The Camino Primitivo is where it all began.
Rarely offered by Spanish Steps, this special departure is a unique opportunity to experience the Camino in its most original and deeply rooted form during the 2027 Holy Year.
This is the first Camino. In the early 9th century, King Alfonso II of Asturias set out from Oviedo to verify reports of the newly discovered tomb of Saint James in Compostela. His journey became the first recorded pilgrimage to Santiago and gave birth to what is now known as the Camino Primitivo.
Walking this route during the 2027 Holy Year (Año Santo Jacobeo) adds a special dimension to the experience. Pilgrims from around the world will travel to Santiago during this rare Jubilee year, when the Feast of Saint James falls on a Sunday and the Holy Door of the cathedral is opened. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and pilgrimage unlike any other.
We begin in Oviedo at the Cathedral of San Salvador and walk westward through the mountains of Asturias into Galicia. The route remains wild, remote, and deeply connected to its origins.
The Camino Primitivo is widely regarded as the most authentic and physically demanding of the major Camino routes. The days are shaped by steady climbs and descents as we cross forested hills, mountain ridges, and quiet valleys where life still moves at a slower pace.
With that challenge comes something increasingly rare: space, silence, and a profound sense of walking a path that has changed little over the centuries.
The journey unfolds through landscapes of remarkable variety. Beech and oak forests, remote hamlets, high mountain passes, and sweeping views accompany us as we move deeper into northern Spain. Along the way, we encounter monasteries, ancient villages, and places that still preserve the spirit of the earliest pilgrims.
This is not a crowded Camino. Even during the Holy Year, the Primitivo remains quieter and more contemplative than many other routes. For many pilgrims, it offers the deepest and most rewarding Camino experience.
As always, the rhythm of the journey is carefully balanced. With van support, luggage transport, and thoughtfully selected accommodations, the physical challenge is well supported, allowing you to focus on the walk itself.
Evenings are shared and grounded in local life. Regional cuisine, comfortable accommodations, and the friendships that grow within a small group become an essential part of the experience.
The Camino Primitivo is a journey into the origins of pilgrimage itself. During the Holy Year of 2027, that connection to the past feels even more meaningful as we follow in the footsteps of the very first pilgrim on his way to Compostela.
