The Way of Sant James

One of the most international symbols of the Way of St. James is the yellow arrow, painted by hand on road surfaces, houses, walls and trees. Its origins are quite recent: it was created in 1984 on the initiative of O Cebreiro priest Elías Valiña, who put up these markers along the entire French Way, from France to Santiago.

The Public network of Pilgrims’ hostels was created in 1993. Today it is made up of 70 locations with more than 3,000 beds. It follows the model of the network of medieval hospitals established to meet the basic needs of pilgrims

Before setting out for Santiago, you will need to make a plan and assess your abilities. You may find it helpful to contact your local Friends of the Way of St. James association. Your primary consideration must be to ensure that you are in suitable physical condition and have the proper equipment.

The Way of St. James is always a positive choice, allowing each person to in some way find themselves, gain perspective and re-evaluate their own existence. Remaining open to all experiences, each of us must take a straightforward, relaxed approach to the journey.

A number of new and original tourism packages offer a different experience of the Way of St. James. They include ‘Culinary Santiago’, the Primitive Route by 4x4 and the English Route by sailing boat. Another offer, the Bono Iacobus, is a voucher which combines doing the route with accommodation in rural guest houses.

We offer a selection of useful URLs, contacts and publications for planning your pilgrimage, including the Pilgrim’s Office network, Santiago Cathedral and Santiago Tourism, as well as Friends of the Way of St. James associations and lodging establishment websites.