The best time to book your Camino de Santiago trip is 6 to 12 months in advance, especially for peak months (May, June, September) or popular routes like the Camino Francés from Sarria. Last-minute bookings are possible between 2 weeks and 2 months before departure, subject to accommodation availability. A 20% deposit secures your booking, and a 12% discount is available for returning travellers.
Are you planning to walk the Camino or cycle the Camino on specific dates? Booking your Camino trip in advance is ideal, especially for popular travel times such as Easter, St James’s Day, or peak walking months like May and September. Booking early, ideally at least 6 months ahead, increases your chances of securing preferred accommodations and allows for a broader selection. It also means the reservations team will likely book first-choice properties for your trip.
You might also want to read our blog What are the busiest months on the Camino? to discover the best time for your Camino.
Last-Minute Camino Bookings
A last-minute Camino booking is typically made between 2 weeks and 2 months before departure. Though we make every effort to arrange last-minute trips, please remember that the Camino routes pass through some small towns and villages where accommodation may be limited. This is especially true for popular sections like the Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago in May and September.
If accommodations are unavailable in a specific area, our team will help you find an alternative Camino route or section that matches your needs and timing.
Camino Festivals
The Camino de Santiago offers a wealth of unique festivals along its routes. Many of these festivals celebrate the culture and traditions of the region, adding a special touch to any pilgrimage. Some festivals are intimate, local events, while others attract visitors from across Spain and abroad.
If there’s a festival you’d like to experience along your journey, it’s wise to book early. Specific festivals are so popular that local accommodations may fill up as much as a year in advance, and rates might also increase during these periods.
See our Camino de Santiago Festivals calendar.
Camino Discounts
Booking your Camino trip in advance offers logistical benefits and may also bring financial rewards. At CaminoWays, we offer discounts to those who book early, particularly for trips scheduled for the following year. Watching social media updates and seasonal flash offers such as St James Day and Black Friday can help you find great deals for your journey.
A 12% discount is typically available for returning travellers—even for last-minute bookings—adding an extra perk for loyal customers.
When Are My Camino Hotels Booked?
Once your deposit, typically around 20% of the total trip cost, is paid, the booking process begins. Our reservations team will start arranging your Camino hotels or accommodations to ensure your journey is well-prepared. If any of the properties listed in your sample itinerary are unavailable, we will arrange an alternative of similar quality.
Your confirmed hotel reservations and trip details will be finalised and uploaded to your Client Portal one month before departure.
When Should I Book My Camino Trip?
If you’re ready to start planning, now is an excellent time to book your Camino trip! Reviewing our Camino Booking Timeline Guide and our terms and conditions will help you understand how the booking process works.
For more details about the Camino de Santiago routes or to begin planning your journey, contact our Camino travel specialists.
FAQs
We recommend booking your Camino 6 to 12 months in advance, especially for peak months (May, June, September) or popular sections like the Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago. Booking early secures preferred accommodation and dates.
For the Camino Francés, especially the last 100 km from Sarria to Santiago, we recommend booking at least 6 months in advance. This route is the most popular Camino in peak season and accommodation fills up quickly between May and September.
Booking with a Camino specialist like CaminoWays means your accommodation, luggage transfers, route notes, and 24/7 support are all arranged for you. This is especially valuable in peak season, when last-minute solo planning often runs into accommodation shortages. Self-guided tours give you the freedom of walking at your own pace, with the security of a fully prepared journey behind you.
A deposit of approximately 20% of the total trip cost is required to secure your Camino booking. Once paid, the reservations process begins immediately — your accommodation is arranged, and your full trip details are uploaded to the Client Portal one month before departure.
Your confirmed hotel reservations, full itinerary, and trip details are uploaded to your Client Portal 2-4 weeks before departure. Until then, you have a sample itinerary to plan around. If any property in the sample is unavailable, an alternative of similar quality is arranged.
Booking early generally offers better value — you get access to seasonal promotions, early-booking discounts and a wider choice of accommodation & dates. Last-minute bookings rarely come with major discounts, as availability is the main constraint. At CaminoWays, returning travellers always receive a 12% discount regardless of when they book.
Changes to confirmed bookings are subject to availability and our terms and conditions. We recommend contacting our reservations team as soon as possible if you need to adjust dates, route, or group size. The earlier you flag a change, the more flexibility we have to accommodate it.
Hello
Is it unreasonable to consider starting the Camino in late April this year as I have not booked anything.
Hi Grace, no it’s not too late at all. The best thing to do is to use our Camino Planner to select your desired route, dates and length. You will then receive a quote and our sales team will be in touch.