Posts by Portuguese Way of Saint James

There are walks that lead us along physical trails, and there are those that open up paths within. This is what happened to Luís Abrantes, who began the Camino as a challenge and ended up discovering a deeply spiritual experience. Among green landscapes, challenging climbs and small gestures of fraternity, he found something greater: the simplicity of being happy with little, the beauty of the essential and the transforming power of sharing. Get to know Luís' journey and be inspired to discover your own Way.

The Camino is more than a journey, it's an encounter with oneself. For Catarina Varges, walking to Santiago was a personal challenge and an invitation to chosen solitude, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Four days, hundreds of steps and a deep silence accompanied her along the Ecopista do Minho and the trails to Compostela. Between the vastness of nature and the absence of pilgrims, she found a rare space for reflection and to test her own limits. With each stage, he felt the weight of the walk and the lightness of discovery. In the end, it wasn't just the arrival in Santiago that marked the journey, but the certainty that the Way transformed more than her steps, it transformed the way she saw herself. Come and hear her story and be inspired!

There are paths that lead us to destinations and there are paths that transform us. For Marco Silva, the Camino de Santiago was more than a pilgrimage - it was a space to connect with nature, a shared challenge and an opportunity to slow down and experience each stage. Over the course of five days, alongside his wife and other pilgrims, he experienced moments of overcoming, unexpected discoveries and lessons that only the Camino can teach. Between the silence of the trails and the conviviality of sharing, he realized that the true essence of the Way lies in the generosity of encounters and the simplicity of being present.

Each step is a story, and the Way writes them all. When Arabela decided to walk the Camino de Santiago, she wasn't just tracing a route on a map, she was testing her limits, challenging her mind and body, and opening herself up to the unpredictability of the journey. At each stage, she encountered unexpected challenges, moments of overcoming and discoveries that only the Camino can offer. Between difficult descents, unexpected conversations and the magic of the "Buen Camino" exchanged between pilgrims, Arabela learned that the real walk goes beyond the distance covered; it is made up of inner strength, acceptance and communion with everything around us.

For Andreia Silva, the Camino de Santiago was more than an arrival - it was a full experience at every stage. Over the course of five days, from Valença to Santiago, she discovered that the real magic lies in the silence, simplicity and overcoming that each kilometer offers. In Caldas de Reis, he found the most remarkable moment: a mixture of exhaustion, enchantment and conquest that remains etched in his memory. That's when he realized that it's possible to live with less, but feel much more. In this interview, Andreia shares with us a transformative experience - made up of firm steps, a light spirit and the certainty that the essential is found on the path, not at the destination.

On a journey where every step is an inward plunge, Joana found on the Portuguese Way of the Interior more than trails and breathtaking landscapes - she discovered herself. Driven by the search for peace and focus, for six days she walked a route marked by silence, persistent rain and the smiles of other pilgrims who, with a simple "buon camino", lit up the route. In this interview, she shares how the Camino helped her open her heart and soul, healing her through pain and detachment. She tells us about the steep climbs, the magic of the green forest and the crystal-clear waters of the streams, and how each challenge strengthened her courage and inner strength. For Joana, the Camino is about belonging, freedom and overcoming - an experience so transformative that she plans to repeat it with her daughter one day.

For Sónia Graça, the Camino de Santiago proved to be more than a pilgrimage; it was a real lesson in surrender and acceptance. Getting lost along the way brought her one of the most valuable lessons: on the Camino, as in life, control is an illusion. There's no point in counting kilometers or planning every arrival, because unforeseen events are part of the journey - and when accepted with an open heart, everything becomes lighter. With this transformative experience, Sónia made a new decision: to become a guide and help other people experience the Camino de Santiago, guiding them not only along the route, but also through the profound meaning that each step can bring.