How to plan a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago

The Way of Saint James is one of the most famous pilgrimages in the world. Throughout its history, various routes have been opened leading to Santiago de Compostela, the most popular being the French Way, which is around 800 km long. But there are those who prefer to leave from Portugal or take a shorter route from Spain. Hélio Araújo, journalist, photographer, creator of the Pédcast do Caminho and organizer of the book “Camino de Santiago: 25 pilgrim visions”, has walked the route five times, following different routes: the French Way, the Portuguese Central Way, the English Way, the Finisterre Way and the Winter Way, a less popular route. “There are more than ten official routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela. In Portugal, for example, there are several pilgrimage routes, starting in Porto and Lisbon.” Regardless of the route you choose, Ana Wanke, founder of Ana Wanke Turismo e Aventura, which has been working with packages and guiding pilgrims since 2005, advises that you plan at least five months in advance. “It’s important for pilgrims to prepare themselves physically, emotionally and financially. When you receive a call from the road, stop, breathe and start organizing yourself – it will work out!” For people who don’t feel safe walking the Camino de Santiago on their own, Ana Wanke not only plans the journey but also accompanies them as a guide. For those who want to go it alone, she does personalized planning according to the purpose of the trip. Among the services Ana offers are overnight reservations, daily planning and four virtual consultancy meetings on equipment, foot care, day-to-day life on the road (how you will act throughout the journey, which apps to use, the routine of a hostel, among other practical tips) and the history of the Camino de Santiago (the transformation, from the Middle Ages to the present day).

Where to stay along the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is very democratic and offers accommodation for all types of pilgrims:

Public or parish hostels: these are run by churches, volunteers or associations and are more affordable. However, they do not accept reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Private hostels: these are smaller and accept reservations. “There is a relationship of trust between the administrators and the pilgrims. You don’t have to pay in advance, but I recommend calling a few days before to confirm your stay,” says Ana Wanke. Rural houses: located in the middle of the road, but outside the cities. These are houses organized to welcome pilgrims. According to Ana, some of them offer a delicious communal dinner.

There are also hostels, inns and hotels. Due to the high demand for the destination, Ana recommends planning your stay in advance. “Many people insist on doing the Camino de Santiago without reservations, and I can tell you from my experience that it’s very stressful. Demand is much higher than supply.”

The routine in the hostels on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

According to Ana, each hostel has its own rules, but in general, they close at 10 p.m., the lights go out at 10:20 p.m., and the check-out time is 8 a.m.

Here are five guidelines presented by Ana in one of her preparatory classes for the pilgrims who travel with her:

1. In hostels, you will receive a disposable bedding kit, called sábanas.
2. Most hostels restrict entry with boots or sneakers on. There is a separate place to leave them, and Ana usually gives her clients name tags to mark them in a safe and practical way.
3. It’s common to find a washer and dryer in hostels. The cost is around €5.
4. Hostels also usually have lockers to store belongings such as passports, money and even backpacks. “When there isn’t one, the tip is to put your belongings in an airtight bag and take it with you when you shower, for example.”
5. If you share a room with other people, Ana advises using earplugs to ensure a restful night’s sleep.

Internet and useful apps during the pilgrimage

To stay connected to the internet during the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, you can opt for an international plan from your operator or a prepaid SIM card. Ana does not recommend buying an international SIM card in Brazil, due to the negative experience of many customers. In the case of a virtual SIM card, Ana recommends Airalo. “It works very well. You can choose which plan to use, keep track of your credits and buy more if necessary. The tip is to activate it the day before your trip.” To keep track of the weather forecast, which can vary during the pilgrimage, Ana recommends using the MeteoBlue app, which provides the general forecast by day during the week of walking, as well as information every three hours. Another feature is the 5-day meteogram, which shows a temperature curve with pictograms, cloud layers at different altitudes and a wind forecast; and the 14-day meteogram, which shows the trend of the minimum and maximum temperature forecast, as well as the probability of precipitation. Another app she uses a lot is OMIO, which makes it easy to buy plane, train and bus tickets. Ana also recommends downloading your travel insurance company’s app to find hospitals or book virtual appointments in case of emergencies.

Cash or card: what is recommended on the Camino de Santiago?

Ana says that most merchants opt to pay in cash. Some prepaid cards, she says, offer a lower IOF rate for withdrawing cash, the equivalent of buying the currency in cash. It’s worth finding out! In emergencies, Ana recommends international credit cards with a limit.

Services for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago

During the Camino de Santiago, unforeseen events can happen. That’s why we’ve put together some tips on support services for pilgrims. Brazilian Acácio da Paz, who volunteered for seven consecutive years in hostels on the Camino de Santiago, and his wife, Orietta, have welcomed more than 88,000 pilgrims since 1998. Among the services offered by the couple are accommodation at Refugio Acacio & Orietta, a small refuge in Viloria de Rioja, sponsored by the writer Paulo Coelho and the artist Christina Oiticica, bicycle rental assistance, an emergency channel, among others – 90% of their clients are Brazilian.

Refugio Acacio e Orietta – Camino de Santiago de Compostela

Bike rental on the Camino de Santiago

Acácio offers a personalized assistance service for renting bicycles, both for pilgrims who want to cycle the whole way and for those who choose to cycle only a few sections. The service is available from Burgos to Leon or from Burgos to Astorga. For those who want to rent at other points, Acácio has a collaborator in Ponferrada. Pedro Lacaz Amaral traveled around 150 km of the French Way by bicycle, which was not in his plans, and had the support of Joelma Buassali, who works with Acácio. Before setting off on the pilgrimage, Pedro discovered a plantar wart and had to have it removed. “I set off on the Camino de Santiago with pain in my heel that meant I couldn’t step on my left foot properly. So I put more weight on my right leg. The result: a horrible pain in my right knee which, especially on descents, made me walk very slowly. As the days went by, my left heel got better, my right knee got worse and I started putting more weight on my left knee. What was bad got worse!” Renting the bike was the solution he found to preserve himself. “My knees recovered well and I even lent the bike to colleagues who were going through the same thing.” Among them, psychologist Luiz Henrique, who cycled the final 9 km of the mesetas section, one of the most challenging sections of the French Way.

Security: S.O.S. Peregrin@s and Bikegrin@s and ALERTCOPS

Having a deep knowledge of the Camino de Santiago, Acácio created S.O.S. Peregrin@s e Bikegrin@s, a help network orchestrated by the Paso a Paso de Burgos Association, which provides remote assistance via telephone or WhatsApp for people who are lost, have suffered an accident, lost their passport, among other unforeseen circumstances. Hundreds of calls have already been answered in over 22 years of experience on the Camino de Santiago. The service is free of charge on (+34) 679 941 123. Ana also recommends using the ALERTCOPS app and saving the number 112, both from the Spanish police, in your address book. “As well as calling for help, you can also report cases of violence, theft, animal abuse and harassment, for example. But it’s worth noting that it only works in Spain.”

Baggage claim

During the Camino de Santiago, it is possible to check in luggage or part of it at specific points. Suffering from blisters on her feet, Marianna Sergio used the service three times during her pilgrimage. Hélio Araújo also checked his backpack about five times due to back pain, and explains how the service works: “You separate the luggage with your details, stating where you’re leaving from and where you’re going, pay the price of the service and leave it at reception. A van picks it up and delivers it. There are several companies that offer this service.” Hélio warns, however, that municipal and especially parish hostels do not accept the delivery or collection of backpacks, but there are usually restaurants nearby that do. Among the companies that offer the service are Jacotrans and NCS Equipajes.

Way to go!

Here on the Gear Tips blog, you’ll find various articles for pilgrims and about the Camino de Santiago. Check them out and prepare yourself physically, mentally and with the right equipment for a safe and transformative pilgrimage. To plan your pilgrimage in a sustainable way, read Pedro Lacaz Amaral’s article “The 7 principles of Leave no Trace during the Camino de Santiago”. Awareness of preserving the environment and respecting others should be present at all your destinations.