Vía de la Plata

Services included:

• Accomodation with breakfast (in either single resp. double room with shower/wc in simple to medium category)
• Pilgrim´s Starter Kit (Pilgrim's Guide, Pilgrim's Pass, Pilgrim's Shell, description of stages)
• Luggage transportation service (exclusion of luggage transport upon request)
• Typical galician cheese tasting in the old town of Santiago de Compostela
• 24h emergency number
• Transfers
   

Dates:
From the beginning of April until the end of October.

Add-on:
Camino Finisterre afterwards within about 3-4 additional days.
 

The classic "Camino Francés" in its entire length starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and ends in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Pilgrims need around 34 days to walk the approx. 780 km.

We are also happy to divide your individual Camino into smaller sections, depending on your wishes.

The Spanish coastal path "Camino del Norte" leads from San Sebastián along the Atlantic coast to Santiago de Compostela. We plan 39 days for the approx. 800 km.

On the original "Camino primitivo", you will walk for 15 days for approx. 300 km from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela.

You can walk the last 114 km from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in 8 days in a guided group.

The Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela takes 15 days and is approx. 260 km long.
 

Unfortunately, dogs of any size are only welcome in very few accommodations in Spain. The accommodations that allow dogs rarely meet our standards of comfort and cleanliness, so unfortunately we can no longer offer Caminos with dogs.

Yes, the Camino de Santiago is generally very safe, including for women traveling alone. With several routes leading to Santiago de Compostela, choosing one of the more popular paths, like the French Way or the Portuguese Way, ensures a secure journey. These well-traveled routes are ideal for first-time pilgrims, offering safety and a sense of community throughout the walk. There’s little risk involved, so there’s no need to worry. Don’t let fear hold you back from embarking on this incredible adventure!

The Portuguese Way of St James along the coast, the "Camino portugues de la costa", 15 days from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, or the last 114 kilometres from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims can walk in 8 days, are both suitable for beginners.
 

• For pilgrims who want to walk long distances along the rugged North Atlantic coast, the Camino del Norte.
• For pilgrims who want to walk short distances and love the sea and beaches, the Portuguese coastal route.
• For pilgrims who are particularly interested in culture and historic old towns, the Portuguese inland route.
• For pilgrims who want a challenging Camino, definitely the Camino Primitivo.
• To experience the true Way of St James feeling, the Camino frances in its classic version. Apart from the coast, the Camino frances has everything to offer: challenges, spirituality, diverse landscapes, mountains, great encounters with other people. In its entirety, the Camino frances represents the real, authentic Way of St James experience.
   

Our stage maps provide a rough overview of the individual stages - the idea is not to follow them step by step. We recommend that you always follow the current signposts on the Way of St. James. 
All routes on the Way of St James are well identified with signposts showing the typical shell, so it is very unlikely to get lost.

Thanks to the many different sections you can walk, there is something for every fitness level. While some of the mountainous sections - like the route from St. Jean Pied de Port across the Pyrenees to Burgos - can certainly be a challenge for your muscles, there are also plenty of more relaxed routes, like the portuguese Camino along the coast.

The Compostela is a document issued to pilgrims who have completed the Camino de Santiago, the famous Way of St James that leads to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This certificate is traditionally awarded to those who have covered at least 100 kilometres on foot or 200 kilometres by bicycle to the shrine Santiago and serves as "proof" of the pilgrimage. The issue of the Compostela is controlled by the Pilgrims' Office in Santiago de Compostela and has become a symbol of the rich cultural and religious heritage associated with the Camino de Santiago.

Apparel    

• backpack (incl. rain protection): 35-50 l - max. 2 Kg/ 4.4 lbs
• 2 pair of trekking pants: 1 convertable with zipper & 1 shorts
• 2 shirts (functional material such as merino wool)
• 1 long sleeve (best merino wool)
• 2 pairs of hiking socks (compression socks are also recommended)
• (possibly also nylon stockings - under the hiking socks against blisters)
• 2 functional underpants
• hiking boots (no sneakers)
• 1 sweater
• flipflops or crocs and/ or sandals
• rain jacket & pants (or poncho) - max. 0,5 Kg/ 1.1 lbs
• wind stopper
• small travel towel
• sun hat
• poss. swimming gear (for the camino to Fisterra, for the portugese and spanish camino along the coast)

    
Sanitary Articles    

• washbag (or big Zip-Lock-Bag)
• shower gel (small travel version)
• toothpaste (small travel version) & dental floss
• toothbrush
• disinfectant, needle & thread (best to treat blisters) or blister pads
• deer cream (to prevent blisters) - 50-100 ml
• magnesium
• sun cream - 50-100 ml
• deodorant
• headache pills (preferably Ibuprofen 400)
• razor
• tissues
• tiger balm

    
Technical Equipment    

• headlamp
• ebook-reader
• phone
• camera
• pocket knife

    
Documents & Money    

• purse
• cash
• credit card
• passport (for non-europeans) or ID
• train tickets
• health insurance ID (or travel health insurance for non-europeans)
• emergency phone numbers of your insurance and bank

   
Miscellaneous    

• Pilgrim Guide & Itinerary
• Pilgrim’s Credencial
• diary & pen
• St. James's scallop
• sunglasses
• drinking system (e.g. camel bag) - max. 2 l
• zip lock bags or 10 liter freezer bags (for the modular pack system)
• first aid kit
• trekking poles or hiking/ pilgrim stick
• stone as symbol (especially for the Camino Francés)
   

Luggage must be left at reception by 08.00 in the morning to ensure a smooth collection process. Either simply leave it there before breakfast or leave it at reception the evening before (and keep everything you need, such as a toothbrush, in your small luggage).
The deliverers usually have to deliver the luggage to the next accommodation by 15:30 local time. The accommodations we book accept the luggage even if they do not open for pilgrims to check in until later.
 

You will find the pilgrim's starter kit in your first accommodation, it contains the scallop shell, the pilgrim's passport, the luggage tags and brief descriptions of each stage.

You can get stamps for the pilgrim's passport in every hotel, but also in the restaurants and cafés along the way. You can get an additional stamp at places that you particularly like. Otherwise, please make sure that you get 2 stamps on every stage of the last 100 kilometres, every day. You need them to receive the Compostela at the pilgrims' office at the end.
 

We recommend pilgrimage in April, May, June, September and October due to the more moderate temperatures, but you can choose your travel period individually.
 

Changes to your camino pilgrimage route according to individual wishes, such as certain stage combinations or shortenings, are possible. We will be happy to create an individual offer for you.
 

We are also happy to receive short notice requests and will do everything we can to make your trip possible spontaneously, although this depends on the availability of the accommodations. Otherwise, please try to book your Camino de Santiago with us 6 weeks before your desired departure date.
 

The arrival at the starting point of the Camino must be arranged by travellers individually. We´d be happy to help you find a suitable train connection.
Transfers to/from the train station are not included unless otherwise stated. Upon request, we would be happy to organize a transfer from/to the train station or airport (price for a maximum of 3 people with luggage). Otherwise, we recommend taking a taxi or public transport to your first (or from your last) accommodation.
 

If you have booked a transfer, the driver will be waiting at the airport with a sign with your name on it as soon as you come out of baggage collection.
 

The Way of St. James, also known as the “Camino de Santiago”, comprises a number of pilgrimage routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where the tomb of the Apostle James is located. Here are the most famous routes:

Camino Francés (French Way)

• The most popular and best-developed, but also the most demanding Way of St. James, but can be divided into shorter sections, such as Sarria-Santiago.
• Start: St. Jean-Pied-de-Port (France).
• Length: approx. 800 km to Santiago de Compostela.
• Passes through cities such as Pamplona, Burgos and León.

Camino del Norte (Northern Way)

• Runs along the north coast of Spain.
• Start: Irun on the French-Spanish border.
• Length: approx. 825 km.
• A scenic route that passes through cities such as San Sebastián, Bilbao and Gijón.

Camino Portugués (Portuguese Way)

• Leads from Portugal to Santiago de Compostela.
• Starting points: Lisbon (approx. 620 km) or Porto (approx. 240 km).
• Variants along the coast and inland.

Via de la Plata (Silver Way)

• One of the longest pilgrimage routes in Spain.
• Start: Seville (Andalusia), shorter version from Ourense.
• Length: approx. 1,000 km.
• Leads through the interior of the country via cities such as Mérida, Salamanca and Zamora.

Camino Primitivo (Original Way)

• The oldest Way of St. James, used by the first pilgrims.
• Start: Oviedo (Asturias).
• Length: approx. 320 km.
• A challenging route through mountainous terrain.

Camino Inglés (English Way)

• Used by English and northern European pilgrims
• Start: Ferrol 
• Length: approx. 120 km (from Ferrol) or 75 km (from A Coruña).

Camino de Invierno (winter route)

• Alternative route to the Camino Francés to avoid the snowy mountains in winter.
• Start: Ponferrada.
• Length: approx. 270 km.

Camiño dos Faros

• See the lighthouses along the Atlantic coast in west Galizia.
• Route: Malpica - Finisterre
• Length: approx. ca. 196 km.

Padre Sarmiento

• Shorter route in southern Galizia to Santiago
• Start: Pontevedra
• Length: approx. ca. 166 km.

Each of these Caminos has its own scenic and cultural characteristics and offers pilgrims different levels of difficulty and experience.

Cancellation fees up to 30 days before departure 15%, 29-15 days before departure 25%, 14-10 days before departure 50% and from 9 days before departure 100% of the tour price.