TRAVEL: Survey reveals Camino walk motivations

NEW research published earlier this month has revealed what motivates people to walk the Camino.

The Camino has been popular with the Irish for generations, initially as a spiritual experience but more recently as simply a great way to spend a few days meeting people, having fun and keeping fit as well.

CaminoWays.com, the Irish based Camino specialists, recently surveyed over a thousand walkers of the ancient pilgrimage trail to learn more about why they undertook the journey.

The popularity of the route has exploded in recent years, with 277,913 certificates of completion handed out in 2016 alone.

Historically pilgrims would have made the long walk to Santiago de Compostella for religious reasons.

The remains of St James are said to be buried within the Cathedral in the beautiful Spanish city.

CaminoWays.com’s research showed that just 28 per cent of walkers today do the Camino for religious or spiritual reasons.

However, the Camino is undoubtedly a unique experience and is known as a haven for self-reflection.

In fact 17.8 per cent of Camino walkers hit the trail to get away from the daily routines of life and connect with nature.

Surrounded and often bombarded by technology in our lives, the Camino offers an escape, an opportunity to disconnect and detox from digital habits.

And some of the natural sites and landscapes along the way are truly breathtaking and as far away from technology than you can imagine.

The most popular reason for walking the Camino was people looking for a new challenge, with 28.2 per cent of walkers wanting to test themselves physically and mentally along the way.

The Camino is suitable for almost anyone and is as rewarding as it is challenging.

A total of 10.8 per cent of people walk the Camino specifically for health and exercise.

With constant media reports around the growing obesity issue in Europe and the US, a walking holiday is a great way to kick start a healthy lifestyle.

It can be seen as a welcome alternative to the classic sun holiday, where the focus is often on eating and drinking as much as you can, and moving as little as possible!

The diverse experiences along the route convinced 4.6 per cent of those surveyed to complete the Camino to learn more about culture. 

The pilgrimage is also a social experience and some people walk it for that reason. The best route to meet new people is The French Way, which is the most popular Camino Route. 

To find out more or to organise a walk visit www.caminoways.com.