A Piedi Per Il Mondo
Article

Walking Santiago: Breaking Records on the Camino

Discover the extraordinary stories of pilgrims who've challenged themselves on the Camino de Santiago. From speed records to transformative journeys, explore what makes this ancient route a beacon for modern adventurers seeking personal breakthroughs.

Deborah Torreggiani

Deborah Torreggiani

April 6, 20163 minUpdated July 22, 2026
Walking Santiago: Breaking Records on the Camino

In this article

[av_slideshow_full size=’featured’ stretch=” animation=’slide’ autoplay=’false’ interval=’5′ control_layout=’av-control-default’ src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ attach=’scroll’]
[av_slide_full id=’5596′][/av_slide_full]
[/av_slideshow_full]

[av_one_full first first min_height=’av-equal-height-column’ vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=’no_margin’ margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[/av_one_full][av_one_full first first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=’no_margin’ margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

Santiago Reaches Record Numbers

March arrivals hit an unprecedented 11,066 pilgrims

[easy-social-share buttons=”facebook,twitter,google,pinterest” counters=1 counter_pos=”hidden” style=”button” point_type=”simple”]


Never before have arrival figures of this magnitude been recorded for the month of March. From the beginning of 2016, there was already a noticeable increase in the number of pilgrims arriving in Santiago, but the gap compared to previous years was minimal—just a few dozen more pilgrims.

This time, however, the difference is staggering. A total of 11,066 pilgrims crossed Spain and obtained the Compostela certificate, a figure that seems almost unbelievable when compared to the 1,733 from the previous month and the 5,080 from the same month last year. More than double, representing a 118% increase.
[/av_textblock]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
It's impossible to explain these numbers solely by attributing them to 2016 being a Holy Year, because even though this is certainly an encouraging factor, the arrivals compared to the jubilee year of 2010 have nonetheless doubled.

The reasons must therefore be sought elsewhere. One factor is certainly the fine weather: March proved to be particularly warm and sunny, far removed from the heavy snowfall and fierce winds that affected northern Spain in the preceding weeks. Additionally, it was Easter month, and with school holidays, long weekends, and religious observances, many pilgrims chose to spend several days walking the Way.

But the primary reason lies in the remarkable popularity that the Camino de Santiago has gained in recent years: books, blogs, newspapers, recommendations from friends and family, television programmes and YouTube videos. Now very few people haven't heard about it, and increasingly more are intrigued enough to organize their own pilgrimage.
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full][av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′]

[av_image src=’https://ctciegkgbryqtjtzlifl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/apd-media/apd/2016/04/arrivi-febbraio-2016-.png’ attachment=’5601′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

Santiago Reaches Record Numbers

Plan your Camino de Santiago Journey
[/av_textblock]

[av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′]

[av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_magazine link=’post_tag,56,97,70,103′ items=’5′ offset=’0′ tabs=’aviaTBtabs’ thumbnails=’aviaTBthumbnails’ heading=” heading_link=’manually,http://’ heading_color=’theme-color’ heading_custom_color=’#ffffff’ first_big_pos=’top’]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_fourth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_fourth]

[av_one_fourth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_fourth]

[av_hr class=’default’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′]

[av_comments_list]

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”][/av_one_full]


news

Share

A Piedi Per Il Mondo

New articles on walks, trekking and hiking trips. Free, no spam.

Deborah Torreggiani

Deborah Torreggiani

Co-fondatrice, A Piedi Per Il Mondo

I've been organising walks since I discovered that walking slow is the fastest way to know a place. I take care of every logistical detail so you can focus only on the steps ahead.

Profilo e tutti gli articoli di Deborah

Previous article

10 Essential Items for Your Walking Pack

Next article

20 Iconic Landmarks on the Camino de Santiago

Walk in Camino de Santiago

Discover our itineraries
in Camino de Santiago.

All itineraries

Want a tailor-made itinerary?

Plan your trip
Read also
When to walk the Camino de Santiago: the honest picture, month by month
Camino de Santiago

When to walk the Camino de Santiago: the honest picture, month by month

July 22, 2026
How much does the Camino de Santiago cost: real prices, item by item
Camino de Santiago

How much does the Camino de Santiago cost: real prices, item by item

July 22, 2026
The Camino de Santiago in a Week: Every Route That Works
Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago in a Week: Every Route That Works

July 22, 2026