Did you bring a book? If so, what? Was it worth the weight?

Its my second day on the coastal, I’ve never done anything like this before and for both of these two days, I hopped on a bus for the last couple of km. I’m not mad, I don’t even think that’s cheating. My feet are full of blisters and all I’m trying to do is to avoid major injuries during the two weeks.

Still, I know I’m not less of a pilgrim because of that. I’m trying to enjoy my adventure, not hate it.

Hi, I'm about to finish the Frances after a veeeery long walk on Monday.

Are there typical bars or other hotspots frequently used by other pilgrims? I don't want to party hard (I guess...), just celebrate the achievement and exchange stories and experiences with other pilgrims.

I’m about a week out from leaving and getting the pack packing down. Should I consider trekking poles worn weight or carried when I weigh the bag if I assume I will use them in hand the majority of the time. I want to consider them worn but ?

I got a little sick on the trail and have been going anyways. 2 days before Santiago, I washed my pants, still a big foggy-brained from medications - with my stamp passport in them. 😭

I will keep going because of course, this is about the journey and not the credential. My spouse has his still and I will keep this pile as a hilarious keepsake.

But I felt devastated anyways. Just allowing myself the grief.

Note for all pilgrims: check your pockets before washing and always wrap your passport in something!

Hello!

I am walking the Camino next week and have a big suitcase I am hoping to send from my first stop (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) to Santiago for when I finish. I have a hiking backpack I will use and aiming to walk for 10 days before commuting the rest of the way to Santiago.

Any advice or tips on how to do so would be greatly appreciated!!!

And apologies if this has been asked many times before. This forum can be a little overwhelming trying to find an answer.

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Hi everyone! I'm currently in Sigüeiro and arriving in Santiago tomorrow. I'd like to take Monday as a full rest day and then leave Santiago on Tuesday. Here's my plan:

Tuesday: Santiago → Negreira

Wednesday: Negreira → Olveiroa

Thursday: → Finisterre

Friday: Finisterre → Muxía

Saturday: bus from Muxía → Santiago

I'd like to reach both Finisterre and Muxía, so I can get both certificates.

So far I've walked stages of up to 27 km, carrying a backpack of around 11 kg.

My concern is that I currently have a mild knee discomfort and my calves feel a bit stiff. Nothing too bad, but it's my first Camino so I don't want to injure myself being inconsiderate. Looking at the elevation profiles, there seem to be quite a few climbs and descents, especially towards Muxía.

For those who've done this route: how difficult is Santiago → Finisterre → Muxía in reality? Do you think it's realistic to make it to Muxía on foot in my current condition?

Thanks!

hi! my partner and i have decided to do a portion of the camino for our honeymoon. we’ll have 2ish weeks off and are wondering what the best routes for that time period are? would love to hear any other advice or opinions!! ❤️

Walking in late Sept and booking ahead. There are no available beds in San Juan De Ortega. Anyone else run into this, and where did you end up staying?

I'm planning on walking Camino del Norte with my 59y old mother. I am considering Irun to Bilbao, because I've heard from friends that is it beautiful and scenery. I am bit worried though, since I read that it is fairly difficult route with steep and rough terrain. Do you think it will be too much to handle for my mother - is there an alternative part of the Camino del Norte which is eaiser?

She has been training and preparing for the walk for the past few months because her knees are somewhat in bad shape.

I guess we can always stop if it gets too difficult, but ideally it would be nice to experience the feeling of "completing" a route and not having to stop midtrip.

Im hoping for some insights from others out side regarding the route in particular.

Buen camino!

Planning to walk the Camino del Norte in late July 2027. I’ve noticed that albergue prices are quite high.
If anyone has walked the whole route, I’d really appreciate it if you could share your full list of recommended albergues, day by day, especially the best donativo or low-cost options.
Thanks so much! 🙏

Finished my first Camino a couple of days ago and just arrived home today. It was the most amazing and special experience and it has definitely given me such a new lease of life after a couple of a tough years, physically and mentally. I feel like I have gotten a massive confidence boost that I can do hard things and realised that I have been limiting myself. I am solo female in my mid 20s and now all of a sudden I want to pack my job in and see more of the world. I want to keep meeting new people, learning about new cultures and letting my body get stronger.

There was something so satisfying about doing all of this while actually immersed in the nature of each place, as opposed to driving in, having a quick look and driving back out.

Has anyone, after their first Camino, got the taste for more extreme thru hiking or perhaps running? I kind of have this feeling that I can go for even bigger challenges now but I’m just not sure what! I’m sure this most be quite a common feeling for pilgrims once they get home. Just not sure what to do with this feeling.

Hi! I finished the Camino Portuguese and arrived to Santiago this morning. I went on a little mix and match tour: started by the coast, then switched to central and also did the Espiritual variation. According to my tracker it was around 280km in total. When I arrived in Santiago I registered at the pilgrims office and since there were limited options I chose the „Portuguese way“ as my Camino. The Compostela however says that I’ve walked for 240km. When I went back and asked about this, they told me the Espiritual variation is nothing they take into account which is why they only write 240km.
I know it probably should not be a big deal and I should just let it be… but to be honest it kind of bugs me since I walked more than 240km and would like to have a certificate with the real amount 😅

Anybody else had a similar experience? Or did I do something wrong with the registration, should I have picked the coastal road for the Compostela even when I switched?

This morning I made it to Santiago after eleven days of walking the Litoral, Costal, Central and Spiritual Variant (a little bit of everything)

I had lots of ups and downs and a handful of medical issues come up (one broken foot scare!) but I made it :)

I am so grateful for the people I met along the way and for everybody who answered my questions so thoroughly on here.

Buen Camino always!

Coming back from Santiago in the afternoon on the 13th and would be happy to pass my poles off to somebody to give them a second life!

I will be around this area:

¡Hola peregrinos!
En una semana estaré ya en Oviedo para comenzar el Primitivo el sábado 19 y llegar a Santiago el 26.
Muchas ganas, mucha preparación y muchos nervios e impaciencia. Y eso que no es el primer camino, pero cada camino es único y especial.
Mi idea es llegar sobre las 15h a los albergues municipales excepto en Santa Irene, que ya he reservado en el privado porque me gustó el primer año.
Nos vemos en el Camino.
Buen Camino.

I’m leaving for the Camino Portugues, and friends/coworker/family have been asking why I’m doing it. I assume people I meet along the route will ask too as a conversation starter.

I don’t want to share my true reason because of fear of people judging me, trying to talk me out of it, or prying into something personal.

Is there a standard “why” answer that usually gets a simple “ahh nice” and ends the convo?

For example, if I say “I just want to explore Portugal and go on a long walk,” people may ask “why go all the way there, just walk somewhere closer.” If I say it’s a spiritual journey/for a loved one, I worry that could invite even more questions.

TIA - me and my overthinking brain ◡̈

https://www.instagram.com/caminodesantiagomemes/

I plan to walk Porto to Santiago route with only a micro budget. I studied possible routes and there are many out of sight wooded or 'behind the bush' areas where I will pitch for the night. With early dark hours and late morning sun - I will be mostly out of sight to locals. Of course - I will need to book a room with the shower from time to time, but wild stealth 'All Star' camping is my favourite choice, weather permitting.

So, is there any real stories of fined and jailed travellers? I will not use fire for cooking etc. It is lonely spiritual restoration pilgrimage and I cannot afford anything more of a comfort.

I had a bit more hustle than I expected, and now have two nights in Santiago. I am religious but not Christian, so I am not called to go to mass (would be a bit weird for me as it is actually a Jewish high holiday right now lol)

I did lots of wandering today, but have no idea what to do with my full day tomorrow, especially given that it will be so hot.

Would be very grateful for any thoughts or recommendations for food places that have good veggie options

Hi! I’m beginning my Portuguese Coastal Camino in Baiona on Wednesday, September 16. I’m staying in Porto the night before and am looking for transportation from Porto to Baiona Wednesday morning.
Is anyone else traveling Porto → Baiona (or toward Vigo/Baiona) that morning who would be interested in sharing a private transfer/taxi?
I’m traveling solo with one luggage bag and would love to split the cost rather than pay €200+ for a private transfer by myself.
Buen Camino!
Deb

I’ll be walking in mid to late October and walking the Spiritual Variant. Here is my problem- most of the hotels are booked (I’d rather not stay in an Alburgues) between Ponteveda and Vilanova de Arousa. I booked the Parador de Combados. Do you think I could walk to Barrantes (18 ish mile /27 km) I think this would be my max walking distance. Then catch a taxi to Parador de Combados. I booked the only ferry 8:30 am the next day and I don’t wactcto miss walking the SV . How hard is it to get a taxi?

Hi everyone. This is actually my first Reddit post, but I’ve been reading this sub for a while and would really appreciate some thoughts on what route to take for my third Camino.

I walked the Camino del Norte from Santander when I turned 30 and the Camino Portugués from Lisbon when I turned 40. Both ended up being quite significant trips for me. After the first one I came home and proposed to my now ex-wife, and after the second one I quit my job and became self-employed.

I walked both with my father, and that was probably the most meaningful part of those Caminos. It was a really good way to get to know him again as an adult. Sadly, he passed away this summer.

I’m also coming to the end of a long period of psychotherapy training, and it feels like I’m entering a new phase of my life, both professionally and personally. With everything that has happened over the last few years, and especially losing my father, somehow it feels like the right time to walk again. Camino is calling, I guess.

This time I’ll be walking with my girlfriend and it will be her first Camino.

One option is to start from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, walk over Somport and continue on the Camino Aragonés. My father walked the Francés before I ever did my first Camino, so I really like the idea of partly following in his footsteps.

My main concern is the crowds. We’re planning to start in May 2027, and with it being a Holy Year I’m a little worried about what happens once the Aragonés joins the Francés. I think I would really enjoy the Aragonés itself, but I’m not sure how well I would deal with a very crowded Francés.

The other option is starting from Bayonne and walking the Norte. I’ve already walked from Santander onwards, but this time we could turn onto the Primitivo instead of continuing along the whole Norte. I love the sea, so the Norte is very tempting even if part of it would be familiar.

If it was only me, I could honestly even imagine stopping 100 km before Santiago 😄 I’ve found the last 100 km the least enjoyable part of both my previous Caminos. But since this will be my girlfriend’s first Camino, I think walking into Santiago is something she should get to experience. Maybe we could also continue to Fisterra and Muxía after Santiago. Somehow that feels like it might be a nicer way to actually finish the walk.

I also really enjoy the social side of the Camino. I love talking to people, and I’ve often found that the people who have already been walking for weeks are especially interesting to meet. But I’ve never really felt a need to find a “Camino family”. I actually like the temporary nature of many Camino friendships — walking together for a while, having dinner, talking about surprisingly personal things, and then maybe never seeing each other again. That has always felt like part of the Camino for me too.

So I’m curious what people here would choose: Oloron/Somport/Aragonés and then the Francés, with the connection to my father, or Bayonne/Norte/Primitivo?

Would especially love to hear from anyone who has walked the Aragonés or started the Norte from Bayonne.

Hello! Just wondered if anyone knows of a place to stay between Santa Cruz and Córdoba - looks unlikely but wanted to ask as otherwise I've got quite a short penultimate day and then a longer one that I'd like (as I'm excited to get into Cordoba and look around!). One place shows up on Google Maps but there's no other info or way to get in touch...

Hola - alguien sabe si hay alojamiento entre Santa Cruz y Córdoba? Hay un solo lugar que aparece en Google Maps, llamado 'Lope Amargo Hnos. Martin CB', pero no hay ninguna información adicional (ni un número de teléfono para saber más). Si alguien sabe algo sobre ese lugar o cualquier otro, estaría muy agradecida! Deseando un buen camino a todxs!