Is it expensive to walk the Camino?
We often get asked about the cost of the Camino de Santiago. People often wonder how much money they need to budget for their Camino trip and whether or not it’s cheaper to do it alone or with the help of a tour company like us.
So we’ve decided to take you through the average cost of walking the Camino de Santiago, and we will look at one of the most popular routes as an example: The last 100km of the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago.
We’ll also look at the costs of walking without a tour company to help you put everything into perspective.
Cost of the Camino
When looking at the cost of the Camino, there are a few factors to take into account:
- Flights – Getting there
- Travel Insurance
- Camino Preparation: Hiking gear
- Transfers from the airport / public transportation
- Accommodation
- Luggage Transfers
- Food & Wine
- Optional: Cycling Costs
- Miscellaneous, e.g. Maps / Guidebooks
TIPS: Get a quote on our unique Camino planner
1. Flights to the Camino
Depending on where you are flying from, this will be a significant (or the most important) trip cost. You can usually get the best deals on flights by using Skyscanner.
If you are undertaking the last 100 km of the Camino Frances (from Sarria to Santiago), you can fly into Santiago de Compostela and take a bus or train to Sarria, depending on where you are coming from.
There are also options to fly to A Coruna and some other airports, but these are a little further away from Sarria. If you come from outside Europe, you may need to fly to bigger airports like Madrid.
Our prices do not cover flights, but we can advise on flight prices and Camino airports.
2. Travel Insurance
We don’t cover travel insurance as part of our packages, but we highly recommend you take out an appropriate level of coverage for yourself and your family.
It’s always best to be prepared, and it can cost as little as €5 Per day. Here is some more information about Travel Insurance for the Camino.
Should anything go wrong and you are travelling with us, we also have a 24/7 assistance number available to you while en-route.
3. Camino Preparation Costs – Hiking Gear & Accessories
One of the big questions when it comes to walking the Camino and, indeed, preparing for the Camino is what to pack! For a starting point, check out our handy Camino Packing Guide, which you can download as a free ebook.
There are some key essentials when it comes to walking the Camino, including:
- Hiking Shoes (boots are not necessary from Sarria to Santiago): €50 – €100
- Hiking Socks (very Important, we recommend Merino Wool: €20 – 30
- Backpack: the price is up to you and you probably already own something suitable
- Rain Gear: €50 – €150
- Walking Poles (these are available along to Camino, so no need to pack): €5 – €12
4. Public Transportation
From Santiago, you can get public transport (bus or train or both) to Sarria, your starting point on the Camino.
The distance is just over 83 km, and depending on which public transport option you choose, this will generally cost you €20 for a one-way ticket or slightly less. It will cost more if you are travelling from Madrid. You can check your public transport options on Rome2Rio.
5. Accommodation
Assuming you are looking for the least expensive accommodation, you can find a bed in an Albergue (Hostel) for €7 – €10 per night. Here, you could share a room and bathroom with up to 10 pilgrims.
The Albergues are usually first come, first served and tend to fill up quickly. A private room in an Albergue will cost you more, perhaps up to €20 per night. A private hotel room or a room in a Casa Rural (rural cottage) will cost you €40 – €80 per night. *Please bear in mind that these are estimates.
You can read more about the various Camino accommodation options to decide which suits you best. Booking your Camino trip with CaminoWays means that we reserve you the best accommodation to suit your budget. We have great relationships with hotels and casa rural along the Camino, which we use instead of Albergues.
6. Luggage Transfer
If you don’t want to carry a heavy rucksack on the Camino every day, you might need your luggage transferred to your next accommodation. You can do this with Correos if you want to organise it yourself.
The service will cost €20 from Sarria to Santiago to transfer one bag, depending on the weight. We can arrange and include this as part of our packages. Find out more about Luggage Transfer on the Camino.
7. Food on the Camino
You can eat reasonably on the Camino, with grocery shopping, breakfast, lunch, and dinner coming to under €40 per day.
Breakfast
- Breakfast is usually served between 7.30 and 10 am.
- You can get a decent breakfast along the Camino for under €5.
- This will include Tea/Coffee, Orange Juice, and bread with meats & cheeses. You can also get fruit or pastries.
- Breakfast is not as elaborate in Spain as in other countries, but it’s enough for a decent start!
Lunch
- Lunch is something that can be bought the night before and brought for a picnic (Approx. €10, including water)
- You can also pop into a kiosk or cafe along the Camino if you want. Bear in mind lunch is usually served from 1.30 to 3.30.
- If you want, you can also stop at a cafe and grab a sandwich and some coffee.
- It won’t cost you more than €10 per day for a lunch you can have along the Camino.
Dinner
- Dinner in Spain is a very social affair and is the most elaborate meal of the day.
- It is the chance to catch up with fellow pilgrims and share stories.
- Dinner is served later in the evening, from 9 pm, so it might be a good idea to stock up on healthy snacks for when you get back to your hotel.
- You can have dinner with fellow pilgrims in the Albergues (by cooking yourself), pay for a meal in an Albergue, or eat in a local restaurant or at your hotel.
- You can opt for the less expensive Pilgrim’s Menu in restaurants, which costs roughly €10 and above.
- Generally, you will pay between €10 and €20 for dinner.
We will aim to include dinners on your package where available. You can also find many excellent restaurants and delicious Spanish food close to your accommodation. Discover Food on the Camino.
Wine/Beer
How much is a glass of wine on the Camino? At a bar, you can pay around €2-€3 for a glass of wine or beer, which could include a simple tapa (Pincho). Wine is usually included in your dinner price (as above).
Water Bottle
Don’t forget to bring enough water with you daily on the Camino. We suggest you purchase a hiking water bottle that you can clean and refill daily. You can get one that filters your water if you prefer.
8. Cycling Costs (Optional)
Hiring a regular bike will cost you €20+ per day (including initial drop off to your hotel). Bear in mind you will need to bring your equipment. Wearing a helmet is a legal requirement in Spain. Hiring an e-bike on the Camino will cost you upwards of €40 per day. Read more about what is involved in Cycling the Camino.
9. Miscellaneous Costs
- Guidebook by John Brierly or Cicerone (Includes Maps of the route) €20
- Pilgrim Passport (to collect the stamps) €2
- Pilgrim Passport holder €1
- Compostela is free, but a Certificate of Distance costs €3 from the Pilgrim’s office.
- Find out more here about the Compostela & Certificates.
- Laundry costs, and entrance fees – from €3 per visit
Total Cost of the Camino
- Before you go, travel costs (Flights, insurance, Testing, Hiking gear) could cost from €1000.
- Public Transport from the airport and back to Spain will cost approximately €60.
- Walking the Camino, you can spend between €40 to €90 per day for a basic holiday, including food, accommodation, luggage transfers and miscellaneous.
Yes, it is possible to do the Camino yourself and on a tight budget, but you will miss out on the expertise, friendly advice, support, and organisation that we provide.
In addition, we are also offering the last 100 km of the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago from €525 per person sharing.
That works out at €75 per day, including the best accommodation, luggage transfers, available dinners, a holiday pack on your phone, and 24/7 support.
There are many reasons you should choose CaminoWays to book your Camino de Santiago. So if you feel like letting us organise everything, you don’t have to worry about it. Get in touch and we can plan your trip together – you’ll be in good hands.
TIPS: Get a quote on our unique Camino planner
