Camino de Santiago - the cost of walking in 2026
There is no set Camino de Santiago cost. How much you spend depends on many factors. You can walk the Camino de Santiago for 25 Euros per person a day or spend over 50 Euros pp. per day. I've had days when I spent 20 Euros as well as 50-euro days on the same Camino. It all depends on how much you can and want to spend and how much comfort you need.
In this post, I’m elaborating on what you can get spending 25, 35, and 50+ Euros per person per day on the Camino, give a detailed breakdown of my Camino budget, and give some money-saving tips.
It’s important to remember that the cost may vary depending on the chosen Camino. Some routes work out cheaper than others. We’ve walked 10 different Camino de Santiago routes and noticed the difference, especially in accommodation prices. I’m going to compare the different routes and explain why some of them are more expensive than others.
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Camino de Santiago cost - 25, 35, and 50+ Euros per day
I’m giving an overview of what you can get walking the Camino on these budgets. It doesn’t mean you have to stick and stay only in public albergues if you have 25 Euros per day it just shows that most of the time it’ll be your best option. Accommodation and food are two main expenses on the Camino. Laundry and luggage delivery service are two other expenses many pilgrims have, both are optional. You can wash your clothes by hand and carry your backpack.
Some days you might have some extra expenses such as entrance fees, etc.
25 Euros per person per day
It's a very tight budget so be ready that some days you might spend more than that. Budget 100-200 euros extra for your trip.
- Accommodation - public albergues, 10-15 Euros.
- Food - grocery shopping - 10-12 Euros.
- Extras - 3-4 Euros.
35+ Euros per person per day
- Accommodation - private albergues, 15-20 Euros.
- Food - 15-20 Euros depending on if you cook or eat out. Breakfast - 4-5 Euros, a set lunch (Menu del Dia) - 10-12 Euros. Dinners are usually more expensive from 20 Euros per person. It's a lot cheaper to make food. Most albergues and hostels have a shared kitchen.
- Extras - 3-4 Euros.
50+ Euros per person per day
- Accommodation - a private room in a hotel, from 25 Euros per person (if you’re two people sharing a double room), from 40 Euros for a single room.
- Food - 15-30 Euros depending on if you eat out or make food. If you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner expect to spend 35+ Euros per person per day.
- Extras - 3-4 Euros.
- Luggage delivery - 7 euros per backpack per stage (optional).
Luggage delivery service
- Luggage delivery service - 6-7 Euros per backpack per stage.
If you want to track your daily expenses, you can install one of the travel spending apps on your phone.
The cost of accommodation on the Camino de Santiago
Your accommodation options on the Camino are quite diverse (especially on the popular Camino routes) from public and private albergues to hostels, hotels, and guesthouses.
Public (municipal) albergues
Albergues are hostels for pilgrims.
Public Albergues are the cheapest accommodation option on the Camino. They are exclusively for pilgrims walking or cycling the Camino. You need a Credential (a pilgrim’s passport) with stamps to stay at public albergues. The average price is 10-12 Euros per person per bed. Public albergues are usually quite big with a couple of rooms with bunk beds and shared facilities (showers, toilets, a kitchen).
On more popular Camino routes like the Camino Francés or the Camino Portuguese from Porto, you can plan your itinerary the way the you stay almost every night at a public albergue and pay 10-12 Euros per bed. Less popular routes have fewer public albergues - from time to time you’ll have no option but to stay in a private albergue/hostel.
Private albergues
The second cheapest accommodation option on the Camino. Anybody can stay there but most of the guests are usually pilgrims. Private Albergues cost 15-20 Euros per bed. They usually have better facilities and are smaller than public albergues. Some private albergues have private rooms as well. There are many private albergues on the main Camino routes, you’ll be able to find one at the end of every day.
Sometimes you can find albergues for donation.
Hotels and guesthouses
These are the most expensive and comfortable accommodation options on the Camino. Prices for a private room start at 40 Euros for a single room and 50-60 Euros for a double room. Staying in hotels every night, especially on longer Camino routes is expensive but I recommend doing it sometimes. It’s nice to have a good rest and some privacy. We usually stay in hotels at least once a week or even more often if we can find well-priced private rooms.
In some areas the prices of accommodation vary a lot depending on the season. Keep that in mind if you're planning to walk one of the coastal Camino routes.
Comparing public and private albergues and hotels
| Features | Public albergues | Private albergues | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 10-12 Euros | 15-20 Euros | from 40 Euros |
| Only for pilgrims | yes | no | no |
| Need a Credential to stay | yes | no | no |
| Can be booked | no | yes | yes |
| Can stay more than 1 night | no | yes | yes |
| Allow luggage delivery | no | yes | yes |
| Accept credit cards | no | usually | usually |
The cost of food on the Camino de Santiago
Grocery shopping and cooking
The cheapest food option is to buy food in supermarkets/shops and cooking. Most albergues have a communal kitchen that pilgrims can use. Some kitchens are well-equipped and have all you need for cooking, while some are basic. My advice is to check out the kitchen before you go shopping.
Most places on the Camino have at least a small grocery store where you can get bread, pasta, cheese, yogurt, fruit, and vegetables. Bigger towns and cities have supermarkets where you can get pretty much anything including takeaway meals that are usually cheaper than restaurants. We usually spend between 15 and 20 Euros per day on grocery shopping for two people. Depending on what you buy and for how many meals I’d recommend budgeting 10 Euros per person per day to buy enough food for 2 meals.
Breakfast
The Spanish are not very big on breakfast, most of them just drink a cup of coffee with a small pastry. Many cafes on the Camino offer breakfast that usually includes a cup of coffee, a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, and a sandwich or a pastry. A breakfast like that costs 4-5 Euros.
In very busy and touristy parts of some Camino routes, you can find an English (eggs & bacon) or an American (sausages, eggs, cereal, etc.) breakfast as well. It costs between 8 and 10 Euros.
Spanish Tortilla (egg and potato omelet) is a good option for breakfast or even lunch if you are not very hungry. It usually comes with bread and is quite filling.
Lunch
Menú del Día is a set meal that includes a starter, a main, a drink (wine, beer, water, soda), bread, and dessert or coffee. It is a very popular lunch option everywhere in Spain not only on the Camino de Santiago. A typical menu costs between 10 and 14 Euros.
The quality of the menu varies. I had some amazing menus and some poor meals on the Camino. Usually, in cities and busy towns, menus have more options and are of better quality. The worst meals I had in albergues/restaurants in the middle of nowhere. After finishing my meal I was almost as hungry as before.
If you follow a special diet e.g. vegetarian or vegan in small towns/villages it might be difficult to find a suitable menu. In cities and bigger towns, it’s not a problem as many restaurants have vegetarian/vegan menu options. The best option for you is to cook for yourself.
Dinner
The most expensive meal on the Camino de Santiago. We don't often go out for dinner on the Camino but we do go out for a drink which is not expensive. Dinner in a restaurant with a glass of wine will cost you from 20 Euros per person depending on the place and chosen meal.
For a beer or a glass of wine at the bar, you’ll pay an average of 2-3 Euros. It may include a simple tapa. Many bars in Asturias and Galicia offer a free tapa with every drink you order. It might be a small portion of tortilla, peanuts, a small cheese or ham sandwich, etc.
Make sure to try typical Galician dishes Pulpo a la Feira (cooked octopus) and Pimientos de Padrón (fried green peppers) are great with beer. In Santiago de Compostela there are a couple of amazing tapas bars on Rúa do Franco and Rúa da Raiña streets.
If you’re planning to go out for a drink and a tapa regularly add 50 Euro (depending on how long you’re going to walk) to your total Camino budget.
Trying local food on the Camino de Santiago is a part of the experience. Some dishes are not to be missed e.g. Tarta de Santiago, tapas and pintxos, Pimientos de Padron, and Pulpo a la Feira are some of them.
Extra expenses on the Camino
Luggage delivery service on the Camino
The service is available on all major Camino de Santiago routes. The more popular the route is the more companies offer backpack delivery services. The average price is 7-8 Euros per backpack per stage. It might vary depending on the distance, route popularity, etc. You can use the service for the entire Camino or only for selective stages e.g. the tough ones that involve walking long distances or have steep climbs.
You can decide whether you need it or not on the way. Try to walk with your backpack and if it’s too heavy or too difficult you can always start using the luggage delivery service. It's important to remember that many public albergues don't allow luggage delivery which means you'll have to stay in private albergues or hotels.
Laundry
It is one of our main extra expenses on the Camino de Santiago. We do machine washing more or less twice a week. Many albergues (both public and private) have self-service washing machines and dryers that work with coins. The machines are usually quite big; you can share one load between 3 or 4 people. It’s 4 Euros per load for washing and 5 Euros for drying. If it’s a sunny day we hang our clothes outside, if it’s rainy and cold we use a dryer. Sometimes the machines are free but you have to buy detergent. Many people wash by hand.
Entrance fees
Walking is the main activity on the Camino. Usually, you’re too tired after a full day of walking to do any sightseeing but some attractions just can’t be skipped. Like the Cathedral of León on the Camino Francés or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao on the Camino del Norte. I suggest adding 20-30 Euros extra for entrance fees and tickets.
The cost of transportation
You’re probably not going to use any on the Camino itself but you’ll have to get to the starting point of the route and back home from Santiago de Compostela. If you’re from Europe your transport expenses won’t be very high if you use one of the budget airlines. You can get to Madrid or Barcelona and from there catch a local flight, bus, or train to the starting point of your Camino route.
If you come from overseas e.g. US, Australia, Canada, etc. your international flight will be one of your biggest expenses.
To get back from Santiago, you can take a bus or a trail to Madrid, Porto, etc., and from there fly back home. I’d suggest adding 60-70 Euros to your Camino budget for local transport expenses.
There are direct flights with budget airlines from Santiago to the UK, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, etc. If you buy your ticket a couple of months in advance you can get a really good deal e.g. a flight to the UK for 25 Euros.
The cost of travel Insurance for the Camino
This is an important thing to have if you're going to travel abroad and planning to do outdoor activities. Walking the Camino is not a high-risk venture but it's always recommended to have travel insurance that can cover your medical expenses (in case you need any), gear loss, or trip cancellation. Note, if you have a European Health Insurance card you don't need any extra medical insurance for Spain or Portugal. The cost of Camino travel insurance varies depending on the company, the policy, a person's age, etc.
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.The cost of essential gear
For walking the Camino de Santiago you don't need any special gear. There are two important items that you can bring for the Camino - comfortable walking shoes and a suitable backpack. These two you're going to use every day walking for hours. I'd recommend investing in both. You don't need heavy hiking boots for walking the Camino unless you're planning to walk it in winter.
In our opinion, a pair of light hiking shoes are great for walking the Camino. As for your pack, a 30-40l backpack should be enough. if your stuff doesn't fit in it means you're trying to pack too much. If you're planning to do some Camino training to prepare better for the pilgrimage it's best to wear the same hiking shoes and backpack you're going to use on the Camino.
The average cost of the essential Camino gear
| Essential gear | Average price |
|---|---|
| 36l backpack | from 100 US$ |
| Hiking shoes | from 100 US$ |
| Merino wool socks | from 20 US$ for 3 pairs |
| Quick-dry towel | from 9 US$ |
| Light sleeping bag | from 25 US$ |
| Water bottle | from 15 US$ |
| Headlamp | from 15 US$ |
| Hiking clothes (pants, T-shirts, a rain jacket, a cap) | from 150 US$ |
| Total | about 484 US$ |
This is the list of essential items one will need on the Camino. The given examples are for women, men's gear costs more or less the same.
More details on what to pack for the Camino for different seasons for men and women can be found in our Camino de Santiago packing post.
Comparing the cost of different Camino routes
As I mentioned above up to now we’ve walked 9 Camino de Santiago routes: Camino Francés, Camino Portuguese from Lisbon, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, Camino Inglés, Camino Finisterre-Muxía, Via de la Plata, Camino del Salvador, and Camino de Gran Canaria. We’ve done all the major routes in Spain and Portugal. Portugal overall is a bit cheaper than Spain. Things like transport (local trains), hotels, and eating out.
The following routes can be walked on 25 Euros per person per day.
- Camino Francés
- Camino Portuguese from Porto
- Camino Primitivo
- Camino Finisterre-Muxía
- Camino Inglés
- Camino de San Salvador
It doesn't mean you can't walk other routes spending 25 Euro per day but it'll be more difficult due to the higher cost of accommodation and lack of public albergues.
Camino Francés, Camino Portuguese, and Camino Primitivo
The most popular Camino routes are the cheapest ones because they have more infrastructure for pilgrims; many municipal and private albergues, special pilgrim’s menus at restaurants, etc. The Camino Frances, the Portuguese Camino from Porto (both the Central and the Coastal Route), and the Camino Primitivo have public albergues pretty much at the end of every stage. You can plan your walk the way you stay 90% of the time at public albergues which means you’ll pay 10-12 Euros per person per night on average.
We have a detailed post on the cost of the Portuguese Camino.
Vía de la Plata & Portuguese Camino from Lisbon
On less popular Camino routes like the Via de la Plata or the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon, accommodation is more expensive. All public albergues on the Via de la Plata cost 12 Euros which is a bit more than on the Camino Frances. On the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon, there are few public albergues every other night we stayed at a guesthouse or a private albergues. On the other hand, eating out on these routes was less expensive.
Camino Finisterre-Muxía and Camino Inglés
Both routes are very short, 3-5 days even if you stay at hotels all the time it won’t ruin your budget. Both the Camino Finisterre and the English Way have enough public albergues and many private albergues you’ll be able to walk spending 25 per person Euros a day. The only problem on both routes is there are not many supermarkets but most of the towns have at least a small grocery store.
Camino del Norte
The Camino del Norte (the first half of it) was our most expensive route. The part of the route through Asturias and Galicia was more or less the same as other Camino routes. Northern Spain (the Basque Country and Cantabria) is overall more expensive than the rest of the country. Accommodation is significantly more expensive in the popular touristy cities such as San Sebastian and some small coastal towns in the Basque Country.
There are very few public albergues in the Basque Country. Most of the time pilgrims stay in hostels or hotels. Eating out is more expensive in Northern Spain. If you're on a tight budget it's not the best route to choose.
Camino de Gran Canaria
Out of the 9 Camino routes, the Camino de Gran Canaria worked out the most expensive per day. It's only 3-4 walking days so it didn't cost us a fortune. There are no albergues on the route pilgrims stay in hotels or guesthouses which are a lot more expensive. Cooking is not possible because most places don't have a kitchen which means you have to eat out 2-3 times a day. Our average our budget was 60 euros per person per day for this route.
Camino de Santiago money-saving tips
First of all, always make sure to have some cash with you. Public albergues and some private albergues don't accept credit cards. It's advisable to have some cash enough to pay for accommodation, food, etc. for a couple of days. On most routes, you find an ATM every day. We usually draw 300 Euros and when we have less than 40 Euros left we draw again. Most hotels, supermarkets, grocery stores, and restaurants accept cards.
Tip 1. Eating out every day adds quite a bit to the cost if you want to save money cooking is the way to go.
Tip 2. Book your international flight in advance many airlines have special prices for early booking. Find out which airlines fly from your destination and subscribe to their newsletter to make sure you won't miss their special offers. Use sites like Skyscanner to search for the cheapest flights. Book your local flights in advance. Many budget airlines often have great early booking deals, you can get a flight for 20-30 Euros.
Tip 3. From our experience, it's cheaper to walk the Camino if you're two or more people. A double or a triple room works out cheaper per person than a single room. If you're going to walk along you can always team up with another pilgrim and rent a twin room (with two single beds) it'll be cheaper than paying for a single room.
Tip 4. Cooking together is another way to save money. If you're several people cooking together you can split the cost of shopping. If you buy pasta, rice, etc. it's usually too much for one person and you end up leaving half of it in the kitchen.
Camino planning resources
- Choose the best Camino route for you | Many routes of the Camino de Santiago |
- Practical information for planning the walk | The Camino de Santiago - all you need to know |
- Use our recommendations for planning the Camino | The best Camino de Santiago tips |
- Find answers to the most popular questions about the Camino | Camino de Santiago FAQ |
Questions or Comments?
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
Incredible information! I am so happy that I found your website. I am reviewing all of your information and links.
Hello Pam. Thank you for the comment. We're glad you've found our website helpful.
Buen Camino!
Thanks for an informative website! My question is about carrying a sleeping bag. I hope to do the camino Portuguese in March 25 and I'm wondering how necessary it is to carry a sleeping bag which takes up a lot of space and adds weight to a small pack. What are the alternatives if I decide against it. I will be walking on a budget so hotel rooms will be an unusual luxury for my trip.
Hello Beth. Thank you for the comment. Private albergues have blankets you can ask for an extra one if it's really cold. Public albergues don't always have blankets and in March it's still quite cold at nighttime. Your options are to stay in private albergues or to carry a sleeping bag. If it was in summer I'd say you can get by without it but in March it's still cold.
Buen Camino
I have read that there can be a lot of closures over Easter weekend. Does that include private auberges and hotels, or mainly restaurants? Do grocery stores and bars stay open?
Hello Linda. Than you for the comment. Which Camino route are you talking about? As far as I know albergues and hotels stay open for Easter as well as cafes and restaurants (some might be closed). Shops and supermarkets are usually closed on Easer day only not for the entire weekend. Keep in mind that in Spain shops and supermarkets are always closed on Sundays.
Buen Camino
I’ll be 70 next spring and want to do one of the shorter walks since it will be my first time (100 miles in 10 days?). I walk my dogs daily averaging around 6 miles a day. I think I need to up my game! Do you suggest I start doing a minimum of 7- 8 miles a day? Best book advice? Thank you!
Hello Carla. Thank you for the comment. We have a detailed post on how to prepare for the Camino de Santiago https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-training/. There you can find a detailed information on getting ready for the Camino.
If you need a guidebook for the Camino then I can recommend guides by John Brierley. He has books for the main Camino routes. I guess you want to walk the last 100 km on the Camino Frances or Portuguese route.
We have detailed posts on the last 100 km from Sarria (on the Camino Frances) https://stingynomads.com/camino-frances-sarria-santiago-walk/ and from Tui (on the Camino Portuguese) https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-camino-from-tui/
Buen Camino
I'm a walker - have been since I found I had two feet, and my plan is to camp as much as possible on the Frances. I assume I can just set-up anywhere along the trail? Is one able to use the public albergues for toilets and washing (for a fee ) if not staying there?
Thanks.
Hello Ken. Wild camping is illegal in most of Spain. If you're spotted doing it you might get a fine. Only people who stay in albergue can use its facilities. I met some people with a camping gear on different Camino routes but most of them ended up staying in albergues because it was too difficult to fine a spot for camping. Public albergues cost 10 euros which is quite cheap for that price you get a bed, hot shower, toilet, and shared kitchen. In my opinion it's easier to stay indoor on the Camino then risk to get a fine.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads,
Good points about the public albergues, but I had my fill of 'barracks' style sleeping doing my RAF square bashing (far too much in the way of unpleasant bodily noises) so I was plumping for a more peaceful night.
Thanks about the note re. wild camping being illegal, no need to get on the wrong side of the host country, so I think I'll take your other suggestions above and look for private rooms in private albergues.
Very kind advice, thank you.
Ken.
@Ken,
Lot of people "camp" but it has different meanings! Just walking into the nearest woods and going to sleep is generally Ok, But putting up a tent and staying for a few nights is NOT. On the Norte some albergues were full and handing out tents to pilgrims and pointing them to woods. my wife walked the Norte by herself and "camped" out every night because she could not afford albergues! Sometimes I just don't feel like walking anymore and just wonder into the nearest woods or field of fresh cut hay.
Olá, great article and video.
Do you know of any service that would allow me to send my luggage 3 or 5 stages at once?
This way one could pack one small backpack for 3 days and then have a heavy bag waiting every 3 days or so. Would it be cheaper or would I have to pay for each day the bag waits for me? Planning to go now in July.
Hello Fabio. Thank you for the comment. I think it might be difficult to arrange the transfer for ever 3rd day. Luggage transfer companies don't offer luggage storage. You'll probably have to arrange that with hotels yourself. I don't know which Camino Route you're going to walk. I know that on the main route Correos offer luggage transfer for up to 60 km in one go. Correos is the Spanish post service they have storage facilities in cities and bigger towns. You can try contacting them to find out. https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/rucksack-transfer
Buen Camino
interested in travel alone on the Potiguese leg. English speaking only. Will be 70.
Hello. Many people walk the Portuguese Camino alone even if they don't speak any Spanish or Portuguese. I'd say the majority of pilgrims are foreigners in restaurants and hotels they usually speak English. I'm sure you'll be fine and meet many fellow pilgrims along the route.
Buen Camino
Hi this is so great thx for this information . Question… is it safe just to rock up and find a room in hotel or public inn? Do they have enough capacity that we can do this? Or must book…
Cathy
Hello Cathy. Thank you for the comment. It depends on the time of the year and the Camino route. If you are planning to walk the Camino de Santiago in May or September I'd recommend booking accommodation especially private rooms in smaller places in advance. If you want to walk one of the coastal route e.g. the Camino del Norte or the Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino during the summer months (June, July, and August) then you should book accommodation in advance as well because these areas are popular beach holiday destinations. If you don't mind staying in dormitories with shared facilities then you can count on public (municipal) albergues those are exclusively for pilgrims and can't be booked in advance.
Buen Camino
I need tondecide a route good forv21 days
Hello Arthur. You can walk the last 3 weeks on one of the longer Camino routes e.g. Camino Frances or Camino del Norte or do the Portuguese Camino from Porto which takes 12-14 days, spend a couple of days in the city and then continue on the Camino Finisterre, another 4-5 days.
Buen Camino
Hi! Thanks for the helpful tips! Do you carry euros with you or is it safer to do a credit card? I’m coming from the states.
Also, is there an airport that is easily accessible in Santiago?
Hello Meghan. Thank you for the comment. We usually carry some cash with us because public albergues and some bars/small shops don't accept cards. I'd suggest having 100-200 euros in cash. Depending on the Camino route you're going to walk you'll get an ATM every day or so. Once you start running out of cash you can draw again. Most private albergues, restaurants, bars, and shops accept credit cards. We try to pay by card if it's possible and keep cash for emergencies.
There is an airport in Santiago de Compostela with direct flights to Spain, France, the UK, Germany, etc. It is quite easy to access by bus or taxi.
Buen Camino
This is SO helpful! Thank you!!
Good day! I am arriving next week to walk the Camino starting in Saint Jean and heading to Santiago. Any tips for a smooth trip and albergues to stay in? We are carrying our bags ourselves. Do you know if there is a train from Santiego to Porto? If so, how many times a day do they go and what is cost? Thank you.
Hello Joy. We have a detailed post on the walking stages of the Camino Frances where you can find PDFs with places to stay, distances, etc. Here it is https://stingynomads.com/camino-frances-walking-itinerary/
There is no direct train from Santiago to Porto you'll have to do at least one switch. A bus is a better option. There are several direct buses between the two cities. The journey takes between 3h30min and 4 hours. You can find the timetable and prices on the ALSA website.
Buen Camino
Hello! Is the 1235 Euro you mentioned for one person? I'm trying to get a rough estimate for going with my wife. Thank you!
Hello Bryan. Thank you for the comment. Yes, it's the spending for one person. I walked the Camino Frances alone and 1235 euros is how much I spent.
Buen Camino
Hola qué buena información, estoy viajando a Santiago de Compostela en Abril y tendré 7 días para programar mi camino Finisterre, es posible hacerlo cuando llegue o necesito programarlo antes ? El clima será bueno?
Hello Jacklyn. Thank you for the comment. I don't know when in April you're planning to do the Camino. If it's during the Semana Santa then I'd recommend booking accommodation in advance. If it's outside that period then you don't have to book everything in advance you can just arrive in Santiago and start walking.
As for the weather, it is usually still quite chilly and rainy in Northern Spain in April but you might be lucky and get a nice and sunny week.
Buen Camino
Im also interested in the Finisterre route. I only have 7 days to walk... so I want to walk a 'beautiful' section. I love nature. Ill be walking in July. Im hoping I can just walk along and not pre-book accommodation. I want the flexibility to wander along and make it up as a go. Im still chasing the best route for me. Any recommendations would be fabulous.
The Camino Finisterre-Muxia is a beautiful route more scenic in my opinion than the Camino from Sarria. 7 days is enough to walk from Santiago to Finisterre and Muxia. As for accommodation, I would suggest booking it in advance in small places with limited options. July is the peak season not only for the Camino but overall for European holidays. In some areas e.g. Finisterre, Muxia there will be many tourists besides pilgrims so the best places will be booked. If you walk the route from Sarria there are many places to stay so I believe you'll be able to find accommodation without prior booking.
Buen Camino
Thank you for your excellent website. I am in Australia. So Im coming a long way to visit Spain. I can't find online if there is a bus/train from Santiago back to Leon or Sarria so I can leave my suitcase in Santiago and walk back into the city. Do you know if there is a bus/train so I can get back out of the city to walk the trail in? Thanks so much in advance. I have looked up the accommodation places you recommended in Santiago.
Hello Wendy. Thank you for the comment. Yes, there is a bus from Santiago to Sarria you can find more information on how to get there in this post - https://stingynomads.com/camino-frances-sarria-santiago-walk/#How_to_get_to_Sarria. You can go directly to Leon or Sarria without coming to Santiago first and send your luggage from there all the way to Santiago. Correos (Spanish post office) offers such a service https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/transfer-luggage. They deliver your luggage to Santiago and store it till your arrival. It might be a better and more convenient option.
Buen Camino
Hi nomads, thank you for such great information. I m planning to take this challenge/pilgrimage in late April from Porto, any extra tips you may be able to give for this trail would be great. Also, as far as travel/health insurance, do you have any recommendations?
Thank you.
Hello Trouva. Thank you for the comment. We have two detailed posts on the Portuguese Camino where you can find a lot of information that might be useful. Here they are https://stingynomads.com/camino-portugues-stages/ and https://stingynomads.com/portuguese-coastal-camino-stages/. Regarding travel insurance for the Camino you can read this post https://stingynomads.com/travel-insurance-camino-de-santiago/.
Buen Camino
Hello, we would like to go in May this year, is the Camino Primitivo touristy then? We don’t like to have a crowd. Also , is this the best one to have a “ mountainous “ feel, as we crave some heights,as we live in Australia on the coast. Are there plenty of accommodation,or do we need to plan ahead?
Hello Anna. Thank you for the comment. The Camino Primitivo in May is not very touristy. It's definitely the best Camino de Santiago route to do if you want to walk in the mountain. There are enough albergues and hotels finding a place to stay shouldn't be a problem.
Buen Camino
We're considering hiking the Norte route in mid-March. What kind of weather can we expect? Your website is awesome! It's been so helpful with our planning.
Hello Scott. In mid-March in Northern Spain, you can expect chilly weather with quite a bit of rain. Make sure you pack rain covers for your backpacks and rain jackets or ponchos. It doesn't mean it'll rain nonstop for 30 days but it's very likely that you'll get several rainy days.
Buen Camino
HI Sandra,
I'm planning on doing the Northern Route in mid April, going solo. I hear the terrain is quite tough through Cantabria and Asturias. Also I see that most albergues are not open, so it's private hostels I suppose.
Any further help would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Tony. I'm not sure what you mean by tough terrain? Steep climbs, hard surfaces, rocky ground, or walking next to the road? The one a bit unpleasant day of walking on the Camino del Norte that I can recall was the walk from Gijon to Aviles, most of the day was next to busy roads and through industrial areas. As for albergues the Northern route has way less public albergues than the Camino Frances or the Portuguese route for this reason it works out quite a bit more expensive. In the Basque Country there are not many albergues in Galicia there are more.
We have two detailed posts on the Camino del Norte where you can find more information https://stingynomads.com/camino-del-norte-stages/ and https://stingynomads.com/northern-way-camino-de-santiago/
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads,
Thanks. Great info on this site.
Blees you both!