WHERE DO WE SLEEP?
In general, you have many choices for where to sleep on the Camino, and your choices mostly will depend on your budget and the kind of experience you want to have.
Walking pilgrims have full access to the 450+ pilgrim hostels, or albergues, all along the Camino Francés. Albergues offer shared accommodations, usually in mixed-gender dorm rooms. Dorm rooms come in all sizes, the smallest being two-person cubicles and the largest with more than 100 beds under a single ceiling. Most fall somewhere in between, in the eight to twenty-bed range. Many albergues now have private rooms as well, which couples, friends, and small groups can share.
Albergues also offer the unique experience of being right in the heart of the pilgrim community. Not only will you share sleeping quarters, but often albergues provide pilgrims with a shared meal, complete with local wines, and the opportunity to connect with people from all over the world. It truly becomes a case of ‘we’re all in this together’ as you open your heart and mind to new experiences and learn that while we are all unique and different, in many ways, we are all the same.
If sharing space with friends, barely-friends, and often strangers isn’t your thing, you can seek out the pensións, guesthouses, hotels, and other private accommodation options along the Camino. These cost between €25 to €100+ a night, and they come with real sheets and usually with en suite bathroom facilities.
Private accommodations and many albergues can be booked in advance, either before you leave home, or from the trail a few days in advance. All you need is some very basic Spanish phrases, which I will share with you.
When you start your Camino experience with the Camino Experience program, I will assist you with booking your first five nights on the trail. That way you have the peace of mind to know you have a good place to sleep when you arrive in Saint Jean Pied de Port, and for your first days of walking, too.
Learn more about Sleeping on the Camino here.
WHERE DO WE EAT?
Where you eat depends on where you are, but don’t worry, there are plenty of options on the Camino Francés. For example, in Saint Jean Pied de Port we take advantage of the abundant selection of cafes and restaurants, a luxury we won’t encounter again until Pamplona.
When we stay at Refuge Orisson (or Auberge Borda), we will partake of the shared pilgrim’s meal they provide, and we will eat and share stories with pilgrims from around the world who are beginning their own journeys-of-a-lifetime.
In Roncesvalles we will enjoy a Menú del Peregrino (Pilgrim’s Menu) at one of the three dining rooms there. After that we will find bars and restaurants as we go, using a guidebook, app, or personal knowledge. You won’t go hungry, I promise!
Don’t worry if you have specific dietary requirements – vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, celiac, diabetic, etc. I will show you where to find what you can eat and how to order it in Spanish.
Learn more about Eating on the Camino here.
WHAT IF I WANT TO DO IT WITH MY HUSBAND/WIFE/PARTNER/FRIEND/MY OWN GROUP?
Bring ‘em along! It’s the right time to bring along everyone you know who is interested in walking the Camino with the special Bring Everyone rate: book two or more people in the same program and receive a quantity discount of $15 off the per person program fee.
CAN I BRING MY KIDS?
Definitely, if they are at least 18 years of age. Unfortunately, I can’t accommodate your younger kids due to liability concerns.
CAN I BRING MY DOG?
Better not. It’s not that your dog wouldn’t love the Camino, it’s just that the infrastructure on the Camino Francés isn’t well set up to accommodate pets.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?
In this case, “bad” means inclement, like rain, snow, intense heat, or something equally unpleasant. Part of walking the Camino de Santiago is refining your deal-with-unpredictability skills. What could be more unpredictable than Mother Nature?
The main thing is to dress appropriately for the weather. Have the right gear. Once you book, I will make sure you know what that is.
Our first two days of walking from Saint Jean Pied de Port are scheduled to take us up and over the Pyrenees Mountains. There are two routes from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles – the Napoleon Route, or high road, and the Valcarlos Route, or low road. If the weather is bad, and the local people in the town of Saint Jean Pied de Port recommend against crossing the Pyrenees on the high road, we will take the very different but equally beautiful and challenging low road. Be assured, if the weather conditions pose a viable threat to our safety, we will not cross the Pyrenees on foot.
HOW PHYSICALLY FIT DO I HAVE TO BE?
You do need to be reasonably fit to walk the Camino de Santiago. To walk with the Camino Experience group from Saint Jean Pied de Port, you must be able to tackle the Pyrenees Mountains in your first two days on the trail. That means approximately 20 kilometers steeply uphill, and 5 kilometers steeply downhill. And you must be able to walk for at least 20 kilometers each day for three straight days, both uphill and downhill. You will need strong legs and good cardiovascular health for the start of the Camino Francés.
Heart, lungs, back, hips, knees, feet – the whole body is put to task when you walk the Camino. You may be able to walk 20 kilometers in a day, but can you walk that distance every day for a month?
Physical training is one of our most important tasks, and I will provide you with recommendations for how to prepare physically for your Camino experience.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T WALK THE WHOLE WAY ONE DAY?
If you absolutely can’t walk the entire distance on any given day, I will help you to arrange for a taxi to pick you up or I will make sure you get to the closest bus stop (the ride will be at your expense).
There are a couple of things to consider ahead of time, if you are concerned this might happen for you.
First, you will have from sun-up to sundown – at least nine hours – to walk the required distance each day. That means you have plenty of time to take it slow, rest along the way, and care for any physical problems as they come up.
Second, there are some places on the trail, especially from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles, where it’s not possible or practical for a taxi to reach you. For that reason, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are in the physical and mental condition to complete this and all other parts of the trail.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO CARRY MY OWN BACKPACK?
Some walking pilgrims carry their backpacks, and some do not. If you prefer not to carry your backpack, you can make use of one of the luggage transport services along the way. For a fee – usually around €6-8 – these services will pick up your backpack or other luggage from your albergue, hotel, or pensión and take it to your next destination. If you choose to transport your bag each day, you will still need to carry a small daypack with some essential items: water, snacks, guidebook or phone, and extra clothes appropriate to the weather conditions. I will show you how to use this service if that’s your preference.
One more thing about carrying your things: there are no porters or bellhops at the accommodations along the Camino. At many of these places, you will find stairs but no elevator, or lift. That means you will need to be able to carry your backpack or suitcase up the stairs on your own. Keep that in mind when you pack!
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Registration opens soon for all 2025 Camino Experience groups. To let me know you are interested in joining one of the 2025 groups, please click to button below to go to the Interest Form.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY SPOT IN THE GROUP?
You can secure your spot in the group with a $350 deposit, and then the full payment is due 90 days before your program start date (you can also pay in full at the time of booking, if you prefer, or, depending on when you register, opt for a three-payment plan). If you are booking less than 120 days before the start date, your full payment will be due at the time of booking.
Payments are made electronically in US dollars by credit card through Stripe. I will send you the link to make your payment once I review your registration form.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY?
Cancellations: Your deposit of $350 is fully refundable, less a $45 administrative fee, for 30 days from the date of your initial payment. After 30 days, your deposit becomes non-refundable, but you retain access to all program materials (written and audio content) received to that point.
If you choose the three-payment plan, your second payment is also fully refundable, less a $45 administrative fee, for 30 days from the date you make the payment.
Regardless of which payment plan you have, all final payments are fully refundable, less a $45 administrative fee, if you cancel at least 90 days before your start date.
If you cancel less than 90 days before your program start date, your final payment is non-refundable, with one exception. If there is a waiting list for your program dates, and if someone on the waiting list is able to take your place, you will receive a refund of your final payment, less a $45 administrative fee.
If you pay in full when you register, $350 is fully refundable for 30 days from the date of your initial payment, and the remaining payment is fully refundable until 90 days before the start date of your program. The $45 administrative fee applies to any cancellations.
Rescheduling: If you are unable to participate in your scheduled Camino program, and you inform Nancy at least 90 days before the scheduled start date, you may make a one-time transfer of your payment and registration to another scheduled program date, if a spot is available. If this happens, all payments made become non-refundable.
Refunds: If you are due a refund, you will receive it via Stripe within 45 days of cancellation.
I recommend you purchase a travel insurance policy that covers trip cancellation. Information on travel insurance is also included in your Camino Experience program.
MY QUESTION ISN’T HERE . . .
Did I miss anything? If yes, please email me and I will fill in the missing information.
Email: youonthecamino@gmail.com
Wishing you a beautiful Camino journey!
~ Nancy
Updated June 2024