2017 is the biggest year for the Camino de Santiago on record as the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela announced last week they gave out a total of 301 036 Compostelas, Certificates of Achievement of the Camino de Santiago.
Congratulations to all those brave pilgrims who walked, cycled or horse-rode over 100 km into the City of the Apostle Saint James!
Each Camino has its reason and is an achievement.
Whichever way you have done it (with luggage transfers, support van & booked luxury accommodation or with just your backpack and a map), you dedicated at least a week of your time plus preparation, you overcame your fears and each one of the challenges that were put in front of you, you went out of your comfort zone and interacted with other human beings. Even if you are a seasoned traveller and have walked the Camino in the past, each Camino is unique and worthy of respect and praise.
So, we dedicate this post to the 300 000 intrepid pilgrims who accomplished their goal last year, to those who are not in this list but who walked a long section of the Camino somewhere not finishing in Santiago and to all those who have done it in the past and will in the future! Well done!
