Camino Banovina from May 9 to 12: four days of walking through one of Croatia’s greenest routes
Camino Banovina returns from May 9 to 12, 2026, as an organized four-day pilgrimage and walking experience through Banovina, an area that in recent years has been increasingly entering the map of slow, active and spiritual tourism. The route is led by the Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja, and the program is designed to connect walking, local history, sacred heritage, natural landscapes and encounters with hosts along the way. According to the organizers’ announcements, it is a section about 80 kilometers long, while the official Camino Croatia website describes the route as a 76-kilometer-long part of the Camino Croatia network, divided into four daily stages. The difference in stated length comes from different ways of rounding and organizational sections, but the basic structure remains the same: the route begins in Sisak, continues toward Petrinja, Prnjavor Čuntićki and Glina, and ends in Topusko.
The route is presented as suitable also for walkers who are just entering the Camino experience, but that does not mean it should be understood as an ordinary stroll. Four consecutive days of walking, stages of approximately 17 to 22 kilometers, changing terrain, forest paths, villages and open spaces require basic fitness preparation, comfortable footwear and realistic planning. Camino Banovina stands out especially because it offers not only physical movement from point to point, but also a rhythm of slower discovery of the area through which one passes. Official descriptions emphasize the green hills, forests, villages and historical layers of Banovina, an area that for centuries has been a space of encounters, borders and change.
For participants who want to arrive before the program or stay after it ends, it is important to plan accommodation in Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, Topusko or near the route in time, because official Camino Croatia information warns that accommodation availability at the end of individual daily stages is limited and that advance booking is recommended. The organized program for 2026 further eases logistics because, according to the announcement by the Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja, free organized transport is planned to the Ecological Center, that is, the Vrata Zrinske gore Hostel, where overnight stays are possible after each section at one’s own expense at special Camino prices. Such a model allows participants to walk different stages during the day and spend the evenings at a shared accommodation point.
A route that connects Sisak, Petrinja, Glina and Topusko
Camino Banovina is part of the wider Camino Croatia network, a project that renews the tradition of pilgrimage to Saint James in Croatia and connects local routes with the European Camino experience. The official Camino Croatia website lists four daily stages for Banovina: Sisak – Petrinja, Petrinja – Prnjavor Čuntićki, Prnjavor Čuntićki – Glina and Glina – Topusko. The first stage begins near the Sisak cathedral and leads toward Petrinja, passing by parts of the city and settlements connected with local sacred and urban heritage. The second stage leads from Petrinja toward Prnjavor Čuntićki, with the route leaving the urban area and entering a more natural landscape, including the walkway along the Petrinjčica and forest sections toward Hrastovačka gora.
The third day of Camino Banovina starts from the area of the Vrata Zrinske gore Ecological Center and continues toward Glina through villages and natural landscapes that give the route a distinctly rural character. The official description of the stage mentions Donja Bačuga, Luščani and the continuation through forest and field sections, emphasizing the change of rhythm compared with the initial, more urban part of the route. The fourth stage leads from Glina toward Topusko, through Donji and Gornji Viduševac, Šatornja and Gređani, and the finish in Topusko connects walking with the historical layers of that place, especially with the area of Opatovina Park and the story of Cistercian heritage.
This schedule gives the route a clear dramaturgy: from Sisak as an old urban center, through Petrinja and the surrounding hills, toward the forests and villages of Banovina, and on to Topusko as the final point with a recognizable historical and tourist tradition. In the organizers’ texts, Banovina is described as an area on the historical border of empires, which is not only a promotional image but also a reminder of the region’s complex past. Precisely because of this, Camino Banovina is not only a sports or recreational route, but also a way of reading space through churches, villages, local roads, communities and places of memory.
The program begins on May 9 in Petrinja and Sisak
According to the schedule of the Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja, the organized walk begins on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The first day includes gathering and Mass in the Church of St. Lawrence in Petrinja, after which transport to Sisak is organized. The walking departure is planned in front of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, with a prayer to St. James, and then the route leads toward Petrinja. This part of the program lists passing by the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Viktorovac, a break at Caprag Market, the Church of Saint Mary Queen of Peace, Mošćenica and the Church of St. James, Slatina and the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, as well as the later arrival in Petrinja. In the evening part, transport is planned to Prnjavor Čuntićki, where the Vrata Zrinske gore Ecological Center is located.
On the second day, Sunday, May 10, the route leads from Petrinja toward Prnjavor Čuntićki. The program starts from Petrinja, from the Church of St. Lawrence, and the path continues toward Hrastovačka gora. The official schedule mentions Mass in the Church of St. Bartholomew in Hrastovica, refreshments in the parish office, rest at the Matija Filjak mountain lodge and passage through Gornja Bačuga and Hrvatski Čuntić. Arrival in Prnjavor Čuntićki is planned in the evening hours, with a presentation of Camino Croatia and the book “My Camino Journey” by author Irena Kovačić. This stage, about 22 kilometers long, is one of the more demanding in terms of length, but at the same time also one of those that most directly introduce participants to the landscape for which Banovina is recognizable.
On the third day, Monday, May 11, walking from Prnjavor Čuntićki to Glina is planned. The route passes through Donja Bačuga, Luščani, Brnjeuška and Majske Poljane, while the final part of the day is connected with Glina and a visit to the Church of St. John of Nepomuk. After that, according to the schedule, bus transport to Gora follows and a visit to the Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the fourth day, Tuesday, May 12, pilgrims continue from Glina toward Topusko, through Donji and Gornji Viduševac, Šatornja and Gređani, with arrival in Topusko in the afternoon. The final part of the program includes Opatovina Park, the story of the Cistercian portal from the 13th century and the return by bus to Glina and Petrinja.
Pilgrim passport, stamps and certificate of the completed route
One of the recognizable elements of every Camino experience is the pilgrim passport, or credential. The organizers remind participants that Camino Banovina participants can obtain the Croatian pilgrim passport, officially certified by the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela. The passport can be ordered through the webshop or picked up at the Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja, where a stamp is also obtained as confirmation of participation on the route. In useful information, Camino Croatia states that local tourist boards can provide additional information about the paper map of the route, the pilgrim passport, missing stamps and the pilgrim certificate.
Stamps on the Camino are not merely a formality. They form a personal trace of the journey, record the places through which one has passed and create the rhythm of a pilgrimage that is not directed only toward the final goal. In Banovina, this element also gains a local dimension because the stamps connect sacred buildings, tourist offices, accommodation points and hosts who participate in the development of the route. For participants arriving for the first time, it is useful to check in advance where the passport can be picked up, how many stamps are needed for the certificate and which points are available during the organized walk. Since the program takes place in a group and under the guidance of the organizers, logistics are simpler than with completely independent walking, but personal preparation still remains an important part of the experience.
The official Camino Croatia website also offers the GPS track of the route, daily guides through the stages and practical preparation tips. This is especially important for those who decide to walk Banovina outside the organized dates, because then they themselves take on more responsibility for transport, refreshments, checking the weather forecast and timely reservation of accommodation along the Camino Banovina route. The organized tour from May 9 to 12, 2026 therefore has additional value: it gathers participants in shared walking, while at the same time providing a clear structure of the program, departures, transport and evening gatherings.
Accommodation is limited, and Vrata Zrinske gore offers special Camino prices
One of the key practical topics for Camino Banovina is accommodation. Camino Croatia states that local hotels, private accommodation and apartments are available on this route, but also that, unlike in Spain, there is no developed network of specialized hostels for pilgrims because the Croatian Camino network is still relatively new. For this reason, the official pages especially emphasize that accommodation availability at the end of each daily stage is limited and that advance booking is necessary. Most pilgrims, according to this information, choose one accommodation base and then use local transport to get to the start or return from the end of the daily stages.
For the organized walk in 2026, an important role is played by the Ecological Center, that is, the Vrata Zrinske gore Hostel in Prnjavor Čuntićki. The center has announced that this year as well it offers accommodation and refreshments to pilgrims of Camino Banovina at special prices, and for an eight-bed and a four-bed room the stated price is 19.20 euros per person. The announcement by the Ecological Center states that interested persons can apply for a reservation through the contact form or directly by e-mail, and it is also emphasized that the center is participating in Camino Banovina for the fifth year in a row. This confirms that the event is no longer a one-off initiative, but a program that is gradually building continuity.
For those who plan to arrive outside the organized group itself, the recommendation is to check available accommodation offers in Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, Topusko and Prnjavor Čuntićki as early as possible, especially because it is a weekend and a period of spring travel. Accommodation is not only a logistical need, but also an important part of the overall experience: after hours of walking, peaceful rest, the possibility of drying equipment, food availability and simple transport to the next stage are crucial. Precisely for this reason, the organized model with a base at Vrata Zrinske gore can be especially practical for participants who do not want to deal separately each day with returning or moving luggage.
Who is Camino Banovina for?
Camino Banovina is described as a good introduction to the Camino for beginners with less experience, but that does not mean it is intended exclusively for beginners. The route can be interesting to experienced walkers who want to discover less publicized areas, pilgrims seeking a spiritual rhythm without going abroad, as well as visitors who want to experience Banovina outside the usual tourist patterns. Compared with classic excursions, the Camino requires slower movement and greater focus on the path. Compared with sports races, it has no competitive character. Compared with individual trekking, organized walking offers community, a schedule and support from hosts.
Preparation should not be reduced only to checking the date and registering. Participants should have comfortable, already broken-in footwear, layered clothing, protection from rain and sun, a water bottle, basic first aid, a light backpack and a realistic assessment of their own pace. In its preparation tips, Camino Croatia especially emphasizes the importance of footwear, avoiding blisters and reducing the weight carried by the pilgrim. For a route that lasts four days, small omissions in equipment can quickly turn into a problem, especially if walking takes place on changing terrain or in wet spring conditions. Organized walking makes orientation easier, but it does not replace personal responsibility for health, equipment and fitness.
The program is strongly marked by sacred points, prayers and churches, but it can also be viewed more broadly, as a walking-cultural route that connects space, people and local heritage. This is one of the special features of contemporary Camino routes: they did arise from the pilgrimage tradition, but today they gather people with different motives. Some walk for religious reasons, some because of a personal turning point, some because of nature, some because of community, and some because they want to slow down and spend several days outside the usual daily rhythm. Camino Banovina leaves room for all these motives, while at the same time remaining clearly connected to the symbolism of the Way of Saint James.
Banovina as a space of slow tourism and local recovery
Camino Banovina also has broader development significance. Banovina is an area of rich history, strong local identities and significant natural value, but also an area that in recent years has often been mentioned in the context of reconstruction, demographic challenges and the need for sustainable forms of development. Walking and pilgrimage routes can play an important role in such a context because they do not require mass infrastructure, but rely on existing places, local hosts, smaller accommodation capacities, hospitality, cultural heritage and interpretation of space. Such a form of tourism does not create the quick effect of large numbers, but it can gradually expand recognition and open additional opportunities for the local community.
For Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, Topusko and the smaller villages on the route, Camino Banovina represents an opportunity to show visitors an area that is often viewed through one or two dominant themes. Walking changes perspective: the traveler sees distances, transitions between settlements, forest sections, churches, signposts, houses, fields and people in a different way than from a car. Precisely because of this, such routes have the potential to create a deeper, slower and more responsible experience of space. They do not offer a quick attraction, but a multi-day encounter with an area that reveals itself gradually.
In this sense, clear organization is also important. The Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja announced registrations through a form, organized transport and connection with Vrata Zrinske gore, while the official Camino Croatia website offers a GPS file, maps, stages, accommodation, local tourist information and preparation tips. Such a combination of local guidance and the wider Camino network makes the route more visible and safer for participants. For everyone planning to participate, the most important thing is to check the official information shortly before departure, register in time, reserve accommodation near the Camino Banovina route and enter the program with the expectation that it is a journey measured in kilometers, but remembered through encounters, silence, landscape and shared walking through Banovina.
Sources:
- Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja – official announcement of the organized Camino Banovina 2026 walk, stage schedule, transport, registrations and daily program (link)
- Camino Croatia – official page of the Camino Banovina route, basic information on length, maps, GPS track, stages and tips for pilgrims (link)
- Camino Croatia – maps and daily stages of Camino Banovina, including the routes Sisak – Petrinja, Petrinja – Prnjavor Čuntićki, Prnjavor Čuntićki – Glina and Glina – Topusko (link)
- Vrata Zrinske gore Ecological Center – information on reservations, special Camino prices and accommodation for participants of Camino Banovina 2026 (link)
- Camino Croatia – useful information on arrival, accommodation, pilgrim passport, stamps and local tourist information on the route (link)
- Camino Croatia – overview of accommodation options by places on the Camino Banovina route (link)
- Croatian Tourist Board – announcement of Camino Banovina 2026 with information from the Tourist Board of the City of Petrinja (link)