The Costs of Walking the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is a unique trip to budget for, since you spend the majority of your time simply walking. You’re not renting a vehicle or even using public transport, while many of the attractions you visit are free. But, what do the other costs look like? Let’s find out.
The path chosen
The route you pick for your Camino de Santiago can impact the overall trip costs. The first factor is, of course, the length of your route – the longer it is, the more nights you’ll need in hotels and so on. Generally, most people choose to do 7-10 days total.
Moreover, more popular routes, like Camino Frances, Camino Portugues, Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo, are very well-established, meaning there are lots of services and accommodations along the way. Some believe that those may be more expensive during peak tourism seasons but, on the other hand, you have more options that cater to all budgets.
Another important thing to consider is the airport. For instance, you may start your Camino Portuguese from Tui or Porto. The former has a nearby airport in Vigo, whereas the latter has the major Porto airport. Finding affordable flights will depend on where you’re flying from (the duration of the flight), ranging anywhere from two to three digit numbers.
Daily expenses
The main expense on your Camino de Santiago trip will undoubtedly be the accommodation. You have a variety of options: the cheapest is the pilgrim hostels, known as albergue, costing around €8-20 per night, whereas en suite hotel rooms and guesthouses can range from €30-70 per night. Therefore, your accommodation could be as little as 56 euros for the week or as much as 500 euros, depending on your personal preferences.
Another key expense, food, is also highly dependent on you and your choices. Spain is known for its affordable eateries, where you could have a delicious, authentic meal for just €15 per person. If you’re on a tight budget, you may decide to only eat out a couple of times and eat shop-bought meals the rest of the time. For most pilgrims, however, a budget of around €30-€50 per day covers the food and other small expenses.
Other purchases and services
It’s worth mentioning that, before you even set your foot on the Camino, there may be certain costs to consider. Your travel insurance, for example, is a must-have, typically costing between €50 and €100 for the week. Then there’s your gear. Unless you already own a comfy backpack and a good pair of walking shoes, you will have to spend a considerable amount of money on these purchases.
Lastly, you could also opt for other services to make your experience more comfortable. This may include an airport pick-up or a private taxi, which is around €20-25, as opposed to the cheaper public transport. Similarly, if you don’t want to walk with a heavy backpack, you may pay for luggage transfer services, costing €4-12 per day.
Your total costs
As it becomes clear, various different factors as well as your own personal preferences will have a huge impact over how cheap or expensive your Camino de Santiago will be. So, now that you know the costs involved, you can easily calculate what the total looks like for you.
