Camino de Santiago FAQs

Tailor made Camino de Santiago vacations allow you to skip sections of the trail if you choose – such as industrial areas on city outskirts and along major roads. It is also possible to do center based vacations where you walk a different section of the Camino de Santiago each day, but return to the same village at night – this gives you a taste of the route, and may help you decide whether or not to take on a longer Camino vacation at a later date.

This “passport” is available from tour operators and from many of the towns and villages along the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrims need to obtain a minimum of one or two stamps in it per day to prove they have completed the route – stamps can be obtained in hostels, bars and cafes all the way to Santiago. For many walkers, the passport is essential to prove they are genuine pilgrims; without the stamps they are ineligible to stay in the municipal or parish-run albergues each night, although privately owned accommodations do not usually require proof of your route. You will need the passport stamps to obtain your Compostela certificate in Santiago to show you have walked a minimum of 100km, however; and for most walkers the passport is a prized souvenir of their trip, a testament to their achievement on what is an increasingly popular but still very challenging journey.

People have been walking along the various Camino de Santiago routes for over 1,000 years – but there are many reasons why modern pilgrims may opt for an organised tour. The first is ease: everything is planned out for you, accommodation is booked, you can arrange transfers at the beginning and end of your vacation and you’ll have the peace of mind of 24/7 support throughout your trip, should you require it. It also gives you more flexibility with accommodation, as you can stay in hotels or guesthouses outside the main towns – with transfers included. Crucially, your luggage can be transferred for you each day, leaving you to carry your daypack. On small group vacations this is included as standard; on a tailor made tour you can usually opt for this at extra cost. Tailor made tours let you choose your own route, duration and accommodation – skipping sections if preferred.