Contents
General introduction
What makes the Camino Francés special?
History of the Camino de Santiago
Do I have to be religious to walk the Camino?
Planning your walk
Where to begin?
Where to end?
When to walk?
Where to stay?
What to eat?
How many days should I allow for the walk?
How do I plan my daily stages?
Should I make reservations ahead?
How much money should I budget?
How do I get to and from the Camino?
How do I secure my credencial and compostela?
Tips for making the most of your walk
Topography of the Camino
Preparing for the climates of northern Spain
Understanding local cultures
Training for your walk
What and how to pack
Baggage and storage services
Walking sticks and trekking poles
Health and well-being
Pilgrim etiquette
How to use this guide
App, GPX tracks and accommodation download
Section 1: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona
Stage 1 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles
Stage 2 Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Stage 3 Zubiri to Pamplona
Section 2: Pamplona to Burgos
Stage 4 Pamplona to Puente la Reina
Stage 5 Puente la Reina to Estella
Stage 6 Estella to Los Arcos
Stage 7 Los Arcos to Logroño
Stage 8 Logroño to Nájera
Stage 9 Nájera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Stage 10 Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Belorado
Stage 11 Belorado to San Juan de Ortega
Stage 12 San Juan de Ortega to Burgos
Section 3: Burgos to León
Stage 13 Burgos to Hontanas
Stage 14 Hontanas to Boadilla del Camino
Stage 15 Boadilla del Camino to Carrión de los Condes
Stage 16 Carrión de los Condes to Terradillos de los Templarios
Stage 17A Terradillos de los Templarios to Bercianos del Real Camino
Stage 17B Terradillos de los Templarios to Calzadilla de los Hermanillos
Stage 18A Bercianos del Real Camino to Mansilla de las Mulas
Stage 18B Calzadilla de los Hermanillos to Mansilla de las Mulas
Stage 19 Mansilla de las Mulas to León
Section 4: León to Sarria
Stage 20 León to Hospital de Órbigo
Stage 21 Hospital de Órbigo to Astorga
Stage 22 Astorga to Foncebadón
Stage 23 Foncebadón to Ponferrada
Stage 24 Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo
Stage 25 Villafranca del Bierzo to La Faba
Stage 26 La Faba to Triacastela
Stage 27 Triacastela to Sarria
Section 5: Sarria to Santiago de Compostela
Stage 28 Sarria to Portomarín
Stage 29 Portomarín to Palas de Rei
Stage 30 Palas de Rei to Arzúa
Stage 31 Arzúa to O Pedrouzo
Stage 32 O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela
Section 6: Camino Finisterre/Muxía
Stage 33 Santiago de Compostela to Negreira
Stage 34 Negreira to Olveiroa
Stage 35A Olveiroa to Finisterre
Stage 35B Olveiroa to Muxía
Stage 36 Finisterre to Muxía
Appendix A Stage planning tables
Appendix B Major local festivals
Appendix C Useful contacts, links and apps
Appendix D Bibliography and further reading
Whether a pilgrim, a trekker, a traveler or a little of each, those embarking Europe’s epic pilgrimage trail are investing heavily for a profound, even life-changing experience. Just like sturdy shoes, you’ll need the right guidebook. Sandy Brown mixes a love of travel, a passion for detail, and the pilgrims’ thirst for meaning expertly in his guidebook. Well designed and uncanny in its ability to know what you need to know to succeed on this adventure, Sandy’s guidebook will be your trusted companion. It’ll be a constant resource to guide you through every challenge of the Camino: eating, sleeping, navigating, avoiding pitfalls, and getting the most out of the positive serendipity that carbonates the experience of the pilgrim who is equipped with good information and uses it. –
Rick Steves, travel writer, activist and television personality.
An exquisitely written and beautifully illustrated guide to The Camino.
Cicerone’s The Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés is an exquisitely written and beautifully illustrated guide to The Camino. For the pilgrim, it provides an easy to follow step-by-step path to the trek across northern Spain full of maps, illustrations, beautiful photos of the countryside, and detailed descriptions of the historical sites. For those who are for now just dreaming of walking the Camino one day, this book will provide many enjoyable hours of learning, daydreaming, and planning for the trip to come. Author Sandy Brown is intimately familiar with the route, the history, the countryside, the cathedrals, and people of the Camino. He writes beautifully and knows his subject inside and out. His obvious love for the Camino is a clarion call to adventure and romance in the old world.
Bradley, by email
