The following traditional Camino de Santiago guidebooks offer route direction and allow you to reconnect with these historical and spiritual routes. Packed with information, guidebooks can cover one or the entire network of routes and are the best information source.
The books have been created by dedicated individuals who have hiked and walked the routes. Maybe this is why I find each guidebook to offer something unique, or at least see each route from a new perspective. Most guidebooks cover a few established routes. Some publishers also cover other less-traveled routes. The Camino Frances, with its 800km of history and tradition, is the most popular route. But other routes are covered in popular guidebooks.
Camino De Norte Guide Book
Most of these routes have Middle Age origins. It would be nearly impossible for me to learn so much about a route without a good guidebook. At first, I thought all guidebooks are the same. But I soon realized that this is far from the truth.
In my experience, there are no truly bad guidebooks. However, incomplete guidebooks are published every year. I believe the walk is much more than a simple adventure for many pilgrims. It is also about reconnecting and refreshing the mind and the soul. This can be hard to achieve without the right information and understanding of the true value of each place along the route.
The guidebook has simple graphics with detailed information on the villages on the route from France. As a result, it is recommended for all ages as it is easy to follow. It might not be revolutionary, but it has updated information and gives access to online GPS files. Point by point, it has many good parts and a few possible drawbacks.
However, the detailed information and maps John Brierley offers are hard to match. There is plenty of information on accommodation, services, tourist attractions, weather, and elevation. I like that the guidebook offers local historical information and interesting local legends coverage.
A good guidebook should offer accommodation information. Accommodation is available for all tastes and budgets. I love how you can just sleep in a clean hostel for 10 euros per night. Hotels and even campsites are available along the route. However, even if these locations are listed in a guidebook, it is still advisable to call in advance to check for vacancies during the summer.
We bussed forward from Santandar to Santillana del Mar, skipping Camino del Norte stage 12. We did this because we were tight on time to finish our pilgrimage in 35 days and our guidebook told us that this is one of the drearier Norte stages. So there is no post for this stage.
Laura Perazzoli graduated from John Hopkins University with a degree in Writing Seminars and currently lives in Seattle, Washington. She completed her first pilgrimage in 2004 on the Camino Francés as one of the students on Dave Whitson's initial student pilgrimage. After this trip, she was excited to provide others with a similar experience and has since led student pilgrimage trips on the Camino Francés, the Camino del Norte and the Via Francigena. Laura first walked the Camino del Norte and Primitivo with a student group in 2009 and returned in 2011 to re-walk the route and to complete the Camino Inglés to ensure up-to-date route information for this guidebook.
All this designed to fit easily into your pocket with the latest slimline guides measuring only 11.5cm x 19cm (4.5" x 7.5"). While the map books are even lighter they only contain the daily stage maps, contour guides and town plans.
Traveling with company means that you can divide the responsibilities among the different members of the group, but if you travel alone, all responsibilities will fall on you, so it is advisable that you do so with a Camino guidebook with all the information that you may need (lodging, distances, routes, etc.)
45-60 minutes of Zoom Q&A with the famous guide writer and pioneer John Brierley, responsible for the most popular English language Camino guidebooks - many of which we stock in our shop! John will be answering any questions you have about the camino and your upcoming journey.
This Village to Village Map Guide to the Camino del Norte is a lightweight minimalist guidebook to walking the Way of Saint James from Irun 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-colour 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.
Though independently organizing a pilgrimage is doable, especially with the right itinerary and packing lists, we find it to be a bit of a headache-inducing task. If you find yourself stressing about which route to take and the basic costs and demands of the Camino, then you may find the extensive guide to the Camino de Santiago useful. Still feeling overwhelmed? Why not book a Northern Way tour, and let us take the weight off your shoulders.
The best advice I can give is also the most simple: walk the Camino your own way. Yes, there are blogs, guidebooks, videos, and so many resources, but only you can walk the Camino for YOU! There is no right or wrong way to walk the Camino de Santiago.
One of my best Camino de Santiago tips is to carry a physical guidebook. While it may not be for everyone, I loved checking my next day route at dinner time. It truly helped me plan my day and make the most of it. Hands down, John Brierley writes some of the most detailed and best Camino de Santiago guide books.
Greater Than a Tourist - Funchal Madeira Island Portugal offers the inside scoop on Funchal. Most travel books tell you how to travel like a tourist. That's alright, but this book gives you travel tips from someone who has lived at your destination. This book gives you knowledge you may not find in other smaller print travel books. Experience cultural, culinary delights, and attractions with the guidance of a Local. Slow down and get to know the people with this guide. After listening to this book, you will be ready to discover new activities at your next travel destination.
Books Leaving FootprintsNorth Country Cache: Adventures on a National Scenic Trail. Get the first book by a hiker of the North Country National Scenic Trail. Not a guidebook, but a collection of stories detailing adventures on the trail. 2ff7e9595c
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