What is the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St.James is a network of pilgrimage routes to the tomb of Apostle St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela. Walking the Camino is a lifetime experience. One of the best things about it is that anybody can do it. You don't have to be an experienced hiker or good athlete to walk it.
We have the Camino de Santiago resource page where you can find all our posts dedicated to the pilgrimage. It's easy to navigate as all the posts are grouped by the topic.
As of May 2026, we've completed 12 Camino routes and several connecting and alternative routes. If you have just started planning the Camino you can follow our 10 easy steps that will help you to plan your walk.
Watch our YouTube video about things to know before walking the Camino de Santiago
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What is the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, a city in Galicia, Northern Spain. It's believed to be the burrier place of the remains of the Apostle St. James. The history of the Camino de Santiago goes back to the 9th century when Spanish King Alfonso II completed the first-ever pilgrimage from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela. Nowadays this route is known as the Camino Primitivo.
Camino de Santiago has many different routes from short 120-kilometers trails to long and challenging 1000-kilometers routes. Depending on how much time you have, what you want to see, and how far you want walk you can choose any of the existing routes.
Why is the Camino so important?
The Camino de Santiago is one of the oldest pilgrimage routes in Europe. It has been walked by millions of people over the centuries. The final point of the pilgrimage, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, is one of the three Christian temples built over the tomb of one of the twelve Apostles. People who walk the Camino for religious reasons see it as the way to seek penance and forgiveness.
If you get overwhelmed at the beginning of your Camino planning and have many questions that need to be answered we created a dedicated post answering many FAQs about the Camino de Santiago.
Many routes of the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is not a single route, as some people think referring to the most popular route - Camino Frances. It's a network of routes. You can start walking to Santiago from anywhere in Europe but outside the established Camino de Santiago routes it will be difficult to find a good infrastructure for pilgrims; accommodation, route markings, etc.
There are several established routes of the Camino. They start in different places in Spain and Europe and end in Santiago de Compostela.
Camino Frances (the French Way) - the most popular route. In 2024 47% of all pilgrims walked this Camino. The French route starts in Saint Jean Pied de Port, a small French town near the border with Spain. The total distance is 790 km. 65% of pilgrims who completed the route walked the last 100 km from Sarria.
Camino Portugues (the Portuguese Way) - the second popular route. It starts in Lisbon but most people start their walk in Porto or Tui. Total distance from Lisbon is 644 km, from Porto 243 km, 274 km, or 280 km, depending on the route you take, 119 km on the route from Tui. There are three routes from Porto; the Coastal route, the Litoral Way, and the Central route.
Camino del Norte (the Northern Way) - this route is very beautiful but has a lack of infrastructure for pilgrims especially in terms of budget accommodation. The Northern Way is a great alternative to the French Camino. I've walked both and liked the scenery on the Camino del Norte more. The route starts in Irún, a small Spanish town on the border with France. The total distance of the Camino is 825 km.
Camino Primitivo (the Original Way) - one of the lesser-known Camino routes, about 5% of the pilgrims. It’s relatively short, 321 km. It’s considered to be one of the toughest routes due to many steep ascents and descents. The Camino Primitivo starts in Oviedo, Spain.
Via de la Plata (the Silver Way) - one of the longest Camino routes in Spain, about 1000 km. It's one of the least walked routes, only 2% of pilgrims walk it. It’s not the best route to walk as the first Camino due to prolonged stages and great distance.
Camino Inglés (the English Way) - a shorter route, 120 km. It starts in Ferrol, Spain. 5,5% of pilgrims walk. It’s probably the best option for those who want to get a taste of the Camino before embracing a longer walk.
There are many lesser-known Camino routes in Spain. All these routes combined are walked by less than 1% of the pilgrims. You can imagine how little infrastructure they have.
There is one special route Camino Finisterre-Muxía, unlike the other routes, it starts in Santiago de Compostela and goes to Finisterre and Muxía, two coastal towns in Galicia. People usually walk it after completing one of the other Camino routes.
You can find more details on route options in our post on the Best routes of the Camino de Santiago.
How long does it take to walk the Camino de Santiago?
The time required for completing the Camino de Santiago depends on the route. It can be from 4 days on the Camino de Gran Canaria to 45+ days on the Via de la Plata. The most popular route the Camino Frances takes on average between 30 and 35 days to complete. If you don't have time to complete one of the longer routes and still want to get the Compostela Certificate you can walk a 100 km on any Camino route.
If you want to complete one of the longer routes of the Way of St.James but don't have enough time you can split it into parts and walk them over a couple of years.
Where does the Camino start and end?
The starting point of the Camino depends on the chosen route. All Camino routes start in different cities across Spain, some in other European countries. All routes end in one place - Santiago de Compostela. There are only two exceptions: the Camino de Gran Canaria which is on the Canary Islands and the Camino Finisterre-Muxia which starts in Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago de Compostela is a great city with many things to do. If you have a couple of days after finishing the Camino I recommend spending them there.
How hard is to walk the Camino?
The Camino de Santiago is a challenging route, especially for first-timers who have never done a multi-day walk before. It's physically demanding to walk on average 20-25 km daily for weeks. Even if you walk one of the shorter routes or do only a 100 km it's still difficult. I would recommend doing some training for the Camino de Santiago.
On longer routes (from our experience) besides physical exhaustion you can get emotionally burned out. Just imagine getting up every day packing your stuff in a backpack, walking for 6-8 hours, sleeping every night in a different place often in a shared room with strangers. Of course, it's a unique experience, and the challenges that we overcome form a part of it.
How many hours a day do you walk?
You walk 20-25 km/12,4-15,5 mi per day on average. If you take an average walking speed of 5 km/3,1 mi per hour it'll give you 4-5 walking hours a day. Add to that an hour or two because you usually stop on the way to drink coffee, eat lunch, etc. Be ready to spend on the road between 6 and 8 hours a day. Some people walk slower some faster. Even on the same Camino route walking time may vary depending on the landscape; in the mountains (due to ascents and descents), you walk slower than on the plains.
What is the best month to walk the Camino de Santiago?
The best months for doing the Camino depend on the route you choose, some routes are great in summer e.g. Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo - it's nice and warm, with no rain. On some Caminos, the summer heat is unbearable e.g. Via de la Plata, and the Lisbon to Porto part of the Portuguese Camino - it's scorching hot, dry with no shadow to hide.
The busiest time for most of the routes is May, June, July, and September. These summer months have the best weather for walking. If you want to escape crowds plan the walk for end of September beginning of October. We love walking the Camino that time of the year. It's still warm and sunny but less crowdy.
For walking the Camino de Santiago completely off-season between November and March, the French Camino is probably the best. There is more infrastructure, some albergues are open all year round.
Weather-wise winter is not the best time it can rain quite a lot and temperatures drop below 0C. Some mountain passes might be closed.
What do I need for walking?
Anybody can walk the Camino de Santiago. You don't need any special documents or permits. All you need is a pair of good shoes and a comfortable backpack for the Camino. Of course, you'll have to do some planning and preparation.
The only special thing you need for the Camino de Santiago is a Credential (pilgrim's passport) - a small book that contains your information (name, country, birth date, etc.) with special spaces for stamps. IYou collect stamps from albergues, churches, restaurants, and bars on the route. At the end of the Camino you go to the Pilgrim's Reception Office in Santiago de Compostela with your Credential with stamps. There you can get the Compostela certificate for completing the pilgrimage.
How much does the pilgrimage cost?
Walking the Camino is usually cheaper than going on a normal holiday. The cost depends on how much comfort you need. The cheapest way to walk the Camino is;
- to stay mainly in public (municipal) albergues
- to make food
- not to go out a lot
If you stick to these rules your Camino budget will be as little as 25 Euros per person per day.
Camino de Santiago one week cost, per person
- Accommodation - 10 Euro x 7 days = 70 Euro per week, per person
- Food shopping - 10 Euro x 7 days = 70 Euro
- Eating out (optional, you can buy all food in supermarkets) - 10 Euro x 7 days = 70 Euro
- Laundry - 5 Euro, can be divided between 2 or more people
- Other - 10 Euro
Total; 225 Euro pp. per week or 33 Euro pp. per day, plus transport to get to the Camino and back home. For a comfortable walk, I suggest budgeting 35 Euro pp. per day. If you cut off on eating out you can do it for 175 Euro pp. per week or 25 Euro pp. per day.
You can find more details on the cost of walking the Camino including money-saving tips, a detailed explanation of what you can get on 25, 35, and 50 Euro per day, and a comparison of the cost of different routes in our post The cost of walking the Camino de Santiago.
Do I have to carry my backpack?
If you don't want to walk with a big backpack every day it's possible to arrange backpack delivery on the Camino. Your backpack gets picked up in the morning from your hotel and dropped off in the afternoon at your next accommodation place. Several companies offer luggage transfer services on the Camino de Santiago. The Spanish post office Correos is the main one, they cover most Camino routes. The price is around 7 Euros per backpack per stage.
Travel insurance for the Camino
Walking like any other outdoor activity involves a risk of getting an injury or losing some of the gear. It's recommended to have travel insurance for the Camino de Santiago. Though Camino is not a high-altitude hike through remote areas it's still a physically challenging experience and injuries are quite frequent. It makes the walk less stressful when you know you're covered in case of any unpredictable emergencies.
World Nomads travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers, with coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
How to plan the Camino de Santiago?
These simple steps will help you in planning and preparing for the walk.
Choose which route you want to walk. Don't be afraid to choose an off-the-beaten-track route, base your choice on what you'd like to see and experience.
Book your plane, train, bus ticket, etc.
Start training for the Camino.
Check packing recommendations and make sure you have all the essentials e.g. comfortable shoes, a good backpack, etc. Don’t leave shoe shopping till the last moment, you’ll need some time to get used to new shoes.
Get the Credential in your country or check if you’ll be able to get it at the starting point of your Camino route; some albergues, cathedrals, or information offices sell them.
Make a draft of your walking itinerary (stages) based on distances. You don't have to stick to it but it's nice to have some sort of a walking plan.
Buy travel insurance that covers the period of the walk.
When you have everything ready pack your backpack and try to walk 10-15 km with it. If it feels too heavy reconsider your luggage and leave unnecessary stuff at home. It's important to pack light for the Camino to make your walk easier.
One of my main Camino de Santiago tips is don’t stress out - as pilgrims say “The Camino provides”. Everything will work out in the end and you'll be fine.
Where do pilgrims stay?
Hostels for pilgrims are called albergues. They can be municipal (public) or private. The municipal albergues are run by the municipality with the help of volunteers. Private albergues belong to a person or organization. In high season municipal albergues on the popular routes fill up quite quickly if you want to get a spot you must be there before 1 pm and wait in the queue. Even if you don't get a spot there will be one or two private albergues where you can stay for 5-7 Euros more.
There are albergues for a donation they can be private or public. They don't have an established price, and pilgrims donate as much as they want. Donation albergues are only for pilgrims with Credentials, they can't be booked.
Of course, there are plenty of hotels and guesthouses on the Camino. It works out a lot more expensive to stay in private every night, especially on longer routes. We try to stay in private at least once or twice a week to have better rest.
Municipal albergues
- The average price is 10 Euros per person.
- They are exclusively for pilgrims (you need a Credential to stay there).
- Can’t be booked, first come first serve principle.
- Check-in usually starts between 1 pm and 3 pm.
- Check out by 8 am the next morning.
- Don't allow to stay for more than one night.
- Usually, have disposable bedding included or for 1 Euro extra.
- Normally have a kitchen, sometimes without utensils or cutlery.
- Usually, they are quite big.
Private albergues
- Price 15-20 Euros.
- Not only for pilgrims but the majority of people who stay there are pilgrims.
- They can be booked in advance through online booking system or over the phone.
- Normally open for check-in from 1 pm.
- Check out before 9 am-10 am.
- Allow staying as long as you want.
- Usually have better facilities than public albergues.
- Disposable bedding is included, some places have normal bedding.
- Usually have a kitchen.
- Normally they are smaller than public albergues.
How do I find albergues on the Camino?
You don't have to worry about it. The way to municipal albergues is always marked, just follow the arrows and you will end up at the albergue. Most private albergues have indications pointing their way (they want you to find them), some might be slightly off the route but usually, they are located pretty close to the Camino.
In the peak season (May, June, and September) if you want to stay in a specific private albergue (because it’s very nice or somebody recommended it to you, etc.) it’s better to book it in advance.
Find more information on accommodation on the Camino in our comprehensive post Albergues on the Camino de Santiago.
What is the food like on the Camino?
It's not a problem to find places to eat on the Camino. Most routes, especially the more popular ones, have plenty of restaurants and bars. Menu del Día or Pilgrim's Menu is the most popular meal. It's a set menu that includes salad or soup, a main dish (meat, chicken, fish), wine/water/cool drink to choose from, bread, coffee, or dessert. The menu costs 12 Euro on average and it's usually a big meal. Many restaurants, bars, and private albergues serve it for lunch.
Many bars and cafes offer breakfast. It's usually a cup of coffee with a sandwich or pastry and a glass of orange juice. In some places, you can find a big breakfast with eggs and bacon but it's not typical in Spain.
Tapas or pinchos are very popular in Spain. Tapas or pinchos can be anything; a small portion of paella, a little sandwich, a piece of tortilla, etc. Some bars give tapas for free with your drink, and some charge extra, usually 2-3 Euro. Pinchos are typical for Northern Spain (the Basque County, Navarra). You always pay for pinchos, the price is 3-6 Euro.
The main problem on the Camino is if you are on a specific diet e.g. vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc. In big cities, you find restaurants serving vegan or vegetarian menus but in smaller places, it might be difficult. The best option is to find a place with a kitchen where you can cook.
The food on the Camino de Santiago is a part of the experience. I recommend trying some of the traditional Spanish dishes and going out for tapas at least once.
How do I find the route?
All established Camino de Santiago routes are well-marked from the start to the end. The routes are marked with yellow arrows and yellow scallop shells painted on sidewalks, tiles, walls, poles, etc. In Galicia, the route markers show the distance left to the cathedral in Santiago.
We rarely had a problem finding the way. A couple of times in big cities we lost the trek because the route sometimes is marked with metal scallop shells on sidewalks, but usually, it’s very easy to follow.
Is it safe to walk the Camino?
I’ve walked four different Camino routes alone and never felt unsafe. I walked out of big cities through so-called industrial areas, through forests, fields, and along beaches. The most unpleasant for me is walking on or along the road. I just don’t like it when I hear a car or even worse a truck approaching from behind but even when I had to walk on the road it never felt like a car would drive over me.
The main “danger” on the Camino is theft, especially in big cities. Don’t leave your valuable stuff unattended anywhere; albergues, restaurants, picnic spots, etc.
Camino de Santiago planning resources
- Make sure to choose the best Camino route for you | Many routes of the Camino de Santiago - choose the right one |
- How to pack for the Camino? | Camino de Santiago packing list |
- Join the international Camino community | Camino de Santiago forum |
- Find out what churches and cathedrals on different Camino routes held masses for pilgrims | Mass on the Way |
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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.
When travel is opened back up to Americans, I plan to come. I need a short camino and like the quiet, so I was originally planning on the Ingles. But, it seems from the web, that the hotels, albergues, bars, etc on this route are mostly closed due to Covid and may not reopen. Should I shift to the end of the Frances instead? I'll be walking as a solo middle aged female.
Hello, Nancy! I've seen information that public albergues on the route won't open in 2020 which is logical. I can't imagine everything along the route will be shut down forever especially hotels and restaurants. Public albergues have never been profitable the receive enough money to cover the basic cost, most of them are run by municipalities. I can't imagine all these new albergues on the Camino Ingles will just be closed forever. I think there are many speculations nowadays and people jump to conclusions very quickly spreading the panic saying that tourist is dead, nothing will be the same again etc. I'd suggest wait till the start of 2021 season and see how it goes. 2021 is the holy year, that happens every 10 or so years there are usually more pilgrims than any other year.
As for walking the last 100 km on the Camino Frances it's definitely not a quiet route especially in September! I walked it in September and there were too many people, bog groups of elderly, groups of students, it was very noisy and busy. If for some reasons you won't be able to walk the English Way consider the Portugese Camino from Tui, about 115 km to Santiago. It's a popular route but less crowded than the French Camino. We have a post on walking the last 100 km on different Camino routes that you might find helpful, you can find it in our Camino de Santiago menu.
Let's hope next year will bring good changes and the world goes back to normal!
Buen Camino!
Hello, love the website! I was planning on walking the Camino September 2021. Can you tell me a good route to choose for a 10-14 day walk please? I was thinking of flying into Madrid. I'm coming from Florida. Thanks so much.
Hello, Betty! Thank you for the comment! The Portuguese Camino from Porto is a great option for a 2-week pilgrimage. It takes around 12 days to complete it. In September it'll be nice and warm there. You can start following the Coastal Route from Porto and then switching to the Central Route in Tui. It's a beautiful Camino with good infrastructure, it's a good route for a first-timer. The easiest for you will be to fly to Porto from the US there is a big international airport in Porto.
Buen Camino!
You guys are amazing! Your website is my go-to for all things Camino! Thank you for sharing your gift of documentation with the pilgrim community. My family and I will hopefully (COVID 19 ???) be walking the Camino in June 2021 and we have chosen the del Norte way. As we have been planning, my daughter and I have come up with a question that we haven't seen, or maybe we've just missed it, but what is the bathroom situation on the route? I know, weird question, but we are curious. Thank you for your help!
Shannon (living near the head of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, USA)
Hi, Shannon! Thank you very much for the comment! We all hope everything goes back to normal next year! We had to cancel all our Camino plans this year. As for your question, it's not a problem to find a bathroom most of the time you walk through towns and villages you can stop at any bar, restaurant, or cafe along the way and use their bathroom even if you don't eat or drink anything. In bigger towns and cities there are public toilets as well. Del Norte is one of our favorite Camino routes. June is a good time for walking! I'm sure you'll have a great time!
The Appalachian Trail is our dream trek, we hope we'll be able to complete it one day! It looks amazing!
Buen Camino!
I am sorry I forgot to mention that we are from Madrid, Spain.
Hi there! Thank you for your blog it is very helpful and interesting. My 21 year old daughter and I wants to experience the Camino de Santiago. Since this is our first time and I only have one week vacation left we just want to try the shortest way. The 100-200 kms. maybe.
But the thing is we don't know where to start? And another concern is that, when we reach the Santiago de Campostela, do we have to walk back where we were? Or there are already trqsport that we can take going back to Madrid. guide us please thank you very much.
Hello, Haily! Than you for the comment! If you want to get the Compostela for completing the Camino you have to walk at least the last 100km to Santiago on any Camino route. The most popular place to start the Camino is Sarria on the Camino Frances. The town is about 115km from Santiago, it takes 5-6 days to complete it. Many first-time pilgrims walk this route. It has good infrastructure, many albergues, hostels, hotels, restaurants, etc. The route is well-marked and easy to follow.
Another option is to walk the Camino Ingles from Ferrol, the total distance of this route is 110km, 5-6 walking days. The route is less popular compared to the Sarria-Santiago walk but it has enough albergues and hotels to accommodation pilgrims.
If after completing one of the suggested routes you still have time and feel like walking more you can continue from Santiago to Finisterre, it's another 3 walking days. We have detailed guides and itineraries for the suggested Camino routes that you can find by clicking on "Camino de Santiago" in our top menu.
You don't have to walk back from Santiago you can take a bus, train or flight back to Madrid.
Enjoy the walk and Buen Camino!
We were intending to walk part of the French Camino in September St Jean to Los Arcos, would we be advised to wait until next year. We only have flights books at present.
Hello, Tony! I'm not sure what country you're from and if tourists coming from your country are already allowed to enter the EU or not. My suggestion will be to wait until August and see how the current situation will develop. I assume you can change or cancel your flight up to a couple of days before the departure day. As I know the Camino was opened on the 1st July if everything goes well and there is no second wave it should be open in September. We're in the same situation, we'd like to do another Camino this year but aren't sure it'll be possible.
Keep well!
Hello! Love your page! The Sarria to Santiago route I am doing with a group of old high school classmates in Summer of 2021, We are in our late 50's, about half of us experienced hikers, the other half not (probably 6-8 total). We will be doing Airbnbs and Pensions/Hotels as we don't want any chance of not getting rooms for our group when we come into a town during a very busy year and time of year. We will obviously do Portomarin, Palais De Rei, and then we are going to do overnight in Melide for the rest after two long first days, laundromats, and restaurant selection. My planning difficulty comes after that. I want two more nights before Santiago (6 walking days total) but I keep hearing different things between Ribadiso, Arzua, A Rua, O Pedrouza, etc. Based on what you know about us, what would you recommend? I'm trying to not have any brutally hard/long days for my group but want to give them the best experience possible.
Hello, Andy! Thank you for the comment! If you want to have 6 walking days in total I'd suggest the following; Day 1. Sarria - Portomarin. Day 2. Portomarin - Palas de Rei. Day 3. Palas de Rei - Melide. Day 4. Melide - Arzua. Day 5. Arzua - O Pedrouzo. Day 6. O Pedrouzo - Santiago. It's always better to stop at the many towns along the route as they have more accommodation options, supermarkets, ATMs and restaurants. If you stick to this itinerary you'll have two short 15-km days in the middle to have some rest. We have a post with stages for the last 100km on the Camino from Sarria it might be helpful for your planning https://stingynomads.com/camino-frances-sarria-santiago-walk/.
Buen Camino!
Hi, my sister and I are just starting to plan for a 2021 spring Camino ( Frances) . We have time restraints so plan to walk halfway, and return another year to complete it. What is the best place to finish, as we would need transport back to France to go home. Also, is it better to book all accommodation or just turn up and hope for the best. I would worry in case the trip didnt go to plan and messed up all the booked accommodation dates, but also worry about not having a place to sleep.
Thanks for the blog, very informative.
Hello, Rose! Thank you for the comment! If you're planning to start in St.Jean Pied du Port than Burgos or Leon might be a good place to finish, both are big cities I'm sure it won't be difficult to get back to France from there. Burgos is 288km from St.Jean and 483km to Santiago, Leon is 452km from St.Jean and 319km to Santiago. As for booking accommodation it depends when you're planning to walk if in May which is one of the most popular months I'd recommend booking accommodation in some places but you don't have to do it weeks beforehand just a couple of days. I finished walking the Camino Frances a couple of weeks ago and busy writing a detailed guide which will be published tomorrow. There you'll find a lot of practical information about the French Camino including some tips on accommodation.
Buen Camino!
Hi I am Laetitia from Vleesbay, near Mosselbay, SA. My son and his wife gave me a ticket to Europe as a 60th birthday present. Walking the Camino is on my bucket list. Thank you for the tips on hiking the cheapest way! I would love to go 2020 but will have to start saving!!!!! Looking forward so much!
Hello, Laetitia! Thank you for the comment! I'm sure you'll enjoy walking the Camino. If you have any questions about choosing the best route for you etc. don't hesitate to ask, we'll be happy to help!
Regards
Starting the portugese camino (coastal) next week. Pretty excited!
Thank you for the precious notes and insights.
Happy trails
Hello, Francois! Thank you for the comment! I'm starting the French route in two days very excited too!
Buen Camino!
Hello,
Can I get a pilgrim pass prior to arrival in Spain? I am in the USA.
Cheers,
Patrick
Hello, Patrick! I think you can get it through your local Pilgrim's office in the USA, I'm not sure where exactly you live so I'd suggest contacting American Pilgrims on the Camino (they have a website), it's an authorized organization that provides pilgrim's passports for US citizens.
Cheers!
got mine at ivar's store (google ivar store camino)
Hi! My name is Bailey and I am a sophomore in high school in Arizona. I learned about the Camino from my foreign language class and was immediately drawn to it. Because of my interest my family and I watched to movie “The Way” (which I highly recommend to anyone) , and we were automatically hooked on the idea of doing the this. So we plan to go summer of my graduating year through the month of June. I know that you haven’t done it but we plan to do the Camino Frances. Do you think it would be suitable for a fourteen year old to walk it or is that too young? I also wanted to thank you so much for this informative page it truly has helped me so much.
Hello, Bailey! Thank you for the comment! The Camino is a very interesting and inspiring subject, it definitely can be a lifetime experience for you and your family. I'm going to walk the Camino Frances is two weeks' time will be able to give more feedback on that. We did see some teenagers on different Camino routes but most of them were on the shorter routes we saw a couple on the Portuguese Camino (which is less than a half of the French). We met families that walked longer routes in parts, a week here 10 days there. I think if you're determined it's quite possible, the only thing is carrying a backpack, not sure if it won't be too heavy for you, usually, it's between 5-6kg. It's possible to arrange luggage transfer, your backpack will be delivered every day to your final destination. I don't know how much you walk in your normal life but it might be a good idea before you do the Camino to train a little bit. Walking the Camino is difficult mainly because of its distance, we do a lot of trekking but it usually takes one or two weeks but to walk for four or five weeks nonstop can be quite exhausting. I hope it helps!
Buen Camino!
ok! first of all this is very impressive and thank you for all the information!
i was wondering if you have a list ofthe different albergues along the french way and the primitivo? and where do you did you stay for the night an saint jean de pied de port?
Hello, Yonatan! Thank you for the comment! Unfortunately, we don't have a list of albergues on the French Route because it is the only route we haven't walked yet (we might be walking it in September this year). As for the primitivo in our post "Camino Primitivo guide" (you can find it in the Camino de Santiago menu) you can find the albergues we stayed and their facilities.
Cheers!
Hello guys - so awesome! My wife and I will be walking next May as a part of a 3 month sabbatical I am taking. We’ve been planning on doing it for about 10 years! Now that i am researching I am strongly considering the Camino starting in Porto. We only have about 10-14 days to walk - the more I read, the more excited I am about this alternative. You agree this is a great option? would you fly into Lisbon from the states or wherever in Europe we arrive from? Thanks!
Hello, Lee! Thank you for the comment! We walked the Camino from Porto (the Coastal Route) in May and it was great, nice weather, not too many people, most of the time next to the sea I think it's a good option, you'll need 12-14 days to complete it. As for the flight if you fly from the States it'll probably be cheaper to fly to Lisbon if from anywhere in Europe then you can fly directly to Porto though Lisbon is a nice city to spend a couple of day. You can take a train or a bus from Lisbon to Porto it's not too far.
Cheers!
Hi Stingy Nomads!
Thank you so much for a really informative website and videos. I am looking to hike the entire Camino frances as a solo female next April 2020. It will be a very heartfelt and emotional walk for me. Thank you for the guidebook recommendations. Very helpful. Thanks for passing on so much handy knowledge. I am inspired and excited to walk the way!
Hello, Andrea! Thank you very much for the comment! I walked the Camino Francés this year in September it was the first Camino I walked alone without my husband (he was hiking in Canada) and it was absolutely fine, no being lonely or feeling unsafe. Spring is a great time for walking the Camino I'm sure you'll enjoy it! I just published two posts one is a complete guide to the Camino Frances and one with a detailed itinerary, they might be helpful in your planning. You can find both posts on our Camino de Santiago menu.
Buen Camino!
Hello Stingy Nomads!! You are my true heroes! I am leaving for France in 2 weeks. This time I do not consider myself a tourist, rather a nomad myself. I am beginning with a pilgrimage, the Camino Frances. I al flying I to Paris and train to SJPP. After that, I want to do the coastal Camino Portuguese...my issue is the Schengen Visa:/ I suppose I will go to Morocco after Muxia and before Portugal. I can't think ofanotherway, unless you have any suggestions? I want to explore more of Africa, but having a struggle with Algiers Visa, so I may have to skip it :/ Then I plan to go all the way up the coast of southern Spain, but again the schengen issue will arise, as I am walking. I have plans to go to a great many other places, Lalibela, Jordan, Israel, Croatia, Georgia, Russia, and many, many more places. I would appreciate your advice, any advice. I will be staying in hostels for the most part as I have no other choice, financially. At age 56, this will be a challenge in itself. I don't plan to return stateside unless/until one of my 3adult children g4ts married or has a baby. I had all of them as well as a full-time nanny and 2 mortgages by the time I was the age of my youngest, at 28. I hope to blog for some income as well, perhaps. I hope to hear from you, my heroes!
Thank you
Libby Fraser
Hello, Libby! Thank you very much for this amazing comment! It's great to receive such feedback! Your plans sound great and ambitious! I'm sure everything will work out in the best possible way! We haven't walked the French Camino yet thinking of doing it in September, it'll be very interesting to hear from you which Camino you'll like more the Portuguese or the French. looking forward to it.
We have the same visa issue we can stay in Schengen only for 90 days every 6 months every time we have to make sure not to overstay it. We haven't been to Morocco but heard many nice things about this country. As an option, to exit Schengen you can fly to Georgia as well it's a small but very nice country.
When we travel in Europe we usually stay in hostels as well especially in the season otherwise the accommodation is just too expensive.
We'll be happy to answer your further questions and help with planning.
Buen Camino and safe travels!
Is there still a bed-bug infestation at the albergues ?
I walked it in 2005 and there was no infestation, but heard around 2010 there was.
Thank you, I enjoyed your web site !
Hello, George! Thank you for the comment! We've never had any bed-bug infestation on the Camino but we haven't walked the French route yet we heard the most complaints are about that specific Camino.
Regards
I plan to do the camino Portuguese from Lisbon starting in mid-August on bike. I have the Brierley guide but would like a cycling guide as well but am unable to find one. Do you know of a good cycling guide for this route?
Hello, André! We haven't cycled any Camino route I'm afraid I can't help you here. Try searching in Spanish there might be more options.
Regards
Hi there!
I am from ZA, and my cousin and I are planning to walk it in June 2020. Is it advisable to get any vaccinations beforehand, and which documentation does one need (expect valid ID and Passport?)
Hello, Jana! You don't need any vaccination for Europe. You'll need a valid passport with Schengen visa and a credential (a certificate of pilgrim) that gets stamped at every albergue you stay, you need it to be able to stay in public albergues and to get the Compostela at the end of the Camino.
Buen Camino!
Superb blog i'm thinking 2020 starting training as from now !
Your blog has been so helpful to me in thinking about doing the Northern route of the Camino! How much did you guys actually plan in advance other than your flight and where you were starting before you went?
Hello, Christina! Thank you for the comment! We don't plan much in advance only book a flight and first night accommodation. We try to stay in public albergues when it's possible and those can't be booked beforehand, we have some sort of walking itinerary but sometimes we change it and walk longer or shorter days depending on weather conditions, level of tiredness etc. We never had a situation when we arrived somewhere and couldn't find a place to sleep. The Northern Route is beautiful!
Buen Camino!
Hello guys. Can you recommend the best, if not the cheapest way to get to SJPDP. Thinking of flying to Madrid late sept but open to any suggestions. Have the time but. Not the money. Thanks hey. Colleen
Hello, Colleen! I'm not sure where you're coming to Spain from? Europe, US, Australia? If it's a far-away location I guess the best and probably the cheapest way is to fly to Paris. From Paris, you can take a train to Bayonne and from there take another train to SJPDP. From Madrid, it's possible to get there as well but it involves more buses/trains, which might result in more expenses.
Buen Camino!
I’d just like to say for others who might have the same question, it is really quite easy to get from Madrid to SJPDP. Just take one of the frequent express trains to Pamplona and about a 2-3 hour bus ride from there to SJPDP. Some people take a taxi instead of the bus and if you have a small group, that could work out. For the two of us, the bus was cheaper and the schedule worked well, so that was the best option.
Hello Stingy nomads,
Thank you for all the very useful information on the Camino.
I am going to a family event in Santiago del Compostela in August 24th 2021. Thinking of walking 100k Camino and finish there on the 23rd. The walk from Porto seems good for a beginner.
I am concerned that it might be too hot to walk . I am 66 and not very fit and not good in high heat. Finding it hard to get a clear idea on temperature. Any advise on this.
Hello, Marion! Thank you for the comment! August is the hottest month in Spain and Portugal it might get quite hot. The distance from Porto to Santiago is about 260km if you want to walk only 100km you'll have to start in Tui it's about 120km from Santiago. As an option you can walk the last 100km on the Camino Frances from Sarria, it's the most popular option, many people who can't walk the entire route start there. A big advantage of the walk from Sarria is that there are many albergues and hotels along the route, you can walk short days. If you start early in the morning you'll be able to finish walking before it gets too hot. The route from Sarria goes through Galicia it doesn't get very hot there even in summer. Here is our post on walking the last 100km from Sarria, it might be helpful https://stingynomads.com/camino-frances-sarria-santiago-walk/
Buen Camino!