also recounts activities following the journey related to the camino, such as writing an open letter to relevant governmental authorities in spain and hosting a thank-you dinner in houston for those who helped her plan and organize her pilgrimage.the book also includes a useful chapter on resources as well as an index.

A guidebook to walking the camino portugués (portuguese way), 620km from lisbon in portugal to santiago in spain. the book gives stage-by-stage directions for the central camino, starting from lisbon, porto or tui, the coastal camino between porto or vigo, and the spiritual variant route from pontevedra to redondela. it also describes link routes that can be used to swap from one route to another. detailed route guidance and maps are accompanied by fascinating information about historic and religious sites passed along the way. it is packed with essential information for pilgrims, with advice on getting there, when to go, where to stay and equipment. since 1211 santiago de compostela has been a place of holy pilgrimage and the camino portugues is the second most travelled pilgrim route. the largely rural journey takes in four unesco world heritage areas – the knights templar castle at tomar, portugal's oldest university at coimbra, and the old towns of porto and santiago – culminating at the cathedral at santiago de compostela.

2020 silver independent publisher book award in travel – essay in april 2015, beth and eric jusino, laden with backpacks and nerves, walked out of a cathedral in the historic village of le puy, france, down a cobblestone street, and turned west. seventy-nine days, a thousand miles, two countries, two mountain ranges, and three pairs of shoes later, they reached the atlantic ocean. more than two million pilgrims have walked the way of saint james, a long-distance hiking trail familiar to most americans by its spanish name, the camino de santiago. each pilgrim has their own reason for undertaking the journey. for the jusinos, it was about taking a break from the relentless pace of modern life and getting away from all their electronic devices. and how hard could it be, beth reasoned, to walk twelve to fifteen miles a day, especially with the promise of real beds and local wine every night? simple. it turned out to be harder than she thought. beth is not an athlete, not into extreme adventures, and, she insists, not a risk-taker. she didn't speak a word of french when she set out, and her spanish was atrocious. but she can tell a story. in walking to the end of the world, she shares, with wry humor and infectious enthusiasm, the joys and travails of undertaking such a journey. she evocatively describes the terrain and the route's history, her fellow pilgrims, and the villages passed, and the unexpected challenges and charms of the experience. beth's story is also about the assurance that an outdoor-based, boundary-stretching adventure is accessible to even the most unlikely of us. in her story, readers will feel that they, too, can get off their comfortable couches and do something unexpected and even spectacular. walking to the end of the world is a warm-hearted and engaging story about an average couple going on an adventure together, tracing ancient paths first created in the tenth and eleventh centuries, paths that continue to inspire and reveal surprises to us today in the twenty-first.

With over 1000 years of history, the way of st. james is one of the classic long distance walks. this historical route along almost 1000 kilometres from the pyrenees to santiago de compostela offers unique cultural, scenic and nature experiences. since the holy year of 2010 the way of st. james has gained even more in popularity and attracts more and more people from very different backgrounds, faiths and generations. it does not matter what the reason might be for setting out on the path to santiago de compostela – in the end you are confident that you have had a quite special experience.the rother walking guide describes in a total of 42 stages the whole of the camino francés from saint-jean-pied-de-port via roncesvalles, as well as the aragon route from the somport pass via jaca to santiago de compostela, including possible secondary routes and the extension to finisterre or muxía. james leads through a wealth of diverse landscapes, continuously interrupted by culturally and historically interesting places like roncesvalles, pamplona, puente la reina, san juan de ortega, burgos or leon, to name but a few. the natural experience dominates at first with the pyrenean mountains, then the rioja region characterised by vineyards, followed by the endless barren wastes of the castillian plateau. but finally, it is the greenery of galicia that rewards you for all your efforts and deprivations of the long journey, before you reach the climactic destination of santiago de compostela. if you still have time, then continuing to the coast, to finisterre and muxía, is highly recommended.detailed maps, precise descriptions of the individual stages including easy-to-read height profiles, as well as comprehensive details of the infrastructure along the way such as medical services, shopping opportunities or banks, make your planning of the walk easier, especially for deviations from the stages described in this guide. detailed information is also given about the location and standard of accommodation in the pilgrim hostels along the way, graded accordingly with one to three st. james shells. general tips on planning the route and equipment at the start of the book make this walking guide into a compact and practical guide. special mention is also made of historical and scenic delights, as well as regional peculiarities, local fiestas and culinary specialities. a selection of representative photos provide insights into the diversity of landscape and culture experienced along the way of st.

New 2013 edition now available. – this guide to preparation for the camino contains the following sections:planning and preparation: advice on when to walk, which part to walk, what to bring (clothes, equipment, etc.), what not to bring (very important), travelling to starting points, internet resources and budgeting. – on the camino: advice and information about what to expect on the camino. terrain, waymarkings, accommodation, food and drink, money matters, keeping in touch (telephone, internet, etc.), health – with advice on staying healthy and accessing the spanish health service, camino administration, etiquette and safety – staying safe and planning for any eventuality. – the caminos: information about the other caminos, a list of books about the caminos and pilgrim statistics, with the most popular starting points, nationalities, routes and busiest months. – history: the history section aims to give you an understanding of the historical background to the camino and the role it played in the foundation of modern spain and europe. it contains a history of spain, and a history of the camino from its beginnings to its revival, in the late 20th century. there's also an account of life on the camino in the middle-ages, the people who walked then, and the hardships and hazards they faced. – society, culture & environment: a brief outline of the fascinating mosaic that is modern spain, its politics, cultures and peoples. the natural environment of northern spain and the impact of the camino on it. a description of the architectural styles and periods you'll see along the camino. – communicating: advice on making yourself understood and understanding others, with a menu guide and the most useful spanish words and phrases for camino life, plus a few phrases in basque and galician. glossary: a concise reference for many camino-related persons and things. – this new edition, published in september 2013, has been extensively changed, updated and expanded based on feedback and criticisms received from readers over the past two years, and the author's experiences of walking various caminos during that time. – most of the changes and additions are in the areas: – packing, what to bring with the different packing options listed in detail, and the pros and cons of different items explained.- a typical camino day is described, from waking at the crack of dawn, to bedding down at nightfall.- there's detailed information about how pilgrim hostels work, and what it's like to stay in one.- health: blisters, bedbugs, heatstroke, and other camino hazards, are described with advice on avoiding them and dealing with them. – thanks to everybody for their feedback and their help with this new edition. ¡buen camino!

New 2013 edition now available. – this guide to preparation for the camino contains the following sections:planning and preparation: advice on when to walk, which part to walk, what to bring (clothes, equipment, etc.), what not to bring (very important), travelling to starting points, internet resources and budgeting. – on the camino: advice and information about what to expect on the camino. terrain, waymarkings, accommodation, food and drink, money matters, keeping in touch (telephone, internet, etc.), health – with advice on staying healthy and accessing the spanish health service, camino administration, etiquette and safety – staying safe and planning for any eventuality. – the caminos: information about the other caminos, a list of books about the caminos and pilgrim statistics, with the most popular starting points, nationalities, routes and busiest months. – history: the history section aims to give you an understanding of the historical background to the camino and the role it played in the foundation of modern spain and europe. it contains a history of spain, and a history of the camino from its beginnings to its revival, in the late 20th century. there's also an account of life on the camino in the middle-ages, the people who walked then, and the hardships and hazards they faced. – society, culture & environment: a brief outline of the fascinating mosaic that is modern spain, its politics, cultures and peoples. the natural environment of northern spain and the impact of the camino on it. a description of the architectural styles and periods you'll see along the camino. – communicating: advice on making yourself understood and understanding others, with a menu guide and the most useful spanish words and phrases for camino life, plus a few phrases in basque and galician. glossary: a concise reference for many camino-related persons and things. – this new edition, published in september 2013, has been extensively changed, updated and expanded based on feedback and criticisms received from readers over the past two years, and the author's experiences of walking various caminos during that time. – most of the changes and additions are in the areas: – packing, what to bring with the different packing options listed in detail, and the pros and cons of different items explained.- a typical camino day is described, from waking at the crack of dawn, to bedding down at nightfall.- there's detailed information about how pilgrim hostels work, and what it's like to stay in one.- health: blisters, bedbugs, heatstroke, and other camino hazards, are described with advice on avoiding them and dealing with them. – thanks to everybody for their feedback and their help with this new edition. ¡buen camino!

Spiritual seekers and travelers will find all the resources they need to walk the way of st. james in this complete set of maps and town plans covering the sacred route from lisbon, via porto, to santiago de compostella, including the alternate coastal route. for the first time, the 2018 edition also includes a spiritual variant and a littoral path.this newly updated, portable travel companion is light enough to carry while walking long distances each day and contains maps with locations of all pilgrim hostels, the distances between villages, and points of interest, as well as alternative routes and accommodations. the entire guide is provided in three languages: english, spanish and portuguese.

A quarter of all pilgrims arriving at santiago start in sarria: it provides the minimum distance required for a pilgrim to apply for a compostela. this guidebook features all the information needed to complete the 5 stages from sarria to santiago, including maps and contour guides (stage by stage), town plans, alternate routes, accommodation, history, mythology and so much more…