Letter Three · Preparing for the Camino

Camino Chronicles: How Much Does the Camino de Santiago Really Cost?

Three budgets, the forgotten expenses, and the honest numbers behind my 31-day Camino.

Hey you, it's me.

I get asked this question all the time: how much is traveling to the Camino really costing me?

So here it is.

Three different ways to budget the Camino, from the traditional pilgrim experience, to a mixed approach, to the hotel-based Camino I chose for myself. I am going to be as open about the numbers as I can, because money is personal, and I wish more people talked about this part honestly.

Before we get into a single total, remember this: these are planning estimates. Your route, season, length of stay, accommodation style, appetite, transportation, and how early you book can change the number quickly.

My rule is simple: budget more than you think you will need. I would rather come home with money left over than spend part of my Camino worrying about whether I have enough.

Start With the Cost of Getting There

Airfare is one of the hardest pieces to estimate because it depends on where you live, when you travel, which airport you use, your baggage, and how early you book.

Start with airfare from where you live. Then price the part people often forget: the transfer from the airport to the place where your Camino actually begins.

Depending on your route, you may still need a train, bus, taxi, or private transfer before you ever take your first Camino step. Price the return side too.

After airfare and the transfer to your starting point, look at what remains in your budget. That is where you decide which Camino option fits you best.

Option One: The Traditional Camino

Carry your pack. Sleep simply. Walk The Way.

This is the classic lower-cost Camino: one backpack, albergues, pilgrim meals and groceries, walking from town to town, washing clothes as you go, and very few extras.

For planning, I would personally allow about €45 to €65 per person, per day, so there is room for food, coffee, basic laundry, and small necessities without counting every euro. A very disciplined albergue budget can run lower, but most pilgrims spend a little more once the small daily extras add up.

• Albergues or other low-cost pilgrim lodging
• Pilgrim meals, groceries, coffee, and snacks
• Basic laundry
• Walking nearly every stage
• Carrying your own pack
• Few paid extras or transportation costs

Option Two: The Mixed Camino

Pilgrim simplicity with comfort and flexibility built in.

This is probably where a lot of people land. Maybe you stay in albergues most nights and book a private room every few days. Maybe you carry your pack until your shoulders need a break, then transfer it for one stage. Maybe you eat a pilgrim meal one night and sit down at a restaurant the next.

For planning, I would allow roughly €75 to €110 per person, per day. That is more room than the traditional budget, because private rooms, occasional luggage transfers, restaurant meals, taxis, and rest days can change the daily total quickly. Where you land in that range depends on how often you choose comfort over simplicity.

The value here is flexibility. You can decide where comfort matters most to you and where you are happy to keep things simple.

Option Three: My Camino

Hotels. Luggage transfer. E-bike. Private transportation. More recovery.

This is mine, and mine costs more.

I am traveling for thirty-one days. I chose hotels and private accommodations, luggage transfer, an e-bike for part of the route, private transportation between certain Camino sections, and rest built into the trip.

In my twenties, I probably would have grabbed a backpack, found a bed, and been perfectly fine. Now, in midlife with a body that aches every day, not so much.

Before you decide where to cut costs, think about sleep, exhaustion, recovery, and what your body actually needs to keep moving.

I live with lupus and fibromyalgia. I ache every day. I knew I needed eight hours of uninterrupted sleep and a long, hot shower in the morning to help get my body moving.

My goal is to keep the pain manageable enough that I can finish. That changed what I was willing to spend money on.

What My 31-Day Camino Is Actually Costing

I told you I would be honest, so here it is.

That comes to about €338 per day when the full 31-day trip value is averaged together, including airfare and the gear I bought before leaving.

Here is an important detail: my actual cash out-of-pocket cost is lower than €10,470. My airfare was paid with points, and I used travel rewards toward some hotel bookings.

This is not the price of the Camino. This is the price of my Camino.

The Services I Used

Everything here I booked and paid for myself. Here are the two companies behind those numbers, in case they help you plan:

• E-bike rental, Bikeiberia: bikeiberia.com/camino
• Luggage transfer, Caminofácil: caminofacil.net/en

How I Lowered My Out-of-Pocket Cost

I did not realize how much the trip had added up to until I put every category in one place. That was a little scary, and also a good reminder that small travel decisions accumulate.

My airfare was paid with points. Before you book flights or rooms, check every rewards account you have. Airline miles, credit-card points, hotel rewards, and travel-platform credits can reduce the amount you actually pay in cash.

Personally, I use an American Express card because I can transfer my points to Delta, which is how I fly. Having those miles ready takes a little of the worry out of booking travel. That said, points only help if the card fits your life and you can pay it off. A rewards strategy is never worth going into debt over, so do what is right for your finances, not mine.

• American Express: americanexpress.com
• Delta SkyMiles: delta.com

I booked most of my accommodations through two sites: Expedia and Booking.com. Keeping most of my reservations in two places also made the trip easier to manage.

I used OneKeyCash on eligible Expedia bookings, which helped reduce some of my hotel costs. Reward programs like OneKeyCash change their rates and rules often, so check the current terms yourself before you count on them.

I also booked my hotels about six months ahead. For the kind of accommodations I wanted, booking early gave me more choices and helped me avoid some of the last-minute pricing pressure I am seeing discussed in Camino groups.

For my private transportation, I used one company for several transfers and received a discount for bundling the services.

• Expedia: expedia.com
• Booking.com: booking.com

None of the companies, services, or links mentioned in this letter are sponsors. I paid for my own trip and chose these services myself. If that ever changes, I will always disclose it.

The Costs People Forget to Budget For

• Airport and starting-point transfers: your plane landing in Spain does not necessarily mean you have reached your Camino.
• Getting home from Santiago: price the other end of the trip too.
• Cell phone service: call your provider before you leave. Know what international calls, texts, and data will cost.
• Currency exchange: compare your bank, ATM, and airport options. My bank gave me a better option for ordering euros before I left.
• ATM and foreign transaction fees: know what your bank and cards charge overseas.
• Bathrooms: do not assume every bathroom will be free. A small fee or cafe purchase may be required.
• Credential stamps: many are free. Some places may accept a donation or naturally involve a small purchase.
• Laundry: detergent, washers, dryers, and laundry service can quietly add up.
• Coffee, snacks, and second breakfast: walking all day changes your appetite. Give yourself room for extra fuel.
• Pharmacy stops: blister care, tape, sunscreen, pain relief, and replacement toiletries happen.
• Emergency taxis or buses: weather, exhaustion, injury, or a changed plan can create an unexpected transportation cost.
• Rest days: you may not be walking, but you still need lodging and food.
• Checked baggage and airline fees: especially if your ticket or gear requires checked luggage.
• Replacement gear: things break, wear out, or simply do not work the way you expected.
• Museums, cathedrals, tours, and experiences: walking into town is free. Experiencing everything in town may not be.
• Souvenirs and shipping: the backpack may somehow gain weight as the trip goes on.
• Travel insurance: budget it before you leave.
• Contingency money: keep a cushion for the Camino you did not plan.

My Cell Phone Pro Tip

I use AT&T International Day Pass as an emergency backup. I do not leave cellular service running all day.

When I get to my hotel, I switch to Wi-Fi. That is when I make calls, upload videos, work on blog posts, and text home to check on the fur babies, the kiddos, and my husband.

In the morning, I leave myself a little extra time so I can finish what I need to do on Wi-Fi before heading out.

International plan pricing and billing rules can change, so call your provider before you leave and confirm exactly how your plan works for your travel dates.

What I Would Cut First If I Needed to Spend Less

If I needed to lower this budget, I would look first at the things that do not directly support my health or ability to keep going.

I could reduce restaurant meals, paid sightseeing, souvenirs, and some private transportation. A mixed accommodation plan could also lower the total considerably.

I would protect the things that help me stay physically able to continue: sleep, medication, travel insurance, safe transportation when I need it, and the recovery my body requires.

Save and Plan, Then Choose Your Camino

No one can tell you what is right for you.

Look at your airfare. Look at the transfer to your starting point. Look at what you can genuinely afford. Then look at your body.

How do you sleep? What happens after several days of physical exhaustion? Do you need privacy to recover? Would carrying your backpack add to the experience for you? Would a luggage transfer or private room make the journey more sustainable?

Saving money is smart. Spend where the money supports the Camino you are actually able to walk.

The cheapest Camino is not automatically the holiest. The most expensive Camino is not automatically the best.

You can pay for a hotel, luggage transfer, a plane ticket, a meal, or a taxi. The most valuable parts of the Camino still will not appear on a credit-card statement.

Save. Plan. Know your body. Know your budget. Then choose the Camino that lets you go.

More letters are landing this week. Until then, explore the Hub for everything that is live.