Caminho da Geira attracts 60% of pilgrims departing Braga

The Caminho da Geira e dos Arrieiros (CGA) has become the preferred route for pilgrims departing from Braga for Santiago de Compostela, accounting for 60% of all departures from the city as of October 3.

Data shows that out of 1,051 pilgrims who started their journey at the Sé Catedral de Braga, 631 chose the CGA. This marks a significant shift from the Caminho Português Central, which was the primary route for decades but saw a 31% decrease compared to the previous year, representing only 36% of departures.

The majority of pilgrims are Portuguese (63%), followed by Spaniards (16%) and Italians (3%). The demographic profile is predominantly male (67%), with 57% falling within the 46 to 65 age range. While 78% of travelers complete the journey on foot, 17% use bicycles. Religious motivation remains the primary driver for 45% of participants.

The 239-kilometer route begins in Braga and passes through the municipalities of Amares, Terras de Bouro, and Melgaço before entering Galicia, Spain, via Portela do Homem.