Footwear is a very personal question – depending on how active you are and how much support you will need. Since we will be walking on a daily basis on the Camino de Santiago, I believe that comfort is key – you do not want to get blisters. You probably won’t need a full high boot that covers your ankle (unless you need this support), but rather light trail walkers or even running shoes if you are used to walking. In the spring, there may be mud and water along the trail, so keep that in mind. Most important: Make sure that they are well broken in!
We encourage you to walk before and be prepared for your own enjoyment. As you will be walking from inn to inn, you should be prepared to cover the day’s full stage. They say your Camino begins once you decide to do it, so enjoy your “training“ walks and get those km’s in before your arrive to Spain! As a bit of insurance, we will also provide you will a list of taxi phone numbers… just in case.
Travel insurance is always included in our tours. (Covid included)
According to the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago de Compostela, in 2019, 33.4% of all pilgrims who requested the Compostela arrived in July and August. This makes sense since many Europeans and students have their vacation time in the summer. Whenever you decide to walk, you will always be able to find that “quiet time“ for yourself along the trail. In addition, walking with Fresco Tours means that you won’t have to worry about your meals, your pack, where you’ll sleep, or anything else. You do the walking and leave everything else up to us!
There are now RENFE trains that will get you from Santiago to Madrid in less than 6 hours. While routes and availability may vary upon time of booking, there are several daily trains from Santiago to Madrid. The direct trains are listed as Alvia. If you are looking to fly, there are excellent internal flights that fly Santiago to Madrid.
Yes, but you will be walking in one of the most rural parts of Spain so the service may be a bit difficult or slow in certain locations. Nonetheless, many cafes along the way also offer Wi-Fi so you’ll have several opportunities to be online. Finally, remember that one of the greatest joys of the Camino is cultivating the ability to disconnect and enjoy your immediate surroundings!
We will provide you with daily maps of your walk. These maps include the elevation gain and loss along the stage, the address and a detailed map of where your hotel is located, our favorite restaurant recommendations along the trail for lunch and dinner, and a list of taxi phone numbers in case you need a lift.
In Galicia, the region where we walk, 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.
The Camino de Santiago covers over 750 km of Northern Spain and therefore has very different weather conditions depending on the region. Generally, rain is a possibility all year-round. Temperature-wise, mornings and evenings can be quite chilly all year-round and air-conditioning is rarely needed.
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 like to stop with our clients for a coffee or cerveza along the way to take everything in!
Lunch generally takes place at the end of the stage for that day. Each morning, your guide will inform you what the plan is for lunch. Some days lunch is included and may be a gourmet picnic or a sit-down lunch in a restaurant. When you arrive at the designated restaurant, you can sit down and start ordering and eating or wait for the others to arrive, as you wish. When lunch is not included, you can have lunch wherever you wish. There are many small restaurants and cafes along the way where you can find well-priced menus.
Most of our accommodations offer a laundry service for a modest price. Usually they do not give you access to the laundry facilities for you to do it yourself.
Tips for our driver and guide(s) are not included. It is not mandatory but, if you are happy with the service you receive, it would be much appreciated.
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