The Camino de Santiago from Madrid Gains Ground: More than 400 Pilgrims so far this Year
Madrid is consolidated as the starting point for the Camino de Santiago, offering a peculiar route that ascends to Puerto de la Fuenfría, the highest point of all the Caminos de Santiago in Spain.
The Camino de Santiago that starts from Madrid is gaining popularity. Last year, more than 330 people They ventured on this route, and so far in 2025, almost a hundred has already completed the feat. This itinerary, which crosses municipalities such as Tres Cantos, Colmenar Viejo, Manzanares El Real and Cercedilla, offers a unique experience before pilgrims travel hundreds of more kilometers to see the imposing façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
A Tour with History and Careful Signage
The Association of Friends of the Caminos de Santiago de Madrid, founded in 1987 after the design of this route, highlights the authenticity of the route. "It is not something that we invented, since it passes through historically consolidated and confirmed areas," explains Rosa María Martín, vice president of the association.
Although the Camino de Santiago can traditionally begin from each pilgrim's home, in Madrid, the starting point is located in the Church of Santiago, in the Opera neighborhood. The first meters of the Madrid crossing wind through the San Bernardo neighborhood to the Comendadoras de Santiago convent, and then cross the Cuatro Caminos area and reach Montecarmelo and Fuencarral, where a cruzeiro It marks the point where the road says goodbye to the urban layout, with the Sierra de Madrid looming in the background.
The route is divided into well-defined stages:
- First stage: Approximately 24.80 kilometers to Tres Cantos, where there is a refuge for pilgrims.
- Second stage: Another 24 kilometers to Manzanares El Real, leaving behind municipalities such as Colmenar Viejo.
- Third stage: About 19.20 kilometers to Cercedilla. There is a variant through Mataelpino that adds almost two kilometers and offers a hostel managed by the association.
- Fourth stage: More than 28 kilometers from Cercedilla to Segovia, marking the exit from the Community of Madrid.
The Beauty of the Sierra and the Challenge of Fuenfría
Once in Navacerrada, the path becomes wilder and more natural, immersing the pilgrim in the essence of the Sierra. "Once you reach Navacerrada, the wildest part begins and what the pilgrim experiences the most, since you are totally surrounded by nature," says Rosa María Martín.
The section from Cercedilla includes one of the greatest physical challenges: the climb to Puerto de la Fuenfría, where a Roman road runs. This point, which marks the border between Madrid and Segovia, is the highest on any Spanish Camino de Santiago. At the top, a monument pays tribute to José Antonio Cimadevila, founder of the association.
Rosa María Martín, one of the “arrow painters” who carefully mark the route, highlights the support of the Community of Madrid with granite milestones with the carved scallop shell, indicating the path and the remaining kilometers to Santiago. Outside the Madrid region, other associations are in charge of maintaining the route, which passes through historic municipalities such as La Granja, Coca, Simancas, Valladolid, Medina de Rioseco and Sahagún, where it meets the popular Camino Francés.
A Path for All, but with Consciousness
The Association of Friends of the Caminos de Santiago in Madrid plays a crucial role. In 2024, they distributed 8,467 credentials, of which 335 They were for those who began their pilgrimage from Madrid. So far this year, they have already delivered 4,875 credentials, with 95 corresponding to the Madrid itinerary.
Rosa María Martín estimates that a person with average physical condition can complete the stages to Cercedilla (about 70 kilometers) in four days. Although the origin of the Camino is undeniably religious, the vice president observes that many non-believers also do it, something she considers respectable. However, he regrets the "opportunism" of some who see the Camino as a cheap vacation, without appreciating the voluntary effort that supports many shelters. "These shelters, many, are preserved thanks to donations and people think that they pay for themselves from the air, and that is why there are fewer and fewer," he criticizes, calling for greater awareness on the part of walkers.
The association, which is supported by voluntary work, acts as a gateway to the Camino de Santiago for thousands of pilgrims of various nationalities who arrive in Madrid. Martín highlights the need for more administrative support and its own premises for the entity.
The Perspective of an Experienced Pilgrim
José Antonio Pizarro, a 76-year-old retired colonel, is a veteran of the Camino de Santiago, having walked it 57 times if all goes according to plan this fall. He has traveled the Madrid Camino six times. For him, the Camino makes sense if it has "some historical significance."
Pizarro considers that the Madrid Camino is "somewhat lonely" due to its lower influx compared to other routes. Although its infrastructure is “sufficient” for a limited number of pilgrims, it would be “very tight to admit large crowds.” He emphasizes, like Martín, that Puerto de la Fuenfría, about 90 kilometers from the beginning, is the highest point of all the Caminos de Santiago in Spain.
After his first experience in 2000, Pizarro, a mountaineer since he was ten years old, was captivated by the Camino, especially after living in Paris and missing his country. Since his retirement, he tries to do the route about three times a year, covering an average of 620 kilometers each season. «The Camino de Madrid within the Community is very beautiful and not as hard as the following stages. I will always recommend doing the Camino, but that people inform themselves well before starting what they are facing," concludes Pizarro, a faithful ambassador of the "good path."
