Here are a series of Questions and Answers (Q&As) that you may find useful to prepare your Camino.
How many kilometers do we walk each day?
The amount of kilometers scheduled for each day varies from 25 km to 15 kms. We have designed our tours to allow the possibility to walk the last 100 kms to Santiago, which is the requirement to request the Compostelana Certificate. However, our walks are accompanied by a support vehicle, and options for less kilometers are possible on a daily basis. We can tailor the Camino to suit your needs!
(1 kilometer = 0.6 miles)
What sort of condition do I need to undertake the Camino?
We encourage you to do a bit of training before your walk and be prepared for your own enjoyment. However, this is your vacation and not boot camp! During your walk, one of the guides will be on the trail with the group to keep an eye that all is well.
Also, we have planned check points along the way with our support van to make sure you have plenty of water, if you need a change of shoes, or just feel like taking a break. In most cases, you will see the van at a minimum every couple of hours.
What is the terrain like on the Camino de Santiago in Galicia?
In Galicia, the region where we run most of our tours, the terrain is green rolling hills – there are neither steep climbs nor treacherous descents. The trail itself is a combination of very well maintained compact dirt and stone footpaths, and small country roads.
What is a typical day like on a tour?
After breakfast, we lace up and get the blood going with a walk for a couple hours, where we will do a check point to make sure that everything is OK. You then continue along the Camino for another 1-2 hours where you will come across a complete gourmet picnic prepared with the all the freshest local ingredients. On some days, we continue for 1-2 hours more after lunch to burn off dessert.
In the afternoon, we go to our hotels, where we take a shower, siesta and just relax! We finish our day with a glass of tinto and a feast of the local gastronomy. We then retire for the night and get ready to do it again! On some afternoons, we have planned excursions, such as a visit to an ancient monastery or perhaps a massage!
Does the group stop for breaks during the walk?
The great thing about the Camino is that it is very well marked and we encourage people to walk at a pace that is comfortable for them – this is not a race! We want you to enjoy the route and we also like to stop with our clients for a coffee along the way and take everything in!
What is the change in elevation on the Camino de Santiago in Galicia?
Depending on the tour you are walking, this will alter significantly. Please see our website for detailed elevation gains for each tour.
What’s the weather like on the Camino de Santiago in Galicia?
The classic Camino de Santiago covers over 750 kms of Northern Spain and therefore has very different weather conditions depending on the region.
The majority of our tours take place in the Northwest region of Spain called Galicia. Here we enjoy a more temperate climate than other parts of the Camino de Santiago and in July and August the heat is not overwhelming like it can be on the plains of Castilla y Leon. The average summer temperature in Galicia is 77 Fahrenheit.
How can we sleep in the same hotel for 2 nights?
Since the distances that we walk during the day on the Camino de Santiago can be covered quickly in the van, we take advantage of this and stay in the same hotel for 2 nights on several occasions. Our walk always starts at the point where we finished the previous day to maintain our continuity along the trail. And on some days we walk directly to or from our hotel!
We believe that the time (and energy) saved packing and unpacking everyday makes these shuttles a great convenience for everyone.
We are sure you have more questions that we have not addressed in this post. We are also happy for you to contact us directly at [email protected] and we will get back to you asap!
