This is the essential practical documentation that we offer you for your Camino de Santiago.
What to take in your backpack
If it is your first time on the Camino de Santiago, it is normal that you do not have a clear vision of those things that are really essential to carry out this adventure, or on the contrary you make the mistake of filling your backpack with many other things that are totally dispensable.
Therefore, depending on the route you choose, as well as other characteristics such as the time of the year or even personal needs, we will send you a detailed list to prepare your pilgrim’s luggage so that you don’t forget anything.
How to get to the start of the route
Once we have decided the route we are going to do, we have to move to the starting point, something that sometimes is not easy at all.
Most of the trips start from small towns or even villages, where communications are neither frequent nor direct, sometimes even non-existent.
Depending on whether you are coming from one country or another, from Andalusia, Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia or any other autonomous community, we will help and advise you on the best way to get to the starting point. To do so, we will evaluate the use of our own vehicles, planes, trains, buses or even small local and/or provincial companies that hardly have discretionary services.
Maps and tracks
Although the Camino de Santiago is generally well signposted, it is logical to want to have a map and be forewarned. We will provide you with a GPS application that will show you where you are going at all times without the need to use mobile data, perfect for those stretches where there is no coverage.
Our GPX routes can also be used in those points where we do not have coverage, for this you will have to download the track and activate it with a tracking app. In it you can also be aware of the slopes and geographical difficulties of each area.
Where to eat
You will have at your disposal the best recommendations of bars and restaurants along the Camino de Santiago, typical dishes that you must try as well as refreshment points where you can stop and get your strength back.
To do this, we will send you a complete dossier, structured by stages, where you can also consult the locations of each of our recommendations.
Points of interest
The Camino de Santiago is also tourism, visiting the most representative monuments of the Jacobean towns, knowing the history, culture and legends of each town. So you will have at your fingertips a list of points of interest that will be a must on your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Documentation on the Camino de Santiago
Carrying the veterinary card or canine passport is mandatory. Additionally, it’s recommended to attach a tag with your name and phone number to your pet’s collar.
On the Camino de Santiago food is very important, although we are fortunate that you eat very well on all routes. In our trips, we offer a personalized practical dossier of your route with our recommendations of food on the Camino de Santiago. The best typical dishes, bars and restaurants of the Camino are waiting for you!
If you want to know more, visit our blog to know the best dishes of Galicia and Northern Spain, as well as the best restaurants in Santiago de Compostela.
Depending on the route and starting location you choose, you will have some options or others. Often it will be a combination of plane, bus, train and even taxi. Of course, you can also arrive in your private car.
If you are going to do the Camino de Santiago with us and want to know how to get to Sarria, how to get to Tui, or how to get to Roncesvalles, among other starting points, contact us and we will help you start your adventure.
To walk the Camino de Santiago, it’s essential to carry the Pilgrim’s Credential, which allows you to obtain the Compostela upon completing the route in Santiago, and also grants access to public hostels and other services, as well as possible discounts in museums, etc. Additionally, you’ll need a form of identification (ID or passport) to check into accommodations and other establishments. If you’re a foreigner, make sure your visa is in order if required by your country of origin.
For the Camino de Santiago, make sure to pack weather-appropriate clothing, including quick-drying pants, a technical t-shirt, a sweatshirt, and suitable footwear.
Also, bring a sleeping bag for hostels, extra clothes, waterproof layers, comfortable shoes for resting, toiletries, sunscreen, a basic first aid kit, your phone charger, an extra battery, important documents like your health card, and the pilgrim’s credential. Keep your backpack weight under 10% of your body weight.
It is not compulsory to print it, but it is advisable as this way you will be able to consult it whenever you need it. You can also carry the downloaded documentation on your phone.
