The Way
6 things to know about the Camino de Santiago
1. Doug Koeneman is walking it.
ASG Principal and Senior Consultant Doug Koeneman and Lutheran Child and Family Services’ Sven Schumacher are joining forces to fight hunger in Indianapolis. They hope to raise $10,000 to support the Sharing Place Food Pantry and raise awareness of food insecurity in Indianapolis.
To reach their goal, Doug and Sven will walk a 33.7-mile stretch of the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage route, in Switzerland. Their journey from Spiez to Fribourg is considered one of the most scenic sections of the Swiss Camino, known as the Via Jacobi. Beginning in the Alpine town of Spiez, on the turquoise waters of Lake Thun, the route transitions into the rolling hills and forests of western Switzerland. Along the way, Doug and Sven will pass through farmland, historic villages and medieval towns.
2. Camino means “the way.”
Camino is Spanish for journey, road or path. When used as el Camino, it translates simply to “the Way.” The Camino de Santiago is known as the Way of St. James. According to Christian tradition, the remains of Saint James the Greater rest in a silver reliquary in the crypt beneath the cathedral’s main altar. St. James was one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, and the journey to his tomb is one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimages. People have traveled it for more than 1,000 years.
3. There’s more than one way.
The Camino de Santiago isn’t just one way. It’s an ancient network of pilgrimage routes across Europe that culminate in Santiago. Most people walk the Camino in Spain.
One route, the Camino del Norte, follows Spain’s northern coast. The Camino Primitivo is a more mountainous route. Other popular routes are Camino Francés (The French Way), which begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, and Camino Portugués (The Portuguese Way), which starts in either Lisbon or Porto. Camino Inglés (The English Way) is a shorter route traditionally walked by pilgrims arriving in northwestern Spain by sea.
4. The Swiss Camino is a route less traveled.
A small number of pilgrims begin their journey in Switzerland and hike all the way to Santiago. Many others, including Doug and Sven, only pass through Switzerland. Some hike for a weekend or one stage of the Swiss Camino, which tends to be less crowded than other routes.
5. If you finish, you earn a certificate.
To officially complete a Camino pilgrimage and receive the Compostela, the traditional certificate issued in Santiago, pilgrims must travel 100 kilometers on foot or horseback or 200 kilometers by bicycle. They can choose any continuous section of at least 100 kilometers on a recognized Camino route, as long as their pilgrimage ends in Santiago de Compostela. In 2025, 530,919 pilgrims received their Compostela in Santiago — a record number, according to the official Santiago Pilgrim’s Office.
6. People become pilgrims for many reasons.
The Camino began as a Christian pilgrimage, but today people walk it for lots of different reasons. Some seek time for reflection during a life transition. Others are drawn by the adventure. Walking the Camino is a chance to disconnect from everyday life, enjoy nature and meet people from around the world. Many pilgrims say they started for one reason but discovered another along the way. Whatever the reason for the pilgrimage, the experience of seeing the Botafumeiro, the five-foot-tall incense burner inside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, is a dramatic celebration at the journey’s end.
Support the Hike for Hunger.
Read Why I’m Hiking for Hunger: A Q&A with Doug Koeneman.
Still curious about the Camino?
Watch a movie about it. The Way, starring Martin Sheen, is streaming on Peacock or available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and other services.
