Primitive Way

This is the oldest of the routes of the Camino de Santiago. Hence its name. The first pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela was officially made in the year 813, and the first pilgrim was none other than King Alfonso II, the Chaste. He did so after being notified of the discovery of the tomb of the apostle.

The Primitive Way is no friend of crowds. It is a demanding route, like the Camino del Norte, and has significant slopes. Nor is it particularly suitable for cycling (unless you have good technique and fitness). But it is also one of the most attractive routes from the point of view of the landscape, much less humanised than the other routes.

However, due to the small number of people taking this route, the network of accommodations and services is not very high, so in this case we do recommend that you have a support car, transport and pre-arranged accommodation.

In short: this is your Camino if you want to make the pilgrimage to Santiago in a more introspective and reflective way; if you don't love crowds or if you are simply looking for the most authentic option and trust in your strength.

If you decide to do this route, and your goal is to obtain the Compostela, you can start from Lugo (104 km), leaving behind the most complicated (and most impressive) mountainous areas. You will join the French Way in Arzúa, 40 km from Santiago.

However, most people start in A Fonsagrada (137 km), avoiding the steepest climb, or do the whole Camino from Oviedo (313 km) in 14 or 15 stages on foot.