The Primitive Way

Immerse yourself in the wildest and purest side of the Primitive Way. Famous for its breathtaking landscapes, full of mountains and incredible ravines, the Primitive Way is one of the hardest, but we assure you it is worth it.

Embark on this adventure and let us organise everything for you, so you don't have to worry about a thing!

Our routes

In Tu Buen Camino we offer you our services for two routes for you along the Camino Primitivo.

The Primitive Way from Lugo

Do the Camino de Santiago from Lugo with us and soak up the magic of this route.

The Primitive Way from Oviedo

Start your adventure from Oviedo and enjoy all the advantages of Tu Buen Camino.

Choose the plan that works best for you

Premium Routes

Accommodation in hotels and rural houses
Rooms with private bathroom
Travel insurance
Welcome Pack with Pilgrim's Credential
24-hour assistance
Complete route itinerary
Emergency vehicle
Cancellation free of charge up to 15 days before the planned start date

Adventure Routes

Accommodation in private hostels
Travel insurance
Welcome Pack with Pilgrim's Credential
24-hour assistance
Complete route itinerary
Emergency vehicle
Cancellation free of charge up to 15 days before the planned start date

Information on the Primitive Way of St James

If you are thinking of doing the Primitive Way, we tell you all the details you should remember and keep in mind about the different routes.

Read on!

The Primitive Way from Oviedo on foot

If you have decided to do the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo, you have several options to start your route.

Some people prefer to do it by bicycle or even on horseback, but our recommendation is that if you can, you should do it on foot, as this way you will be able to better enjoy the beautiful landscapes that you will discover along this route.

The Primitive Way from Lugo: Stages

Starting your route from Lugo, you will have a total of 6 stages until you reach Santiago de Compostela.

Hostels along the Primitive Way 

Do you want to do the Primitive Way of Saint James, but you aren't sure where to stay?

Don't worry, because we've got the perfect solution for you at Tu Buen Camino.
We offer you two plans so that you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

Premium Plan: Hiring our premium services, you'll have access to hotels and rural houses with bathrooms and private rooms.

The Primitive Way of St. James is one of the most popular Camino de Santiago routes. It is also known as the Oviedo Way of St. James or the Inland Camino de Santiago Route along the North.

The Primitive Way of St. James starts at the foot of Oviedo Cathedral and runs inland through the Principality of Asturias. It enters Galicia via Lugo and joins the French Way of St. James at Melide, about 55 kilometres from the Apostle James’ tomb.

The route is 313 kilometres long, 255 of which belong to the so-called Primitive Way of St. James. The route to Santiago is generally divided into 13 or 14 stages, the last three of which belong to the French Way of St. James.

This route has a lot of charm due to the wonderful surroundings, fine infrastructure and, above all, its matchless cultural and historical charm. Many pilgrims choose this route because it is not as busy as other ones and enables them to visit Oviedo Cathedral, which is a very important historic site. If you are looking for an adventure that combines all these features, then the Primitive Way of St. James is the perfect option for you.

More reserved routes for doing the Primitive Way of St. James  

In relation to more reserved routes of the Primitive Way of St. James, there are two main options: the Way of St. James from Oviedo and the Way of St. James from Lugo. Although both options feature beautiful scenery and large accommodation establishments, each one has its own advantages.

Way of St. James from Oviedo  

The Way of St. James from Oviedo is the longer of the two with 210 km and takes 11 days to complete. It is also one of the hardest stretches of the Way of St. James, but its beauty is matchless. Tubuencamino offers the best possible accommodation for this route, as well as the option of adding breakfast and dinner to your package.

Way of St. James from Lugo  

The Way of St. James from Lugo is the shorter option with 111 km and consists of 5 stages. You can either book just breakfast or breakfast and dinner. As in the case of the Way of St. James from Oviedo, Tubuencamino offers the best possible accommodation for this journey. The Way of St. James from Lugo begins by leaving the city on the way to San Lázaro.

5 reasons for choosing the Primitive Way of St. James

The Primitive Way of St. James is the best way of discovering the genuine nature of the Way of St. James. The Primitive Way of St. James features the very origin of the Camino de Santiago. It is therefore the best way of discovering the route’s historical, cultural, and religious character.

Here are five reasons why the Primitive Way of St. James is the best way of experiencing the Camino de Santiago:

1. Heritage: The Primitive Way of St. James is renowned for its outstanding heritage. For example, it features artistic-architectural heritage from such prolific periods as the Romanesque and the Gothic. It is waiting to be discovered throughout the route.

2. Infrastructure: The Primitive Way of St. James is one of the best equipped in relation to infrastructure, ranging from accommodation establishments to good signposting and, in general, excellent security.

3. Scenery: The Primitive Way of St. James is surrounded by striking scenery full of beauty, including mountains, cliffs, rivers, woodland and, in general, everything you would expect in order to enjoy an unforgettable experience.

4. It is not overcrowded: The Primitive Way of St. James is not as crowded as other stretches and routes. This means you can fully enjoy the entire route and, in the case of those travelling on their own, it is easier to find accommodation. However, this is not a problem for those travelling with Caminos de Santiago.

5. The experience: The Primitive Way of St. James is one of the most charming options featuring the real essence of the Camino de Santiago in general.

If you are looking for a truly genuine and enriching experience of the Camino de Santiago, then the Primitive Way of St. James is the route you should choose.

Best time of year for doing the Primitive Way of St. James

The best time for doing the Primitive Way of St. James really depends on the person and what they are looking for. Since each season has its own advantages and disadvantages, it is important to consider all the options before deciding when to go.

Spring  

Spring is a good time because the temperatures are milder. However, there are two possible inconveniences: the unstable climate and allergies. It is therefore important to be prepared for both before undertaking the journey. Spring is also a fine time for enjoying the Camino de Santiago’s natural beauty in all its splendour and colour.

Summer  

Summer is, by far, the most popular time for doing the Primitive Way of St. James. This is mainly due to the climate, which is milder in the north of Spain where the Primitive Way of St. James is located. Moreover, in summer there are more hours of daylight, which makes it easier to complete the route.

The inconvenience of summer is that accommodation establishments are busier. However, this is not a problem if you are travelling with Tubuencamino, since we can always find you somewhere to stay.

Autumn  

Autumn is another possible time for doing the Primitive Way of St. James. However, the weather is more unstable in autumn, with more rain. This may make it more difficult to travel along the Primitive Way of St. James, since most of it is made up of dirt trails. Nonetheless, if you are suitably equipped, you can enjoy wonderful views and the magical colours of autumn leaves.

Winter

Winter is also an interesting season for doing the Primitive Way of St. James. This is due to the fact that accommodation establishments are not so busy, and, in some stretches, you can even enjoy the snow. If you are well equipped, the cold temperatures will not be a problem and you will be able to continue enjoying the beautiful views.

Difficulty of the Primitive Way of St. James

The Primitive Way of St. James is one of the most difficult Camino de Santiago routes. This is due to the high average altitude of the stretches, the distances, the length of the stages, and the different stages for bikes.

The Primitive Way of St. James is approximately 770 kilometres long and usually takes between 34 and 40 days to complete. It is a demanding route, with some stretches that pass through remote, steep terrain, which means that it is not suitable for everyone. However, those that are ready to face the challenge will be rewarded with impressive scenery, a feeling of achievement, and a profound connection with the north of Spain’s history and culture.

Despite all of this, the Primitive Way of St. James is well signposted, so you do not have to worry about getting lost.

Hostels on the Primitive Way of St. James

There are several accommodation options throughout the Primitive Way of St. James. There is a limited number of official accommodation hostels for pilgrims called “albergues,” along with many private accommodation establishments. At Tubuencamino, we can manage your bookings in hostels when you contract our packages.

If you are interested in doing the Primitive Way of St. James, we invite you to contact us at Tubuencamino, so that we can help you with all the details of this adventure.