Welcome to Our Blog on the Camino de Madrid
Camino de Madrid Pilgrimage
Welcome to our Camino de Madrid blog
The Camino de Madrid is a lesser-known but equally captivating route of the famous Camino de Santiago, offering a unique opportunity for pilgrims and hikers alike to connect with faith, nature and history in Spain. Starting in Madrid, this trail takes you through picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and historical sites, leading all the way to the renowned Camino Francés. Unlike the more crowded routes, the Camino Madrid provides a peaceful and reflective experience, making it ideal for those looking to slow down and embrace both spiritual and physical challenges. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a first-time pilgrim, keep reading to discover why the Camino Madrid should be your next adventure.
Over the span of 12 days in April, we completed this 322 km pilgrimage route from Madrid to Sahagún, Spain, where we joined the Camino Francés. It was a wonderful experience that was unlike any of our previous pilgrimages over the years.
After completing the Camino de Madrid, we continued our walk on the Camino Francés for 2 days, hiking from Sahagún to Leon. From there we walked the Camino de San Salvador to Oviedo, before trekking the Camino Primitivo to Santiago de Compostela.
Thank you for reading, and 'Buen Camino!
Camino de Madrid Pilgrim Itinerary and Stages
Reasons for Returning to the Camino Again
Planning a Camino from Madrid to Santiago
Setting Off! Toronto to Montreal to Paris to Madrid
Camino Begins, Madrid to Tres Cantos
Birding the Camino, Tres Cantos to Manzanares el Real
Blessings of the Camino, Manzanares el Real to Las Dehesas
Roman Roads Through the Mountains, Las Dehesas to Segovia
Romulus, Remus, the Devil and Me, exploring Segovia
Always Look Back, Segovia to Santa Maria la Real de Nieva
Forests, Fields, and Faith, Santa Maria la Real de Nieva to Vileguillo
Rain Storms, Provincial Mud, and Snow Storms, Vileguillo to Alcazarén
Finding Balance amid Frustration, Alcazarén to Valladolid and onward to Simancas
Into the Meseta, Simancas to Castromonte
Logistics on a Developing Camino, Castromonte to Medina de Rioseca
Natural Beauty and Lessons on the Way, Medina de Rioseca to Villalon de Campos
Cerrado, cerrado, cerrado right to the end, Villalon de Campos to Sahagún
Camino Francés (Re)joined, Sahagún to Mansilla de las Mulas to Leon
Nature Along the Way: Birds and Wildlife on the Camino de Madrid
Reflections and Lessons from the Camino de Madrid
Continuing Our Pilgrimage Journeys
Walking the Camino de Madrid offered us an opportunity to discover a quieter side of Spain's pilgrimage traditions. Over 12 days and 322 kilometres, we travelled north from Madrid through the Sierra de Guadarrama, the historic streets of Segovia, the agricultural landscapes of Castile, and the wide-open countryside of the Meseta before reaching Sahagún. Along the way, we encountered beautiful scenery, remarkable history, challenging weather, and the practical difficulties of following a pilgrimage route with fewer services and considerably fewer fellow pilgrims than we had experienced on some of our earlier Caminos.
Yet reaching Sahagún was never intended to mark the end of this particular adventure. After joining the Camino Francés, we continued for two days to León, returning briefly to a familiar pilgrimage route before turning north onto the Camino de San Salvador. There, the agricultural landscapes of central Spain gave way to the mountains of Asturias, where steep climbs, remote pathways, and extraordinary scenery introduced another very different experience of pilgrimage.
From Oviedo, we continued along the Camino Primitivo, following one of the oldest pilgrimage routes toward Santiago de Compostela. Its mountain landscapes, changing weather, historic communities, and demanding terrain brought both memorable experiences and humbling lessons as we continued west through Asturias and Galicia.
Together, these three routes formed one continuous pilgrimage, but each offered its own landscapes, challenges, traditions, and reasons to reconsider what it meant to be a pilgrim. Even after several previous journeys to Santiago, we discovered that experience did not eliminate uncertainty or guarantee that everything would unfold as expected.
Our journeys along the Camino de Madrid, San Salvador, and Primitivo form part of a much wider collection of pilgrimages and long-distance walks across Europe and Canada. For readers interested in exploring those other adventures, together with our slow journeys by trail, rail, and sail, we invite you to visit the Come Walk With Us travel collection.
Buen Camino, and see you on the Way!
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