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Castro Urdiales, July 5, 2025 – WAYS, the pioneering digital platform for regenerative tourism on the Camino de Santiago, officially presents the new Northern Coastal Way module within its WAYS Journeys app.

This launch represents a decisive step toward improving the pilgrim experience on one of the most spectacular and challenging routes of the Camino, while also boosting the local economy and cultural cohesion in the communities that travel it.

The project has had the strategic support of the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago , as well as the active collaboration of the Association of Pilgrims for Cantabria and the Group of Associations of the Northern Routes , ensuring a shared vision and strong territorial roots.

WAYS had already demonstrated the potential of its application on the French Way, and is now scaling its technology to meet the specific needs of travelers on the Northern Coastal Way, integrating innovations such as:

• Advanced planning and navigation system with customizable routes, the ability to choose between alternatives and forks.
• Geolocalized and multilingual cultural content (Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian) to enrich the international traveler's experience.
• E-commerce platform for local products and experiences that connects pilgrims with producers and artisans from the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia.
• Blockchain-based Pilgrim Tokens , which are earned by walking and connecting with culture and communities and reward hospitality and sustainable practices.
• Crowdfunding of local projects , which allows pilgrims to directly support accessibility, heritage conservation, and living culture initiatives.
  

This launch also coincides with a symbolic year: the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Northern Routes as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO , a milestone that reinforces the importance of preserving and revitalizing this historic and cultural route.

“The Northern Coastal Way is a cultural and natural gem that deserved a specific effort to digitize and promote it,” said María Parga , WAYS spokesperson. “With this module, we are not only making the route more accessible and contributing to its international promotion, but we are also demonstrating the scalability of WAYS to other Cultural Routes around the world.”

For his part, Valeriano Teja Oruña , president of the Northern Ways Associations Group , emphasized: “This new WAYS module helps us show the world the richness of our territories and ensure that pilgrims have an authentic, sustainable experience that is deeply connected to our communities.”

WAYS invites pilgrims, associations, and lovers of the Camino de Santiago to discover the new module by downloading the WAYS Journeys app and joining a conscious, inclusive, and regenerative tourism model.

Those who walk the Northern Coastal Route experience a constant dialogue between two titanic forces: the Cantabrian Sea and the challenging mountains of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de Europa. Nowhere else on the peninsula do the blue of the Atlantic and the gray of the limestone embrace with such closeness and drama. From San Vicente de la Barquera, the horizon changes, and the traveler begins to perceive how the peaks rise, marking the pace and identity of the route.

The Picos de Europa dominate the Asturian-Cantabrian landscape like a fortress of stone and greenery. They are the mineral heart of the mountain range and offer pilgrims breathtaking views, vertiginous canyons, and trails that challenge both body and soul. The Northern Way always advances guided by their distant profile, forging a path that seems to seek the exact balance between the salty breeze and the mountain freshness.

But those who walk through the North discover that the journey has beautiful and legendary detours that lead into the mountainous interior. One of them, steeped in symbolism and beauty, is the pilgrimage to Covadonga , a sacred enclave in the heart of the Picos de Europa. The Holy Cave and the Royal Basilica of Covadonga not only offer contemplation and legend: they are a destination for pilgrims seeking the spiritual center of Asturias, the origin of the Jacobean faith, and the gateway to the deepest mountain landscapes.

From the coastal route, ancient paths branch out, such as the Camino Lebaniego , which winds through gorges and valleys to cross the very Cantabrian Hermida and reach the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana. There, the pilgrim encounters the history and solitude of the heights; the meadows of Tudanca goats and cows, the blue cheeses, and the livestock fairs, all under the influence of the sacred mountain. The Camino Primitivo , meanwhile, heads inland from Oviedo, crossing rock passes, hidden villages, and solitary landscapes, following in the footsteps of the first true pilgrim in search of Santiago.

The Cantabrian Mountains , the source of climate and culture, define the character of the route, the flavor of the products, the strength of the travelers, and the topography of each stage. Here, the mountains are not just landscapes: they are living cultures, shaping agricultural and livestock life, rural festivals, and traditional cuisine for millennia. They teach hikers the importance of observing the weather, respecting the terrain, and allowing themselves to be surprised by the local hospitality.

Thus, the Northern Coastal Route, in constant dialogue with other mountain routes, is a path between the sea and the mountains: it unites the sound of the waves with the mystery of the peaks and legendary destinations, invites you to stray and lose yourself among canyons and hills, and reveals the profound fusion that magnifies the soul of the North.

Here, every detour is an adventure and a learning experience; every arrival is a pause and amazement.

The Indianos are a fundamental part of the history and cultural landscape of northern Spain, and their influence is strongly felt along the Camino del Norte.

The term "Indiano" refers to the emigrant who left for America—especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries —in search of fortune, and who after years of effort decided to return to his homeland with new resources, ideas, and customs.

This experience significantly transformed the communities along the Northern Route: the Indianos not only brought capital, but also innovation and cosmopolitanism. Their return left a visible mark on architecture and social life : they built the famous Indiano houses, mansions and chalets in eclectic styles that blend colonial elements with local details, colorful facades, large windows, glass-enclosed galleries, and exotic gardens where palm trees became a true symbol of the voyage to the Americas.

These houses were, in many cases, a declaration of success and openness to the world, and often served as centers of social life, charity, and local modernization: the Indianos founded schools, hospitals, cultural centers, and promoted the arrival of electricity and water to their villages.

The memory of the Indianos survives not only in their architecture, but also in the traditions and customs they brought with them. These include a passion for Cuban and South American music, culinary recipes with overseas influences such as rice and coffee, more refined styles of dress, and social habits of gatherings and parties that reinterpret the cultural fusion of their return. Their legacy was so intense that today many towns celebrate "Indian Festivals" to pay tribute to those who returned, with period costumes and traditional American music, evoking a moment of splendor and shared joy.

Where can you admire this legacy while traveling the Camino del Norte?

In Cantabria, the most notable are Colombres —where the Indianos Archive is a must-see— Comillas, and Medio Cudeyo , while in Asturias , Llanes and Boal stand out, and in Galicia, Ribadeo . These towns preserve unique collections of Indiano houses, many of which have been restored and can be visited, and each year they organize festivals in honor of their Indianos.

In Colombres (Ribadedeva), the Indianos Fair is held from July 11 to 13, 2025, with parades, dramatized tours, and concerts. Ribadeo organizes its Ribadeo Indiano on the same weekend, and Comillas celebrates Indiano Day between August 30 and September 1. These are joyful and participatory celebrations, where the community is transformed, reliving the emigration and sharing with visitors the living memory of those who changed local history.

In the photograph, Casa Indiana de Colombres.

Traineras are traditional Cantabrian vessels, originally designed as rowing and occasionally sailing fishing boats, specifically designed to catch anchovies and sardines. Their architecture is unmistakable: long, narrow, with a high bow and rounded stern, capable of withstanding the strong waves and adverse conditions of the Cantabrian Sea.

The name "trainera" comes from the "traína," the fine-meshed net used by sailors to catch fish, especially during the frenetic competition to land at the port, where the first to arrive received the best prices for fresh catch.

Its origins date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries , when fishing subsistence depended on speed and endurance; rowing teams had to reach port before the others to auction off their catch. Over time, this natural rivalry evolved into sporting competitions that are now authentic summer symbols and a symbol of local identity in the ports of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, and the French coast. The trainera regatta is much more than a sport: it is a spectacle, a celebration, and a living memory of the seafaring past, where collective effort, the skipper's leadership, and camaraderie remain core values.

Along the Cantabrian coast, there are slight differences in the rowing traditions and rowing traditions of each region. For example, they may vary slightly in the number of rowers or skippers, the modern construction materials (from oak and cedar to carbon), and the format of the competitions themselves. In Cantabria and the Basque Country, rowing regattas are held with a large popular following, while in Galicia, the boats and races may adopt local characteristics.

Traineras share similarities with other Atlantic vessels, such as British and French racing yawls and Cornish gig boats, all of which were originally designed for fishing and transformed into competitive sports based on rowing and mastery of the sea. However, the trainera retains a special connection with northern fishing culture and the character of its crews.

For those following the Northern Coastal Route , the trainera regattas are an experience worth seeing in person. Every summer, between July and September, Cantabrian ports such as Castro Urdiales, Santander, and San Vicente de la Barquera—as well as all along the Basque and Galician coasts—organize competitions where travelers can join in the festivities: the streets fill with music, fans, and "arraunzales" (rowers and enthusiasts).

In 2025, the calendar kicks off on July 5th with the Bilbao Flag Day and culminates around September 21st with the finals in Portugalete and other coastal towns. Consulting the local calendar and visiting the ports is the best way to fully experience this vibrant and ancient tradition.

The photograph belongs to the documentary Traineras del 2024

Although most conversations and guides about the Camino de Santiago tend to focus almost exclusively on the so-called "Northern Way," the reality is that under UNESCO's World Heritage designation in 2015, four major Jacobean routes were recognized in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Thus, there are several Northern Ways , each with its own identity, history, and appeal.

The Northern Coastal Way is perhaps the most popular and well-known, running along the Cantabrian Sea through the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. Medieval pilgrims preferred it for its safe, well-supplied route, guarded by monasteries and hospitals. Its natural landscapes of cliffs, beaches, and fishing villages make it a unique experience, while its historical and architectural heritage reflects the interweaving of cultures and devotions.

The Primitive Way , considered the oldest route, departs from Oviedo and crosses the Asturian mountains to Melide, Galicia. It was chosen by nobles and devotees seeking tranquility and tradition, following in the footsteps of King Alfonso II in the 9th century. The route is appreciated for its direct contact with the origins of pilgrimage, as well as for its physical demands and the richness of its interior landscapes.

The Basque-Rioja Inland Route , which links Irún with Burgos via Álava and La Rioja, connected the northern interior with the French Route and facilitated access to major ecclesiastical centers. Its purpose was to avoid the difficulties of the coast or to reach important religious and civil enclaves, such as monasteries and towns in Burgos.

Finally, the Camino Lebaniego connects the coastal route with the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana in Cantabria, a popular pilgrimage site for its Lignum Crucis and jubilee celebrations. This secondary route has allowed pilgrims for centuries to combine Jacobean devotion with the Lebaniego cult, enriching the entire network of routes and testimonies of the north.

UNESCO's recognition is a result of a combination of factors: the historical importance of the routes in the expansion of pilgrimage, the heritage they embody—bridges, hospitals, churches—and the spirit of hospitality, diversity, and spirituality that characterizes the Jacobean experience.

Discovering the different Northern Routes means entering a vibrant and diverse network of paths that intertwine cultures, landscapes, and unique stories, opening the door to a shared memory and thousands of experiences to discover at every step.