How Lo G Does It Take To Hike The Camino De Santiago?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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For a prepared and experienced hiker, this route takes about 30 days start to finish, covering nearly 500 miles. Keep in mind that the Camino Francés receives the most foot traffic, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity to meet other pilgrims, but also a fair share of crowds during much of the year.

How long does it take the average person to walk the Camino?

How Long Does It Take To Walk The Camino? To walk the full Camino Frances, it typically takes 30-35 days , walking between 25-27km each day. Of course, you can go at a more leisurely pace although the terrain on the Camino is relatively flat and easy.

How hard is it to hike the Camino de Santiago?

It’s relatively short, 321 km but it’s considered to be one of the toughest routes due to many steep ascents and descents . The Camino Primitivo starts in Oviedo, Spain. Via de la Plata (the Silver Way) – the longest established route of St. James, about 1000 km, one of the least walked routes, 3%.

How many miles a day do you walk on the Camino de Santiago?

Discover the unique and unforgettable experience of walking an ancient pilgrim route, the Unesco World Heritage Way of Saint James,’Camino de Santiago’. Average daily distance / climb: 12 miles (20 km) / 976 ft (298 m).

What is the best month to walk the Camino de Santiago?

Best Time to Visit

While the Camino de Santiago is passable all year round, the months of April, May, June, September and October are optimal months for experiencing the trail. For those opting for the popular Camino Francés, the Pyrenees mountain chain can see deep snow and inclement weather in wintertime.

What is the shortest Camino walk?

The shortest Camino walk is the route known as the Camino Ingles , in Northern Galicia. The Camino Ingles has, in fact, two official starting points: the port-cities of A Coruña and Ferrol, located 75km and 113kms away from Santiago, respectively.

Which Camino route is the most beautiful?

Camino del Norte . The Northern Way is arguably the most scenic, running along the Bay of Biscay coast from foodie San Sebastián, via Bilbao and Santander and an array of beautiful beaches, to Oviedo; from here you can join the Camino Primitivo to reach Santiago.

Which Camino route is best?

Camino Francés : the classic Camino route

While it is not the oldest route, the Camino Francés has definitely become synonymous with ‘The Camino’ and it is by far the best known and most transited of all the Camino routes; although the trail starts getting busier mainly on the last stages into Santiago.

How long does it take to walk 16 miles?

Miles Relaxed Pace Normal Pace 15 miles 5 hrs 3 hrs, 45 mins 16 miles 5 hrs, 20 mins 4 hrs 17 miles 5 hrs, 40 mins 4 hrs, 15 mins 18 miles 6 hrs 4 hrs, 30 mins

Is the Camino de Santiago worth it?

The Camino not only gives you the opportunity to connect with strangers, but also gives you a lot of time to do it with nature and just think and meditate , because even if you have started with several people, sometimes you find yourself alone for long periods of time, cause each person has a different walking pace.

Which Camino route is the hardest?

The Primitive Way of Camino de Santiago route map. It’s often named the toughest Camino due to the fact that the route goes through the mountains in Asturias.

Can you wild camp on the Camino de Santiago?

Camping is possible on all of the Camino’s routes, but here organisation is key as designated campsites are few and far between. Some hostel owners will let pilgrims camp in their gardens for a small donation, and there are frequent grassy rest areas with basic facilities where hikers can wild camp .

Do I need a sleeping bag on the Camino?

What is this? The Camino de Santiago is not your normal hike in the wild where you have to carry camping gear and food which is a good thing as it’s possible to pack light. Every night pilgrims stay at albergues, no tent and camping mat is needed, all you need or we’d recommend bringing with is a sleeping bag .

What is the best time of year to walk the El Camino?

May-June and Sep are the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago, as the weather is lovely, downpours less likely, and you’ll have plenty of company along the way – but it won’t be quite as crowded. Easter can be a busy time, too.

What do I need to know before walking the Camino de Santiago?

  • There’s more than one way to Santiago. ...
  • You don’t have to be a hardcore hiker. ...
  • You can leave the camping gear at home. ...
  • Guides are unnecessary (unless you want one). ...
  • The Camino feels different throughout the year. ...
  • The Camino has its own lingo.

How crowded is Camino de Santiago?

The summer months of June, July, and August are in general the busiest time in the Camino de Santiago . In 2019 47% of pilgrims arrived in Santiago in these three months (June – 14%, July – 15%, August – 18%).

Is the Camino Open 2022?

This symbolizes the difficult journey walking the Camino. Then the Archbishop cleans the door’s perimeters with an olive branch dipped in Holy water and he walks through the passageway. The door remains open for the rest of the year, closing once again at the end of the Holy Year, this time on December 31st. 2022 .

How difficult is the Camino Primitivo?

The difficulty of Camino Primitivo is moderate . The only requirement for the Camino Primitivo is to bring good hiking boots and protection against the rain.

What is the easiest Camino de Santiago?

  • The Camino Ingles offers a great combination of coastal and rural landscapes.
  • One of the shortest Camino’s so perfect if you don’t have as much time but would still like to experience a pilgrimage.

How long does it take to cycle the Camino de Santiago?

For those people who have more time to dedicate to this extraordinary route, we recommend taking around 18 days to cover all of the Camino Francés, which is around 800km.

What is the best part of Camino de Santiago?

  • Saint Jean Pied de Port. ...
  • Pamplona. ...
  • Pilgrims on the Sierra del Perdón. ...
  • Puente de la Reina. ...
  • Pintxos and wine bars in Logroño. ...
  • Burgos Cathedral. ...
  • León. ...
  • Astorga.

How much weight should you carry on the Camino?

The Camino is well supported so you can keep your pack weight light, ideally carrying no more than 10-15 percent of your body weight . Be sure your pack’s final weight includes the 2-3 pounds of water and food you need to carry each day.

Where do you fly into for the Camino de Santiago?

Santander (SDR) is the closest airport. Buses operate from here to Burgos and take ~3 hours.

How do I train for the Camino?

Even if you trained before starting the pilgrimage and are used to walking, try to walk more or less 20 km/12,4 mi per day during the first week on the Camino . If you feel tired or start getting blisters, rather stop early or even take a day off. Don’t push yourself hard from the start, just take it easy.

Can you do the Camino de Santiago alone?

As I’ve said, hiking the Camino de Santiago alone is pretty safe , but you don’t have to walk at night. Chances are there will be stretches of the walk you’ll take completely alone, and if you need some help or assistance, you’ll have no one to turn to.

Can you do the Camino without training?

There are some who travel the Camino without any physical preparation , and they get through it and reach the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela. You will have, however, a far more pleasant experience if you do some hill-walking or aerobic exercise in the months before going on the Camino!

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.