Links to Camino Information
Introduction
The links below reference websites that have been found useful by many members of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims.
As far as possible, we have selected the links below to take you to the English version of each website. In some cases, you may still have to click on a flag, typically in the top right, click on a dropdown, or click on a button labelled “En” to choose English.
Please note that this list of websites has been compiled for your convenience. The fact that a website is listed should not be taken to imply that the CCoP endorses that website, the associated organization, or any products and/or services that they may provide.
Suggested sources of information about the Camino(s)
General Information
So you want to walk a Camino?
Books, Apps, and Websites
Getting There (and Back)
Routes/Maps
Weather
Health, Wellness and Fitness
Accommodation
Meals and Special Diets
Packing and Bag Transport
Helpful CCoP Links
Chapters
Orders
Membership
Donations
Social Media
Ask Us a Question
Other Useful Links
Santiago Cathedral/Pilgrims Office
Pilgrim Associations
General Information
- The Camino de Santiago Forum
A general site on which you can ask questions about the Camino, and/or view answers to previously asked questions. In addition, there are a large number of Camino resources available to members of the site (membership is free). - Wikipedia: Camino de Santiago
No description necessary! - Google Arts and Culture’s Buen Camino page
Developed in association with the Catedral de Santiago Foundation, the Regional Government of Galicia, the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the St. James Way, and the Ministry of Culture, Regional Government of Aragon, this website provides a comprehensive introduction to the Camino de Santiago. - Google Translate
Some of the sites below are in Spanish. Clicking on the “translate with Google” link will take you to the same site, translated into English by Google Translate. Note that, generally, clicking on links on a translated page takes you to the destination page translated into English.To translate any URL, simply paste it into the text box on the Google Translate page, then click the URL that appears in the translated box. Any links you click on in the translated page will also be translated.
If you’re looking for information on something specific, a search on your favourite search engine often provides a large number of results. Type in what you are looking for (e.g., vegan food) and add “Camino” at the end!
So you want to walk a Camino?
Books, Apps, and Websites
- Books
- Camino Guides by John Brierley
Perhaps the most common English language guides on the Camino, particularly on the Camino Francés. - Village to Village Camino Guidebooks
A widely used set of guides to many of the Caminos, with useful (and free!) information on the website. - Wise Pilgrim Guides by Michael Matynka Iglesias
A useful set of books, with corresponding apps. The website has detailed information for almost all the Caminos available free. - Moon Camino de Santiago: Sacred Sites, Historic Villages, Local Food & Wine
A guidebook to the Camino Francés with a focus on the history and cultural aspects of the Camino.
- Camino Guides by John Brierley
- Apps
We have divided the apps into three categories, namely: apps which are specific to one or more Caminos, apps which provide general guidance, but can be used for your Camino, and other apps, which you may find useful on your Camino. In each category, we have listed the apps alphabetically, and indicated which apps are free. We have also indicated whether apps can be used without a connection to the internet (offline). All listed apps are available in both the Apple App Store and The Google Play Store. As usual, please do your own research prior to selecting an app.- Camino-specific guiding apps
- Buen Camino (paid, offline) website (translate with Google)
- Camino Assist (free, offline) website
- Camino Ninja (free, offline) website
- Camino Tool (free, offline) website (translate with Google)
- Gronze Maps (free, requires data) website (translate with Google)
- Way of St. James in Galicia (by Xunta de Galicia) (free, offline) website
- Wise Pilgrim (free, requires data, or paid, offline) website
- General guiding apps
- AllTrails (paid, offline) website
- Maps.me (free, offline) website
- Mapy.cz (free, offline) website
- OSMAnd (free, offline) website
Note on Google Maps: Maps can be downloaded for offline use, and there is a walking mode. However, the walking mode requires data, and appears to route only by the fastest route, which, in some cases, is not along the Camino.
- Other apps
- AlertCops (free, requires data) website
Can be used to quickly contact an English-speaking policeman (see our FAQ for more information about safety on the Camino). It can only be used in Spain. - Camino Forums (free, requires data) website
Intended to be easier to use than the website when you’re on the Camino - Google Translate (free, offline for text only) website
Download the language(s) you may need before starting your Camino - WhatsApp (free, requires data) website
Commonly used by accommodations and other businesses along the Camino
- AlertCops (free, requires data) website
- Camino-specific guiding apps
- Websites
- Stingy Nomads
A site by a couple who have walked several of the Caminos, with additional details on training and costs. - John Sikora’s YouTube Channel
This YouTube channel provides, among other videos, a video (from a GoPro) on each stage of several of the Caminos. Each of the Camino videos begins with a Google Maps flyover, showing the terrain, and then shows the actual stage as seen by a pilgrim, usually at a 5x speed, together with a map showing the progress for the day. - Pilgrimage Traveler
This website provides, for several of the main Camino routes other than the Camino Francés, detailed turn-by-turn directions for each stage, with photographs of the turning points. This information is near the bottom of (rather long) webpages. - Spain.info (English version)
Spain’s official tourism website, with information on some of the possible stops along the Camino.
- Stingy Nomads
Getting There (and Back)
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Rome2rio (Rome to Rio)
Find routes from one address to another, anywhere in the world. -
Skyscanner.net
Originally focused on low cost airlines in Europe, such as Vueling, Easyjet, Ryanair, Iberia Express, Skyscanner allows you to search for flights between airports and find the cheapest in any month. -
The Trainline
European trains, some bus companies, generally with no surcharge on fares. -
SNCF
The French state-owned rail company, which sells tickets for travel in France and internationally. -
Comboios de Portugal
The Portuguese state-owned rail company (CP), which sells tickets for travel in Portugal. -
RENFE
The Spanish state-owned rail company, which sells tickets for travel in Spain and internationally. -
Long Distance Buses
There are a number of companies providing long distance bus services within Spain, and between Spain and neighbouring countries. Some of these companies are Alsa, Autna SL, BlaBlaCar (also ride sharing), Flixbus, Monbus, and Rede Expressos. Note that, if you’re catching a bus to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you may have to spell the “Saint” in full for the destination to be recognized.
Routes/Maps
A number of the sites listed under Accommodation also provide information on stages, including maps.
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Godalesco Camino Route Planner (click on EN for English)
This site allows you to select a Camino, a starting point, an ending point, and overnight stops, and provides you with a list of localities on your route with daily distances, distances to your destination, elevation profiles and more. -
Camino Francés Itineraries
Suggested overnight stops for fast and slow itineraries on the Camino Francés. -
Caminos de Santiago en Europa
A map of the routes of the Caminos de Santiago showing much of Europe. -
Correos – The Spanish Post Office
The Spanish Post Office provides detailed maps of the various stages of most of the Camino routes. -
Wise Pilgrim Guides
This website, provided by Michael Matynka Iglesias, has detailed information for almost all the Camino routes available free. Consider purchasing an item, such as a book or an app, or making a donation to support this work. -
Which Route (Brierley)
This page on the Camino guides website provides a map and a quick summary of the twelve main Camino routes. -
Camino Routes in Spain
This page on the website of our sister organization in the UK provides links to pages with descriptions of each of the main Camino routes in Spain and Portugal. -
The Dutch Society of Saint James: GPX files
This page on the website of our sister organization in the Netherlands provides GPX and KML files for each of the main Camino routes in Spain, France and Portugal, as well as the Netherlands and Belgium. Select “English” in the drop-down at the top.
Weather
Use your favourite weather site for the major locales along the route. The route from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (in France) over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles (in Spain), known as the Napoleon route, can have tricky weather (and is closed from Nov 1st to March 31st each year). The two websites below provide weather forecasts for this route.
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Meteo Blue – Col de Bentarte
A primarily French weather site that provides forecasts for the Col de Bentarte, a pass near the highest point on the Napolean route over the Pyrenees. -
Au Coeur Du Chemin
To obtain the forecast for the weather on the Napoleon Route, click on METEO: PORT DE CIZE.
For longer term planning, Weatherspark (and some other weather sites, such as CaminoWeather) provide typical weather for a number of major locales along each Camino.
Health, Wellness and Fitness
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Safety Hints and Tips
A set of safety hints and tips by a well-known Camino author, Johnnie Walker (PDF). -
Very Well Fit
A suggested training schedule to prepare to walk the Camino.
Accommodation
- Gronze.com (translate with Google)
In Spanish, but certainly a major website describing the Caminos and the accommodations along the way, with links to Booking.com where available. - My Camino Bed
Search by map or by stage for accommodation on the Camino Francés (includes a variety of accommodation types). - Booking.com
This is one of the more popular booking sites used by many of the accommodations in Spain. - Albergues Camino de Santiago (translate with Google)
Details of the Caminos, with lists of albergues (hostels) for each stage, some with online booking (in Spanish). - OnlyPilgrims
A hostel (albergue) website for the Camino Francés, with a limited selection of albergues, which can all be booked online. - AlberguesLoT (translate with Google)
Operated by the AMCS, the Association of Municipalities of the Camino de Santiago Francés, this site provides real-time availability of beds at municipal albergues on the Camino Francés, and indicates whether albergues are open or closed.
Meals and Special Diets
- Camino Ways – Vegetarian on the Camino
A discussion of vegetarian food on the Camino, with a link to a food ebook (registration required for the ebook). - Vegetarian and Celiac options
A discussion of food options on the Camino from the Village to Village website, with links to albergues and restaurants that provide vegetarian and celiac meal options. - Vegan on the Camino
Suggestions from one woman’s experience on how to be vegan on the Camino. - Happy Cow
A website and app with vegetarian and vegan restaurants around the world. Search by location, or “near me”.
Packing and Bag Transport
- Packing
- Pilgrim Tips and Packing List
This book by S. Yates, co-written by CCoP member D. Hnatiuk, provides detailed suggestions on what to take and how to pack. - Camino Pack List
This website provides packing list tips and recommendations from Jean Ashmore, who also wrote a book called “To Walk Far, Carry Less”.
- Pilgrim Tips and Packing List
- Bag Transport
You want your bag transported stage by stage along the Camino, so that it is available to you every evening? There are several companies which provide this service, depending on which country you are in, and which Camino you are on. If you’re starting in France, at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Express Bourricot can transport your bag to the end of your first stage. Once you are in Spain, there are a number of companies providing bag transport service. Check their websites to see which Caminos, and which stages they support. Some of these companies are:While some of the preceding companies support the Camino Portuguès, the following companies specialize in that Camino:
- Top Santiago (from Lisbon)
- Tuitrans (from Porto)
- Bag Storage
You want your bag transported to Santiago de Compostela, to be picked up on your arrival? If you’re starting at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Express Bourricot will transport your bag to Santiago de Compostela and hold it there for your arrival. If you’re starting in Spain, Correos (the Spanish Post Office) will transport your bag to Santiago de Compostela and hold it there for up to 45 days. They will also transport your bag to any Spanish post office along the Camino. If you are anywhere in the EU, you can ship your bag to Casa Ivar, which is operated by the person who runs the Camino de Santiago Forum. Your bag will be held for up to 90 days. They ask you not to ship luggage from outside the EU, because of customs issues. As always, check the organizations’ websites for the latest information.
Helpful CCoP Links
Other Useful Links
Santiago Cathedral/Pilgrims Office
- Cathedral of Santiago
- Pilgrims’ Office – Santiago
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Current and Past Pilgrim Statistics
Statistics rom the Santiago Pilgrims Office – in English and Spanish
Pilgrim Associations
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Canada – Acadie
Association acadienne des pèlerins et amis des chemins de Saint-Jacques -
Canada – Québec
Du Québec à Compostelle -
Australia
Australian Friends of the Camino -
Ireland
Camino Society Ireland -
South Africa
Confraternity of Saint James of South Africa -
Spain – Federation of Associations (translate with Google)
Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino de Santiago -
Spain – Galicia
Galicia – Xacobeo Galicia -
United Kingdom
Confraternity of Saint James -
USA
American Pilgrims on the Camino