Top Tips for Walking the Camino de Santiago

Camino de Santiago
Camino de Santiago | © M. Martin Vicente / Flickr
Esme Fox

The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage route that runs across the top of Spain, from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Over the years it has become increasingly popular, even having a movie made about it, The Way, in 2011. Covering over 790km and taking around one month to complete, it is a great challenge. Here are our top tips on walking the Camino de Santiago.

Do it your own way

There are many different ways to do the Camino de Santiago. You can choose to stay in budget albergue hostels with dorm beds and carry all your own bags, or you can opt to stay in guesthouses or hotels and pay for a company to transfer your luggage ahead of you each day. Whether you choose to do the Camino in style or rough it a little, both provide you with an unforgettable experience.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Camino shells

Go at your own pace

Everyone walks at a different pace, some people like to power on through, reaching their daily target as quickly as possible and taking the afternoon to relax, while others like to enjoy the journey and take time to see things along the way. There’s no right or wrong way to do the Camino, choose your own pace and don’t feel pressured by anyone around you.

Camino de Santiago, Spain

You don’t have to do it all in one go

If you’re not up to walking the whole 790km or simply don’t have the time to take a month off for the pilgrimage, there’s no pressure to do the whole route in one go. Choose a section of the path that looks the most interesting and just focus on that or walk the last part into Santiago de Compostela. Some people even do sections of the walk and then return the next year to continue where they left off, doing it in spans of a week or two weeks at a time.

Camino de Santiago shell

Take clothes for every eventuality

While you don’t want to take too much on your Camino as it will get very heavy, it’s important to have everything you need to be comfortable while walking. While areas in the centre of Spain such as La Rioja and Castilla y León can get quite hot and are mostly dry in summer, Galicia is famous for its unpredictable weather and is often cold and rainy. Make sure to take some sturdy walking shoes too, as well as some lighter sandals or trainers for the evenings.

Camino de Santiago

Remember to get your stamps

At the start of your pilgrimage, you can buy a pilgrim’s passport, in which you can collect stamps along the way. Stamps can be found inside albergues or guesthouses, at local cafes, inside churches and cathedrals or at important monuments. They enable you document your journey in a fun and memorable way, as well a providing proof of where you’ve been.

Pilgrim Passport, Camino de Santiago

Spend time sightseeing along the way

The Camino de Santiago passes through some of Northern Spain’s most interesting cities, so take some time to stop and explore them. Some of the highlights include the City Walls in Pamplona, the pintxos bars in Logroño, the Cathedral in Burgos and the Old Town in Santiago de Compostela.

Burgos Cathedral

Walk the last 100km to get the Compostela

The Compostela is the certificate you get at the end of your pilgrimage, in the city of Santiago de Compostela. You can get your Compostela by walking the whole route from the town of Saint Jean Pied de Port in France, or just by walking the last 100km from the town of Sarria. Remember to get stamps in your pilgrim’s passport to prove where you’ve been – they are quite strict. Also keep in mind that even if you walk over 100km in the middle of the route, this won’t count – you need to walk the last 100km into Santiago.

Camino de Santiago

Budget accordingly

While walking the Camino de Santiago is not expensive and there are lots of concessions for pilgrims, you do need to budget for your trip, particularly if you’re aiming to complete the whole thing and walk for a month. Municipal albergues are the cheapest form of accommodation and cost around €5-6 per night, while guesthouses and B&Bs cost around €30 plus. A pilgrim’s menu of the day with a choice of starters, mains and desserts will cost from €10, while tapas plates will set you back €4-6.

Pulpo a la Gallega, Galicia
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article