Camino FAQs Articles

Many of our readers frequently inquire about the minimum distance one needs to walk on the Camino de Santiago to be eligible for the coveted Camino Pilgrim Certificate.

If you are considering walking the Camino, regardless of which route you’d like to take, you must walk at least the last 100km into Santiago de Compostela to receive your pilgrim certificate, which should take 5 to 6 days walking. On average, you will walk 20km per day if ...

Planning your next Camino de Santiago adventure? Wondering which month of the year would be the best for you? What are the busiest months on the Camino?

We have taken the most recent statistics from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago de Compostela to give you an idea of the number of pilgrims arriving in Santiago and claiming their Compostela month by month. The Pilgrims Office in Santiago welcomes pilgrims to the city and issues pilgrim certificates.

How to access money on the Camino?

Nobody wants the hassle of being without money on the Camino, or on any holiday really. If you’re in a really remote location, accessing money can be quite an ordeal. Luckily, this is most certainly not the case on the Camino de Santiago.

Spain, like the rest of Europe, is quite taken with contactless payment. If you have a bank card with contactless, you can use this most places, but it’s always good ...

What type of Camino Groups do we work with?

We organise treks for groups on the Camino de Santiago routes, the Via Francigena (Camino to Rome) and other fantastic cycling and walking trails in Ireland and Europe. We work with walking clubs, parish groups, colleges, universities, school groups, charities, scout groups and families. Camino Groups FAQ

We also have set guided tours. If you prefer, you can join our Camino guided tours anytime. Otherwise, if you ...

How many pilgrims walked the Camino in 2020?

According to the statistics released from the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago, 53,905 pilgrims collected their Compostela after completing their Camino.

In comparison, 327,378 pilgrims collected their Compostela certificate in 2019.

Below is an infographic with the top stats on who walked the Camino in 2020:

Statistics on who walked the Camino in 2020

Below are some other interesting stats about the pilgrims who walked the Camino in 2020:

• The ...

What sort of support do I get when I cycle the Camino?

We have carefully planned the distances you will cover by bike on the Camino. We’ve considered the terrain, track type, and the trail’s shared use with walkers. Discover the cycling support we offer below.

If you feel the distances for your cycle are too short or long, talk to our sales team when planning your trip. There is probably a good reason behind the mileage chosen; ...

What about the food on my trip? FAQ

We often get asked: “What about the food on my trip?” Not a single experience abroad is complete without good food! For our Camino de Santiago holidays, we place emphasis on regional products and traditional dishes. This is an important criterion in our hotel selection.

Meals in our selected hotels along the Camino de Santiago are typically made from fresh, local products and served in a traditional manner.

We also ...

FAQ: How long does the Via Francigena take?

How long does the Via Francigena take? The Via Francigena, or Camino to Rome, covers over 2000 km from Canterbury in the UK, to Rome in Italy.

This epic trail, following the pilgrimage route taken by Sigeric the Serious, Archbishop of Canterbury, back in the 10th century crosses regions of spectacular beauty such as the Alps and Tuscany, as well as cultural and historic landmarks such as the Champagne ...

Do I need to learn Spanish for the Camino de Santiago?

We often get asked if we need to learn Spanish before embarking on your Camino de Santiago. The simple answer is no, but you should have a few useful phrases in Spanish. If you travel through Northern Spain, not everyone you meet will speak fluent English. Don’t panic; most people you meet along the route are from all around the world and will speak different languages. There are ...

The short answer is that yes, you can cycle the Camino. In fact, approximately 8% of pilgrims getting their Compostela certificate in Santiago arrive on two wheels.

Is it the same track for cycling and walking?

It is the same track for most part of the routes. It is worth bearing in mind that the Camino de Santiago routes are mainly walking trails but it is also possible to cycle most of them.

The combination of small roads, tracks and ...

The Camino is a special journey that’s undertaken by thousands of pilgrims each year. This ancient trail attracts pilgrims from various nationalities and backgrounds to walk the Camino. There are lots of Camino de Santiago routes to choose from and you can tailor your itinerary to fit your needs.

Am I too old to walk the Camino?

People of all ages can  walk the Camino. You just need to be healthy and fit to complete the walk. On most ...

Am I fit enough to walk the Camino?

So you’ve seen the films, you may have read the books and your friends are telling you all about the magic of the trail and The Camino de Santiago. You know you want to go but first, you stop to ask yourself one question; am I fit enough to walk the Camino?

The truth is that the Camino is doable for just about anyone, it all depends on your fitness level and ...

The Camino de Santiago is an unforgettable journey for many pilgrims and has inspired many books and movies. You might not have a book or a movie in mind, but if you’d like to share your Camino experience, we would love to hear from enthusiastic pilgrims.

Whether the Camino has changed your life or you’d like to express what a fantastic time you had and the friends you made along the way, here’s how you can share your Camino ...

What if I don’t want to walk one of the days?

What happens if I prefer not to walk one of the days? This is a very frequently asked question at CaminoWays.

If you have a Camino trip booked with CaminoWays.com and you do not wish to walk or cycle one or more of the stages, we recommend you take a transfer to your next stage.

You can check with hotel reception in the morning, and they will be happy ...

What support when cycling the Via Francigena?

When you travel with Camino Ways, we provide you with a 24/7 assistance number, to be contacted in case of emergency. What support when cycling the Via Francigena?

If you are cycling the Via Francigena with us and have bike rental included as part of your package (available from Aulla to Rome), you will also be provided with an assistance number for our bike rental partners in Italy. They will be able to advise ...

FAQ: tourist tax in Italy

When you are travelling the Via Francigena in Italy, you will find in some cities and historic towns you will have to pay a local tourist tax, what is called ‘Tassa di soggiorno’.

This local tax is collected by hotels on behalf of the local authorities and they are charged per person, per night. The tourist tax varies between all the cities and is generally between €0.50 and €5 per night. Some cities will ...