The Camino de Santiago – your 2024 guide

The Camino de Santiago or the Means of St.James is a community of pilgrimage to the tomb of Apotles St.James in Santiago de Compostela. Strolling the Camino is a lifetime expertise. The most effective issues about it’s that anyone can do it. You don’t must be an skilled hiker or tremendous athlete to stroll it. Camino de Santiago has many various route choices from a brief 120 km stroll to the lengthy and difficult 800 km and even 1000 km routes. Relying on how a lot time you’ve gotten, what you wish to see, and the way far you may stroll you may select any of the present routes. I need to warn you the Camino is likely to be addictive, many individuals come again time and again after finishing their first route.

Now we have the Camino de Santiago useful resource web page the place you will discover all our posts devoted to the pilgrimage. It’s straightforward to navigate as all of the posts are grouped based mostly on their matter.

As of March 2024, we’ve accomplished 9 totally different Camino routes and several other connecting and various routes. You’ll find many detailed Camino posts on our Camino de Santiago web page. We tried to create the perfect useful resource that pilgrims can use to plan their journey.

The Camino de Santiago that we’ve accomplished:

We couldn’t do any Camino in 2020 because of the pandemic. In 2021 our daughter was born we didn’t get an opportunity to stroll. In 2022 we restarted our Camino journey. As of March 2024, we’ve accomplished some elements of the Portuguese Camino together with the Religious Variant, and a few connecting routes between the Coatal and the Central routes. We’re planning to stroll extra within the coming months.

Watch our YouTube video about issues to know earlier than strolling the Camino de Santiago

What’s the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago or the Means of Saint James is a pilgrimage path to Santiago de Compostela, a metropolis in Galicia (Spain). It’s believed that within the cathedral of Santiago, the physique of the apostle Saint James was buried. The historical past of the Camino de Santiago goes again to the ninth century when Spanish King Alfonso II accomplished the first-ever pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela from Oviedo. These days this route is named the Camino Primitivo. The Camino de Santiago will not be a single route however a community of routes that begin in several cities, primarily in Spain (some in Portugal and France), and end in Santiago.

Why is the Means of St.James so necessary?

The Camino de Santiago is likely one of the oldest pilgrimage routes in Europe that has been walked by thousands and thousands of pilgrims over centuries. The ultimate level of the pilgrimage the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is likely one of the three Christian temples constructed over the tomb of the twelve Apostles. Individuals who stroll the Means for non secular causes see it as the way in which to hunt penance and forgiveness. Within the outdated occasions, it was the principle purpose for strolling the Camino. These days everyone has totally different causes and motivations for finishing the pilgrimage.

When you get overwhelmed originally of your Camino planning and have many questions that have to be answered we created a devoted put up answering many FAQs concerning the Camino de Santiago.

Totally different routes of the Means of St.James

As I discussed above the Camino de Santiago will not be a single route, as some individuals assume referring to the most well-liked route – Camino Frances. It‘s a community of routes. You can begin strolling in direction of Santiago from anyplace in Europe however outdoors the established Camino de Santiago routes it is going to be troublesome to discover a good infrastructure for pilgrims; lodging, route markings, and so on.

There are a number of established routes of the Means of St.James, all of them begin in several cities and finish in Santiago de Compostela;

Camino Frances (the French Means) – the most well-liked route, about 55% of all pilgrims select this Camino. The French route begins in Saint Jean Pied de Port, a French city close to the border with Spain. Whole distance 790 km. When you’re planning to finish your complete route learn our put up on tips on how to get to St.Jean Pied de Port. 50% of pilgrims who full this route stroll solely the final 100 km from Sarria. The final 100 kilometers to Santiago on any Camino is a required minimal for getting the Compostela (the Certificates of the Camino de Santiago).

Camino Portugues (the Portuguese Means) – the second well-liked route. It begins in Lisbon however most individuals begin their stroll in Porto or Tui. Whole distance from Lisbon – 616 km, from Porto 260 km or 280 km, relying on the route you’re taking, 119 km on the route from Tui. There are two totally different routes from Porto; the Coastal route, which is walked solely by 4% of the pilgrims, and the Central route, which is walked by 20% of the pilgrims. The Coastal Route goes alongside the coast from Porto to Vigo, the Central Route goes inland to Santiago.

Camino del Norte (the Northern Means) – this route is rising in recognition, In 2019 6% of all pilgrims who arrived in Santiago accomplished this Camino. The Northern Means is a superb various to the French Camino. I’ve walked each and appreciated the surroundings on the Camino del Norte extra. The route begins in Irún, a small Spanish city on the border with France. The whole distance of the Camino is 825 km.

Camino Primitivo (the Authentic Means) – one of many lesser walked Camino routes, about 5% of all pilgrims. It’s comparatively brief, 321 km but it surely’s thought of to be one of many hardest routes as a consequence of many steep ascents and descents. The Camino Primitivo begins in Oviedo, Spain.

Through de la Plata (the Silver Means) – the longest established route of St.James, about 1000 km, one of many least walked routes, 3%. It’s not the perfect path to stroll as the primary Camino, it has much less infrastructure, longer levels, and so on. It begins in Seville, Spain.

Camino Inglés (the English Means) – a brief, 120 km stroll, from A Coruña/Ferrol, Spain. One of many least walked routes (3,5%) on the Camino. It’s most likely the most suitable choice for individuals who simply wish to get a style of the Camino earlier than embracing an extended stroll.  

There are various lesser-known Camino routes in Spain. From Valencia – Camino de Levante; from Almería – Camino Mozárabe (joins with Through de la Plata after Merida); from Barcelona – Camino Catalán; from Madrid – Camino de Madrid – the final two be a part of with the French Means after about two weeks. There’s even a route on the Canary Islands referred to as the Camino de Gran Canaria. All these routes mixed are walked by lower than 1% of the pilgrims a yr so you may think about how little infrastructure they’ve.

There’s one “particular” route Camino Finisterre-Muxía, in contrast to the opposite routes, it begins in Santiago de Compostela and goes to Finisterre and Muxía, two coastal cities in Galicia. Folks normally stroll it after finishing one of many different Camino routes. Whole distance from Santiago to Finisterre – 89 km and to Muxía – 86 km.

You’ll find extra particulars on route choices in our put up on the Finest routes of the Camino de Santiago.

How lengthy does it take to stroll the Camino de Santiago?

The time and distance required for finishing the Means of St.James rely on the chosen route. It may be from 4 days on the Camino de Gran Canaria to 45+ days on the Through de la Plata. The preferred route the Camino Frances takes on common between 30 and 35 days to finish. When you don’t have time to finish one of many longer routes and nonetheless wish to get the Compostela Certificates you may stroll the final 100 km to Santiago de Compostela on any Camino route.

If you wish to full one of many longer routes of the Means of St.James however don’t have sufficient time you may break up it into elements and stroll them over a few years each time you’ve gotten a vacation.

The place does the Means of St.James begin and finish?

The start line of the Means of St.James will depend on the chosen route. All Camino routes begin in several cities throughout Europe, largely Spain. All Camino de Santiago routes finish in a single place – Santiago de Compostela. There are solely two exceptions: the Camino de Gran Canaria which is on the Canary Islands and the Camino Finisterre-Muxia which begins in Santiago de Compostela.

Santiago de Compostela is a superb metropolis with many issues to do. You probably have a few days after ending the Means of St.James I’d suggest spending them there.

How onerous is it to stroll the Camino?

The Camino de Santiago is a difficult route, particularly for first-timers who’ve by no means achieved a multi-day stroll/trek earlier than. It’s bodily demanding to stroll on common 20-25 km each day even when you stroll one of many shorter routes or do solely the final 100 km to Santiago de Compostela. I’d suggest performing some coaching for the Camino de Santiago beforehand.

On longer routes (from our expertise) you will get emotionally burned out as effectively. Simply think about getting up on daily basis packing your stuff in a backpack strolling for days sleeping each evening in a distinct place typically in a shared room with strangers. In fact, it’s a singular expertise, and the challenges that we overcome type part of it but it surely’s not a simple stroll within the park even when you’re an avid hiker.

What number of hours a day do you stroll?

You stroll 20-25 km/12,4-15,5 mi per day on the Camino de Santiago on common. When you take a mean strolling velocity of 5 km/3,1 mi per hour it’ll offer you 4-5 strolling hours a day. Add to that an hour or two since you normally cease on the way in which to take photographs, drink espresso, eat lunch, and so on. Be able to spend on the street between 5 and seven hours a day. Some individuals stroll slower some quicker. Even on the identical Camino route strolling time could range relying on the panorama; within the mountains (as a consequence of ascents and descents), you stroll slower than on the plain.

What’s the finest month to stroll the Camino de Santiago?

The very best months for doing the Camino rely on the route you select, some routes are nice in summer season e.g. Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo – it’s good and heat, with no rain; on some Caminos, the warmth is insufferable e.g. Through de la Plata, and the Portuguese Camino (Lisbon half) – it’s scorching scorching, dry with no shadow to cover.

The busiest time for a lot of the routes is July and August we’ve by no means walked any Camino throughout these months as a result of we simply don’t prefer it when it’s too busy with too many individuals. In our expertise, the perfect strolling months in sense of climate and individuals are; Might, June, September (not for the Through de la Plata, it’s nonetheless too scorching in September), and the primary half of October.

We had nice climate in Might on the Portuguese Camino, okay climate in June on the Camino Primitivo (it was warmish however we received numerous rain which wasn’t regular for June), good climate in October on the Camino del Norte, and dangerous (wet and windy) climate in November on the Camino Finisterre. For Through de la Plata we’d recommend late March – April and the start of Might – it’s heat, no rain, and never too scorching but.

As for strolling the Means of St.James utterly low season from November to February, the French Means might be the perfect to stroll primarily as a result of there’s extra infrastructure (extra albergues) and a few of them are open all yr spherical. On different routes e.g. Camino del Norte, most albergues are closed for the offseason and also you’ll have to remain in inns although it’ll be cheaper than within the season.

Climate-wise winter will not be the perfect time it may rain rather a lot and it will get chilly (not all albergues have heating), within the mountains, you will get snow and a few passes is likely to be closed. If you need a really quiet Camino with no individuals – winter is an effective time in any other case attempt to do it between March and the start of November.

What do I want for strolling the Camino de Santiago?

Anyone can stroll the Camino de Santiago. You don’t want any particular paperwork or permits. All you want is a pair of excellent footwear and a cushty backpack for the Camino. In fact, you’ll must do some planning and preparation however even when you make a spontaneous determination to stroll the Means of St.James you’ll be tremendous.

The one particular factor you want for the Camino de Santiago is a Credential – a printed e-book or spreadsheet with pilgrim data (identify, nation, start date, and so on) and empty areas for stamps. On this e-book, you acquire stamps from albergues, church buildings, eating places, and bars on the route. On the finish of the Camino in Santiago de Compostela you’ll want your Creential with stamps to get the Compostela, a certificates that’s granted for finishing the Camino. The Credential is obligatory to have if you wish to keep in public (municipal) albergues as effectively.

How a lot does it price to stroll the Camino?

Strolling the Camino will not be costly moderately low cost, but it surely will depend on how a lot of your consolation you may sacrifice. The most cost effective option to stroll the Camino is;

to remain primarily in public (municipal) albergues

to prepare dinner

to not cease on the way in which for espresso, cool drinks, and so on.

to not exit for beer or drinks

When you stick to those guidelines your Camino funds will likely be as little as 15-20 Euro per individual per day. Simply bear in mind don’t sacrifice an excessive amount of to avoid wasting extra, attempt to make your stroll satisfying.

Camino de Santiago one week price, per individual

Lodging – 8 Euro x 7 days = 56 Euro per week, per individual

Procuring – 10 Euro x 7 days = 70 Euro

Consuming out (elective, you should purchase all meals in supermarkets) – 10 Euro x 7 days = 70 Euro

Laundry – 6 Euro, could be divided between 2 or extra individuals

Different – 10 Euro, in case you want to purchase plasters or drugs

Whole; 212 Euro pp. per week or 30 Euro pp. per day, plus transport to get to and again. For a cushty stroll, we’d recommend planning 30-32 Euro pp. per day together with consuming, going out for a drink, and staying in albergues. When you reduce off on consuming out you are able to do it for beneath 147 Euro pp. per week or 20 Euro pp. per day.

You’ll find extra particulars on the price of strolling the Camino together with money-saving ideas, an in depth clarification of what you will get on 20, 30, and 40 Euro per day, and a comparability of the price of totally different routes in our put up The price of strolling the Camino de Santiago.

Baggage switch on the Camino de Santiago

When you don’t wish to stroll with a giant backpack on daily basis it’s attainable to rearrange backpack supply on the Means of St.James. It really works very simply; your backpack will get delivered on daily basis from place to position. They choose it up within the morning on the reception of your albergue/resort and drop it off by lunchtime at your subsequent lodging place. A number of firms provide baggage switch providers on the Camino de Santiago. The Spanish put up workplace Correos is the principle one, they cowl most Camino routes. The worth is round 7 Euros per backpack per stage.

Journey insurance coverage for the Means of St.James

Strolling like every other outside exercise entails a danger of getting an harm or dropping a few of the gear. It’s beneficial to have journey insurance coverage for the Camino de Santiago. Although Camino will not be a high-altitude hike by means of distant areas it’s nonetheless a bodily difficult expertise and accidents are fairly frequent. It makes the stroll much less traumatic when you realize you’re coated in case of any unpredictable emergencies. 

World Nomads journey insurance coverage has been designed by vacationers for vacationers, with protection for greater than 150 actions in addition to emergency medical, misplaced baggage, journey cancellation and extra.

Learn how to plan the Camino de Santiago?

These easy steps will enable you in planning and getting ready for the stroll.

Select which route you wish to stroll. Don’t be afraid to decide on an off-the-beaten-track route, base your selection on what you’d prefer to see and expertise.  

Ensure that the time you’ve gotten accessible is an effective season to stroll the route (not too scorching, not too chilly or wet, and so on.).

E-book your aircraft, practice, bus ticket, and resort (beneficial to do when you’re planning to stroll in peak season – June – September).

Purchase journey insurance coverage that covers the interval of the stroll.

When you assume it’s essential to start out coaching (stroll extra, do a few hikes, and so on.).

Test packing suggestions and be sure to have all of the necessities e.g. good footwear, a backpack, and so on. Don’t go away purchasing for these until the final second, you’ll want a while to get used to new mountaineering boots.

Get the Credential in your nation or verify when you’ll be capable of get it at the place to begin of your Camino route; some albergues, cathedrals, or pilgrim data workplaces promote them.

Make a listing of stuff you wish to see or locations you wish to cease to be sure to received’t miss one thing on the way in which.

Make a draft of your strolling itinerary (levels) based mostly on locations you wish to keep, albergues, and distances. You don’t have to stay to it but it surely’s good to have some kind of a strolling plan.

Get a very good e-book/audiobook for studying/listening to you’ll have time for that on the Camino.

When you’ve gotten all the pieces prepared pack your backpack and attempt to stroll with it for a few kilometers. If it feels too heavy rethink your baggage and go away pointless stuff at dwelling. It’s necessary to pack mild for the Camino to make your stroll simpler.

Certainly one of my primary Camino de Santiago ideas is don’t stress out – as the skilled pilgrims say “The Camino gives”. Every part will work out ultimately and also you’ll be tremendous.

What’s the lodging like on the Camino de Santiago?

Hostels for pilgrims are referred to as albergues. They are often municipal (public) or non-public. The municipal albergues are run by the municipality with the assistance of volunteers. Non-public albergues belong to an individual or group. In excessive season municipal albergues on the favored routes fill fairly rapidly if you wish to get a spot you have to be there earlier than 1 pm and wait within the queue. Even when you don’t get a spot there will likely be one or two non-public albergues the place you may keep for 4-5 Euros extra.

There are albergues for a donation they are often non-public or public, they don’t have a longtime value, and pilgrims donate as a lot as they need or can. Word! Many individuals make the most of this and don’t go away any donation or give 1 Euro. For that reason, there are fewer and fewer donation albergues on the Camino de Santiago. Donation albergues are just for pilgrims with Credentials, can’t be booked, and normally have the identical amenities as private and non-private albergues.

In fact, there are many inns and guesthouses on the Means of St.James. It really works out costlier to remain in non-public each evening, particularly on longer routes but it surely’s 100% price it. We normally attempt to keep in non-public a minimum of a few times per week to have higher relaxation.

Municipal albergues

The worth is 8 Euro per individual.

They are completely for pilgrims (you want a Credential to remain there).

Can’t be booked, first come first serve precept.

Test-in normally begins between 1 pm and three pm.

Try by 8 am the subsequent morning.

Don’t enable to remain for a couple of evening.

Often, they’ve disposable bedding included or for 1 Euro additional.

Usually have a kitchen, typically with out utensils or cutlery.

Often, they’re fairly massive and may accommodate between 20-40 individuals on common. There are some fairly small municipal albergues.

Non-public albergues

Worth 14 Euro common.

Not just for pilgrims however extra like hostels the place anyone can keep.

They are often booked upfront, many albergues are on reserving.com.

Usually open for check-in from 1 pm.

Try earlier than 9 am-10 am.

Enable staying so long as you need.

Often however not at all times have higher amenities than public albergues.

Disposable bedding is included, some locations have regular sheets and bedding.

Often however not at all times have a kitchen. Some non-public albergues have a bar and don’t have a kitchen they count on you’ll eat on the bar.

Usually they are smaller than public albergues, which might accommodate 10-15 individuals. There are some large non-public albergues as effectively.

How do I discover albergues on the Camino?

No want to fret about it, they are going to discover you. The way in which to municipal albergues is at all times marked, simply comply with the arrows and really doubtless you’ll find yourself on the albergue. Most non-public albergues have indications pointing their approach (they need you to seek out them), some is likely to be barely off the route however normally, they’re situated fairly near the Camino. Within the peak season (July, August) if you wish to keep in a selected non-public albergue (as a result of it’s very good or anyone beneficial it to you, and so on.) it’s higher to e-book it upfront, some albergues could be present in reserving.com, some could be booked over the telephone.

Discover extra data on lodging on the Camino in our complete put up Albergues on the Camino de Santiago.

What’s the meals like on the Camino?

It’s not an issue to seek out locations to eat on the Camino, most routes, particularly the extra well-liked ones, have loads of eating places and bars. Menu del Día is the most well-liked meal on the Camino. It’s a set menu that features salad or soup, a primary dish (meat, hen, fish), wine/water/cool drink to select from, bread, espresso, or dessert. The menu prices 12 Euro on common and it’s normally a giant meal. Many eating places, bars, and personal albergues serve it for lunch, and a few locations provide a dinner menu but it surely’s a bit costlier.

Many bars and cafes provide breakfast. It’s normally a cup of espresso with a sandwich or pastry and a glass of orange juice. In some vacationer locations, you will discover a giant English or American breakfast but it surely’s not one thing typical in Spain. Locals drink a cup of espresso with a cookie or a small pastry for breakfast.

Tapas or pinchos (relying on the area) may be very well-liked in Spain. Tapas or pinchos could be something; a small portion of paella, slightly sandwich, a chunk of tortilla, and so on. Some bars give tapas totally free along with your drink, and a few cost additional, normally 2 Euro. Pinchos are typical for Northern Spain (the Basque County, Navarra). You at all times pay for pinchos, the value is 3-4 Euro.

The primary meals downside on the Camino is when you follow a selected weight loss plan e.g. vegetarian or vegan. In massive cities, you will discover eating places serving vegan or vegetarian menus however in smaller locations, it is likely to be troublesome. The best choice is to discover a place to stick with a kitchen the place you may prepare dinner your self. Most cities and villages on the route have supermarkets or grocery outlets. Some non-public albergues provide communal dinners for donation, these dinners are normally vegetarian or vegan.

Native meals on the Camino de Santiago is part of the expertise. I’d suggest making an attempt a few of the conventional Spanish dishes and going out for tapas and pintxos a minimum of as soon as.

How do I discover the Camino de Santiago route?

All established Camino de Santiago routes are well-marked from the begin to the tip. We hardly ever had an issue discovering the way in which. A few occasions in massive cities we misplaced the trek as a result of the route typically is marked with steel scallop shells on sidewalks, however normally, it’s very straightforward to comply with. The Caminos are marked with yellow arrows and yellow scallop shells painted on sidewalks, tiles, partitions, poles, and so on. In Galicia, the route markers present the gap left to the cathedral in Santiago.

From our expertise, we by no means wanted GPS or a map for strolling the Means of St.James.

Is it secure to stroll the Camino solo?

We’ve walked 4 totally different Camino routes and by no means felt unsafe; strolling out of massive cities by means of so-called industrial areas, strolling by means of the forest, or area, or alongside the seashore. Probably the most disagreeable for me is strolling on or alongside the street I simply don’t prefer it after I hear a automotive and even worse a truck approaching from behind however even after we needed to stroll on the street it by no means felt like a automotive would drive over us, individuals attempt to watch out and decelerate in the event that they see a pilgrim on the street. The primary “hazard” on the Means of St.James is theft, don’t go away your priceless stuff unattended anyplace; albergues, eating places, picnic spots.

The very best guidebooks for the Means of St.James

Disclosure: Stingy Nomads participate within the Amazon Companies LLC Associates Program. Once you purchase one thing beneficial on this put up, we could get an affiliate fee — but it surely by no means impacts your value or what we choose.

In our opinion, Brierley’s guides are the perfect guidebooks for the Camino de Santiago. Sadly, he has solely guides for the most well-liked Camino routes: Camino Frances, Camino Portuguese, Camino Ingles, and Camino Finisterre.

A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés): St. Jean Pied de Port • Santiago de Compostela, John Brierley, 2022

A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Portugués Lisbon – Porto – Santiago: together with Camino Central, Variente Espiritual, Camino da Costa, & Senda Litoral, John Brierley, 2022

A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Finisterre: Together with Muxía Circuit: Santiago ― Finisterre ― Muxía ― Santiago, John Brierley, 2022

A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Inglés: The English Means also called the Celtic Camino: Ferrol & Coruña — Santiago, John Brierley, 2021

A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Sanabrés & Camino Invierno: Ourense or Ponferrada ― Lalín ― Santiago, John Brierley, 2021

Camino del Norte: Irún to Santiago alongside Spain’s Northern Coast (Village to Village Map Information), 2019

The Vía de la Plata and the Camino Sanabrés – A Information to the Camino from Sevilla to Santiago [2022 Edition]

The Means of St.James planning sources

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The beautiful half of Stingy Nomads, liable for all our land adventures (mountaineering, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a baby, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack moderately than to do a ten 000 km street journey (really any street journey). Alya is a giant fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.