What is the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago is an ancient network of pilgrim routes dating back to the 9th century. The routes lead to the shrine of St James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The most famous route is the Camino Francés, which is approximately 800km long and accounts for two-thirds of participants, according to Wikipedia. Though the popularity of the pilgrimage has ebbed and flowed over the centuries, it experienced a resurgence in “the last quarter of the twentieth century”. Over the last year or two, I’ve noticed a growing trend on social media of videos about the Camino de Santiago, with Gen Z in particular appearing especially interested in the concept.
The Camino de Santiago’s Rise in Popularity
This rise in popularity appears to be largely due to Gen Z learning about the Camino and posting about it on platforms such as TikTok, with many videos featuring internet slang and terms like “Roman empire” and “thought daughter” that provide clues as to which generation is making this content. Moreover, it appears that many young people undertaking the pilgrimage are not doing so for the traditional religious reasons, but also for reasons such as grief, mental health struggles, spirituality, health and wellness enthusiasm, and a desire to travel. I would also argue that the rising popularity of the Camino is strongly linked to Gen Z’s fascination with reducing phone usage, connecting with nature, and prioritizing human connection.
Gen Z is in a slightly paradoxical situation in which we are simultaneously aware of the damaging effects of social media addiction, while seemingly remaining incapable of leaving our phones behind. As a result, in a world that increasingly treats smartphone access as a basic necessity of daily life, we settle for consuming content about “lowering screentime” and “going analog” to vicariously experience these changes ourselves. Videos about “switching to a dumb phone” or slides on “Substack articles to read instead of doomscrolling” now pop up in the very social media feeds they are being preached against. It’s clear that many people desire lower screen time or a phone-free life, but the barrier is actually making a change. This is where the Camino de Santiago comes in; many people who make videos about the pilgrimage praise it for allowing them to disconnect, put their phones away, and reconnect with both nature and themselves. The appeal of this idea is clear: it forces you to “digitally detox” whilst fully immersed in the journey’s beautiful landscapes.
From the Fife Coastal Path to the Camino de Santiago
But it’s not just online that I’m hearing about the Camino de Santiago, it’s from people I know in real life, too. Fatima, a third-year student, has already completed the Camino de Santiago and writes about her experience in this amazing article. Florence, a second-year student at the University of St Andrews, is doing the Camino de Santiago with her dad.
Joanna and Kirstie, two fourth-year students, are doing the Camino Portugués. Joanna suggests that “any travel or walking holiday with a reputation for affordability is going to gain popularity, especially in the age of TikTok, when the route is so beautiful”. Joanna grew up hearing about the Camino de Santiago, and it’s been on her bucket list for a long time, so she’s excited to tick it off. While she thinks it’s great that more people are discovering the route, she hopes that it “stays accessible, not too overcrowded, and a time to disconnect”, pointing out the irony of the Camino having blown up on social media. These are valid concerns, based on previous patterns showing that social media virality can sometimes harm tourist attractions, with local residents often facing the most negative consequences.
Yasmin, a fourth-year student, is going with a friend who wants to do the Camino. Yasmin says that she’s seen quite a lot about the Camino and that although she’s an atheist, she’s “always been interested in religion” and thinks the various reasons people have for doing the Camino are fascinating. She also points out that it’s “quite fitting to do it after grad and [with] how busy life has been”. This makes sense, as the Camino is the ideal length to fit in after leaving university and before finding a graduate job. It’s a good idea to tick off bucket list items before life gets in the way, especially for such a spiritually rewarding one during a period of intense change in young adults’ lives.
Overall, I think the Camino de Santiago’s rising popularity demonstrates Gen Z’s interest in spirituality, wellness, travel, and stepping back from technology and social media addiction. Hopefully, the Camino’s social media virality won’t negatively impact pilgrims or local residents along the route, but will instead continue to be a positive and unique experience for everyone involved.