Our Hybrid Camino de Santiago for 2026

Our 2026 Camino de Santiago will be a bit different in a number of ways.

First.  Pat is coming with me again!  She’s walked the Frances with me twice before in 2016 and 2018 and so is a bit nervous about this one having ben “off the trail” for 8 years.

Second.  It’s going to be a Hybrid of three different routes.   I’ll explain why.

As Pat has only walked the Camino Frances before, she’s keen to experience some “new” routes.  And as my last, was the VdlP and Invierno, I’m keen to stick to routes that we haven’t walked before and also I quite like the less popular routes now.  Though my four-route hybrid Camino last time threw up some suprises.

Another factor, is that we both like to collect Compostelas for relatives who have passed or who cannot make the journey.  We can add their names to our Compostelas “Vicarie Pro”.   Which basically means walking on behalf of someone else.    So we have planned to “walk into Santiago” twice to eanable us to each get two more Compostelas.  So hence, the Hybrid.   Which should end up something like this.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camino Madrid.  Starting in Madrid we’ll take the train up to Tres Cantos and start walking from there.   Sadly to start on day one with a long day of pounding the pavement is likely to cause us feet issues.   We’ll walk for 7 to 8 days on the Camino Madrid.  This will give Pat and I a chance to experience a less bust route through some amazing countryside.  Though Pat is somewhat nervous about the climb out of Cercedilla!   But we’ll take our time and go slow.  There is no rush.

Day Off.  We might then take a day off in Valladolid or Salamanca or both.  I know that Pat will love Salamanca.  I did when I walked the VdlP.   So the Madrid route for us is not a true Camino, in the sense that we will walk to Santiago, but more of a warm up and a chance for a different experience.

Camino Sanabres.  Then we’ll head over to Ourense, to start walking to Santiago de Compostela.  This will be a “Camino” in terms of qualifying distance and ending in Santiago.  Some highlights of this route are likely to include staying at the Monastery Albergue in Oseira.   I walked the last 2 days of this route last time when I walked the Camino Invierno.  They merge two days from Santiago.  So I look forward to entering Santiago from that direction again. It’s a lovely entry to the City.

Camino Fisterra – Muxia (in reverse).  Then after an overnight break in Santiago, and to collect our Compostela, we’ll bus out to Muxia. From here we start walking back to Santiago via Fisterra.   In this way, as we are again walking “to” Santiago and over 100 kms, we can gain another Compostela each.   I walked this route last time, from Santiago to Fisterra to Muxia and loved it.   Particularly the fresh Seafood!

So that’s our Hybrid Camino for 2026, and the reasoning behind it.

I’ll try to share daily Blog posts, photos and videos here, as well as a daily video on the Robs Camino Youtube Channel.  They’ll be delayed a few days in editing and posting, but should be roughly daily.  And as you might know, I do these for me more than you!   It’s like a diary that I can look back on years later and relive those wonderful Caminos……

We can’t wait to get going.

Rob and Pat.