Pilgrimage on the Camino: Reflections from A Decade Later

How has the Camino Changed in 10 Years?

“Thus says the Lord: ‘… ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’” Jeremiah 6:16 

Transformations and Changes on the Way

When we first walked the Camino, it was along the Camino Francés route more than a decade ago. At the time, we didn’t yet realize how profoundly it would shape our relationship with pilgrimage and the long trails that followed. Reading these early journals now, I see the wonder, naivety, and honest discovery of that first day leaving Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port as we stepped onto the Way of St. James en route to Orrison and eventually Santiago de Compostela. 

 
In the years and 10 years that have followed since our first walk to Santiago, we have trekked and explored around the world on  trails such as:
 
Ontario’s Bruce Trail
Newfoundland’s East Coast Trail
Completed the 28,000 km-long Trans Canada Trail
 
Via Podiensis / GR65
Camino Portuguese Central
Camino de Madrid
Camino de San Salvador
Camino Primitivo
Camino Finisterre and Muxia
 
Rota Vicentina
Camino Portuguese Coastal and Espiritual
 
Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast
Pennine Way
West Highland Way
Great Glen Way
Hadrian’s Wall Path
 
Via Augusta
Via de la Plata
Camino Sanabres
 
Each of these journeys was inspired and shaped by our time on the Camino Frances, and the call of the Way has repeatedly brought us back to Santiago.  As a result of repeatedly setting out on pilgrimage on a Camino over the past decade, we have a unique perspective of the Way of St. James. 

 
Reflecting back on the Camino we have seen, that while the spirit of pilgrimage and the Way remain as strong as ever, a great deal has changed. 

10 years of Transformation

Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of walking along parts of the Camino Francés several times; each journey offered a slightly different perspective on the most popular route of the Way of St. James.

A decade ago now, our first full pilgrimage was on the Frances and took us from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela. The following year, after completing the GR65 (the French route known as the Via Podiensis), we once again crossed the Pyrenees to reconnect with the Camino in Spain.   In 2022, after walking the Camino de Madrid, Camino de San Salvador, and Camino Primitivo, we crossed the Frances twice more.  First between Sahagun and Leon, and later on the final stages between Lugo and Santiago.

 
Each experience offered something unique: a new season, a new mindset, and a new understanding of what pilgrimage means - as well as how the Camino Frances has changed.

 
Walking both before and after the global pandemic has allowed us to witness profound social and cultural changes along the Camino. We have walked during two Holy Years and throughout ordinary seasons, experiencing the ebb and flow of pilgrims who come for different reasons at different times. We’ve walked in the spring, amid fields of blooming flowers, in the height of summer, when the meseta shimmers in the heat, and in autumn, when the fields and forests take on the colours of fall.
 
Our pilgrimages have also spanned moments of change in Santiago itself. We witnessed the Cathedral’s restoration, from scaffolding and construction barriers to the final unveiling of its cleaned façade and newly polished interior.  That transformation mirrored the Way itself - renewed and restored for the 21^st century, yet historical.

 
Similarly, we have watched as the new pilgrim office was opened, witnessed as it began printing off Compostela at a record rate and saw as objects of pilgrimage – such as the historic Porto de Gloria have been turned into tourist attractions that have to be paid for to visit and see.

 
Taken together, these experiences - across a decade of walking, through different seasons, Holy Years, and a global pandemic - make it impossible to deny that the Camino has evolved. While the path remains sacred, who walks, the route they choose, and the economics of the Camino have shifted in ways that reflect the broader social and cultural changes in the world. 

Shifts and Changes on the Camino Frances

The first and most evident difference along the Camino Francés between 2015 and 2025 is the sheer rise in the number of pilgrims walking it. Over the past decade, the route has grown from a well-loved path into an international phenomenon. In 2015, roughly 172,000 people—about 65% of all pilgrims - walked the Francés, with 262,000 Compostelas issued in total. By the end of 2024, that number had risen to approximately 235,000 pilgrims on the Francés alone, accounting for nearly half of all walkers, and almost 500,000 Compostelas distributed. These figures only represent those who registered in Santiago, meaning the real number of people on the trail is significantly higher. 

 
There are, of course, a number of reasons for this growth in pilgrim numbers…
 
A combination of Holy Years, popular films, and social media has amplified awareness of the Camino over the years. Two Holy Year cycles in his period - 2016 and the extended Xacobeo from 2019 to 2021 - brought attention. The 2010 release of The Way (2010) sparked global curiosity, particularly among North American audiences, while blogs, YouTube channels, and social media posts have made the Camino appear approachable, familiar, and low-risk. This digital visibility helped transform the Way from a spiritual pilgrimage into a mainstream bucket list goal, appealing to travellers seeking cultural immersion and personal renewal as well as long-distance hikers.

 
The broader surge in tourism in Europe and around the world has also reshaped the Camino. After the pandemic, lockdowns left many people craving open space, physical movement, and purpose. Pilgrimage offered all three. For many, walking to Santiago became a way to question the meaning of work and life, to travel more slowly, and to reconnect with something real after years of lockdown and digital overload. The Camino’s blend of meaningful travel, physical challenge, and spiritual reflection placed it perfectly within post-pandemic desires for the outdoors and an authentic experience.
 
Affordability and safety have also played major roles in the Camino’s enduring appeal. Spain and Portugal remain among Europe’s most budget-friendly and secure destinations, allowing pilgrims from around the world to embark on a transformative journey without prohibitive cost or risk. This accessibility continues to draw new walkers each year.

 
Another notable transformation has been the expansion and development of alternative Camino routes. As the Francés became increasingly crowded, new pathways like the Camino Portugués, Camino Primitivo, and Via de la Plata have gained in popularity. Many repeat pilgrims, or “Camino addicts,” now return to explore these quieter routes, deepening their connection to the Way while redistributing traffic across the broader network.
 
Shorter pilgrimages have also become increasingly common. Routes beginning in Sarria, Lugo, Tui/Valencia, Vigo, and Ourense - just over 100 km from Santiago - allow people to complete the minimum distance required to receive a Compostela within a week. These “100 km Caminos” have opened the experience to those with limited time, further contributing to the diversity and sheer number of walkers on the trail.

 

Beyond the number of people, rising tourism, and development of new routes on the Camino, other changes over the past decade have included…
 
Infrastructure along the Camino has expanded dramatically. The past decade has seen the construction of new albergues, whether municipal, private, or donativo - along with large numbers of hostels, guesthouses, and B&Bs catering to different budgets. Facilities are more modern, prices are more varied, and amenities are more abundant.  Among these amenities, the prevalence of wifi in albergues has shifted how pilgrims interact.  This evolution has made the Camino more comfortable and more “connected,”  but, at times, makes the journey less rustic than the path many pilgrims once knew.

 
Waymarking has also improved over the last 10 years. A decade ago, the yellow arrows of the Camino Francés were often faded or intermittent, yet today signage is clear, frequent, and supported by digital mapping apps. While this makes navigation easier, it also alters the sense of uncertainty and discovery that once defined the walk.
 
The rise of support services has perhaps been the most visible shift. Luggage transport, shuttles, taxis, and booking systems have become standard. Many pilgrims now reserve accommodations in advance via Booking.com or WhatsApp, leading to what some call a “reservation culture.” While convenient, this shift has altered the spontaneous, communal rhythm of pilgrimage, replacing the old first-come, first-served albergue system with one that is increasingly scheduled and managed from the first through to the last day on the Way of St. James.

 
The motivations for walking have likewise diversified over the last decade. Where pilgrims once spoke primarily of faith or spiritual renewal, today’s walkers often cite health, mindfulness, digital detox, adventure, or personal growth when they are asked. The Camino has become a path for healing – spiritual, physical and emotional - attracting people seeking balance in a fast-paced world. This broader appeal reflects the broader global trends and cultural shift toward wellness, slow travel, and reconnection.

These changing motivations have, in turn, transformed who walks the Camino. The trail now welcomes a wider range of nationalities, ages, and backgrounds than ever before. English-speaking pilgrims are more numerous, leading to an increase in multilingual signage and services. The Camino has truly become a global meeting ground of cultures and stories.
 
Rising pilgrim numbers have also lengthened the walking season. In 2015, most people walked between May and September, avoiding the extremes of weather. Now, many set out in early spring or late fall to escape summer crowds, while others begin in alternate starting points or vary their stage lengths to find solitude and avoid the “race for the beds”. The Camino is no longer just a summer experience - it has become a year-round undertaking.

 
Perhaps the most profound change has been the digital transformation of and on the Camino. Smartphones, GPS apps, and widespread Wi-Fi have transformed the experience. Pilgrims now reserve bunks and beds online, use QR codes in the Pilgrim’s Office, donate via tap systems, and rely on translation apps as well as online reviews when deciding on where to stay or eat each day. While these tools add convenience and accessibility, they also reduce the Camino’s communal culture, replacing conversation with screens and spontaneity with planning.

   

 
The route itself has changed, too. Small villages that once offered simple donativo albergues have grown into bustling pilgrim hubs, with cafés, shops, and boutique hotels catering to the steady influx of walkers. While this development sustains local economies, it has also blurred the line between pilgrimage and tourism.

 
In many places, the Camino has evolved from a spiritual journey to a commercial enterprise – from pilgrimage to tourism. The focus has shifted toward amenities, marketing, and efficiency, often at the expense of quiet reflection. Yet despite the busier trails and higher costs, the essential heart of the Camino, the simple act of walking toward something greater, endures. 

Closing Reflection

Looking back, I smile at how much energy we poured into those first 8 km on the Camino Frances from St. Jean Pied de Port to Orrison, as well as the excitement of setting out for the first time on pilgrimage.  What we could not have expected was how much the call of the Camino would influence our lives. 

In fact, this day crossing the Pyrenees was not only our first step toward Santiago, but was also a lifelong conversation with slow travel, hiking and exploring the natural world on foot.
 
See you on the Way!