7-Day Camino Frances Pilgrimage Tour from Sarria to Santiago
4.5
7-Day Camino Frances Pilgrimage Tour from Sarria to Santiago
By Camino Ways.com
About
Ages 18-90, max of 2 per group
Duration: 7 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Spanish
More
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Rooms en-suite
- Luggage transfer each day
- Holiday pack
What's not included- Flights or transport
- Single Room supplement
- Drinks
- Entry/Admission - Santiago de Compostela. Casco Historico
- Entry/Admission - Mercado de Abastos de Santiago
- Entry/Admission - Parque de la Alameda
- Start:
- 27600 Sarria, Lugo, Spain
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 18405P1- Dress code is casual
- Knowledge of a few essential phrases of Spanish language is recommended
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 2 travellers
- If you cancel at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
- If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
- If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 18405P1
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
13 stops
Day 1
Arrival in Sarria, in Galicia.
Day 2
Walking from Sarria to...
Day 3
Walking from Portomarín to Palas...
Day 4
Walking from Palas de Rei to...
Day 5
Walking from Arzúa to Amenal -...
Day 6
Walking from Amenal to Santiago...
Day 7
Santiago de Compostela -...
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- mikemW4371GU0 contributionsDisappointedWe have used caminoways twice before several years ago without any issues. This time it was very disappointing. We were two couples traveling together and prior to booking I received written confirmation from Caminoways that we would have private bathrooms. I was disappointed when we checked in on the second night to be informed that we had to share a washroom. When I contacted caminoways I received a response 48 hours later basically blaming the local wholesaler. The other issue we had with them was that several times there online maps they provided did not agree with the posted signage in the trail.Written 17 March 2024
- DoronN190 contributionscycle the Camino Portuguese - doronwe cycled the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. 4 friends, 7 nights, standard hotels. everything was very satisfactory: good bikes supplied (1 exchanged along the way because of a breakdown), good hotels (though various qualities) and excellent transfer to Porto airport. the logistics were extremely easy and greatly improved our trip. this service is highly recommendedWritten 21 December 2023
- Quest8166520 contributionsAvoid this company at all cost!I had a very bad experience with this company. Once the money is paid you have no control over the standard of accomodation which in my case was sometimes poor, frozen baguette for breakfast is one memory! They do not investigate alternative accomodation so if their usual hotels are booked out a taxi or public transport is required if you are to avoid a ridiculously long walk. They offered only a discount on another trip when I made a complaint. This is not a personal service so if you have good standards book your own accomodation and avoid this companyWritten 28 November 2023
- L5076TAjohnd0 contributionsCaminoWays is the Way to Go!we recently spent a week on the Camino Portugues using CaminoWays. Our experience with CaminoWays was excellent from beginning to end. Here are just a few examples. First, I found the website very useful for exploring different options. Second, the staff was very responsive to questions that came up during the planning phase. Third, the itinerary provided by CaminoWays was easy to follow and included high quality meals and accommodations. Fourth, when a problem arose with one of the scheduled lodgings, CaminoWays quickly found a suitable alternative and communicated the change in the itinerary in a clear and timely manner. Fifth, even after we returned home, the CaminoWays staff responded quickly and positively to follow up queries. I will not hesitate to use CaminoWays when I plan my next Camino experience.Written 21 November 2023
- lrfontaine520 contributionsA great camino experienceThe hotels were well situated and breakfast was always included which we appreciated. We had our luagage transferred and it was always on time. The views were spectacular!! We are looking forward to our next adventure. We will definitely use this company again.Written 11 November 2023
- tobbyhatley0 contributionsPoor Customer Service and a rip offThanks for the opportunity to provide feedback on our recent trip along the Camino Ingles. Overall, our group thought your service was only satisfactory---not above average let alone outstanding. We do give you high marks for booking the accommodations and moving our luggage. The rooms were generally ready when we arrived, and our bags were always there. However, there are a few things we found to be extremely unsatisfactory which marred our experience. • The hotel in Pontedume, while convenient to the Camino itself, was substandard, had few amenities, and provided neither dinner nor breakfast, which we had paid for. • The hotel in Betanzos was nice---but we were told we’d have to go to another establishment for dinner. We were informed that the restaurant that was usually used was not open, so we were sent to what amounted to a dive bar about five blocks from the hotel. The meal was awful…not what we paid for. • The hotel Sigueiro was quite nice---but once again we were told that dinner was not included. So, we went to the restaurant and had to pay for our supper even though we had already paid you. • The hotel Santiago was adequate…but again, no dinner even though we paid for it. • This means we had to pay extra for the services you promised and that we paid for. Shabby treatment to say the least. A couple of other issues: Your customer service seemed to end as soon as you were paid. Specifically, Tony DeLateur and I mistakenly paid extra for our rooms…Tony two nights that had already been paid for an me one additional night that had already been paid for. We were informed that we would be reimbursed when everyone in our party had paid. However, we are now being informed that we will not be reimbursed…this is a pure rip off. Bottom line: I’d recommend that people use Camino Ways to book rooms and move baggage but not rely on you to provide the rest of the promised services. I will, of course, post my comments on Trip Advisor and Google as you have requested. Regards, Tobby HatleyWritten 9 November 2023
- eekearney0 contributionsAbove and beyond service on the CaminoExcellent service from Isabelle and Iria while on the Camino Portuguese Costa. They tracked our cancelled flight into Vigo due to weather, got us a cab late in a rainy night (9 hours after Iberia told us we would be in Vigo) to Oia and rearranged our transport to Santiago airport so we could enjoy our early November sunny day in Santiago upon arrival. Checked in regularly. They also clarified a booking.com error and confirmed our hotel (privately arranged) in Santiago. Very well done by these two persons while on the Camino. And we especially liked the Duarte in Arcade … terrific hosts.Written 6 November 2023
- katiebN1729SC0 contributionsCamino Ways - Oct 23 - potruguese routeOverall poor service and low value for money for what it sets out to provide - room for improvement - During booking, there was little attention to detail - requiring lots of cross checking and review by customer to address route/bookings unchecked and mistakes. The accommodation paid was very expensive for what was provided varied from Ok, to v basic/cheap room. The guide available online is basic, with limited details and needs to be checked/updated. Luggage transfer is contracted out - that part worked very well. ThanksWritten 2 November 2023
- Puneite_100 contributionsRecommending Camino Ways to all!I appreciate and recommend Camino Ways to all. During our recent 10 days of Portuguese Rota Vicentina aka Fisherman’s Trail walk, all things went smoothly as per plan. The hotels chosen were nice and clean, baggage pickup and drop worked without any problem. On one occasion where the hotel booking was written in a wrong book by the hotel lady who spoke only Portuguese, we called Camino Ways and the problem was resolved quickly and efficiently. I recommend their service to all.Written 2 November 2023
- JanRosita41510 contributionsA challenge we completedA difficult time of the year. Challenging weather conditions. A great experience however. Not many service facilities this time of the yearWritten 2 November 2023
- mactravelreview0 contributionsFaultless service, great trip.Camino Ways were brilliant in helping us plan our first ever Camino trip on the Portuguese coastal route. We didn't know what to expect, but they created an itinerary for us, after discussing it on the phone. The service was really personal and knowledgeable. The hotels they chose for us varied a little in standard but all were great value, spotlessly clean and good quality. Some were outstanding, and even had an indoor pool and/or sauna - heaven after a long day's walking. Breakfast was always good and the luggage service worked a dream. I would not hesitate in recommending Camino Ways to anyone planning a Camino walk.Written 1 November 2023
- Adventure159112678060 contributionsGreat accommodations and support along the way. I enthusiastically recommend CaminoWays!We were able to look up the towns & accommodations chosen by CaminoWays for our Camino Portugués walk to Santiago. We considered the Standard accommodations at first but switched to their “Superior” choice just before booking our trip. We were so glad we did! We stayed in two castles and it was well worth the additional cost. Our travel agent(s) also gave us great advice on UNESCO sites to see along the way. We also chose the luggage transfer service - which was excellent. Never lost a single bag or item. Absolutely wonderful experience.Written 28 October 2023
- jasonfP4849XS0 contributionsPoor value and grudging customer serviceI have used Camino Ways four times over nearly 10 years for walking and biking sections of the Camino. My most recent trip was a four-day biking trip from Burgos to Leon in October. In the past, I found CW to be helpful, attentive to details and decent value. My main criticism in the past is that they would occasionally put you in accommodation outside of town, sometimes so far outside you needed a cab to get into town for meals and the like. This time, however, they were pretty awful. I needed four nights in hotels and decided to splurge on superior accomodations. When I received the reservations, they had put me up in three $50-$60/night hotels and one more upscale place in a small town along the way. The hotels they chose in Burgos and Leon were jokes; mixed reviews, many blocks from the center, really just shoddy work on their part Of course, they had charged me 850 Euros for the accomodations, including three bag transfers. When I called them, the rep explained the office had emptied out on Friday afternoon and said that I must put my complaints in writing, which I did. No one ever called, and before I heard from them the following week, one reservation was changed and I then received a note claiming that when I had booked, all better accoodations had been fully booked, which beggars belief in October. I had done my own search on a booking site and found many available rooms in decent hotels. So rather than say they had made a mistake and were sorry - something they never said - they made up a BS explanation and grudgingly re-booked me into the category of hotels for which I had paid. Had I not complained, they would have kept my 850 Euros and happily booked me into cheap rooms. Very unethical and very poor service to their clients I also relied on them for maps, which I had done in the past but their trail documentation was distinctly lacking and their map is a Google map with a single orange line. It's accurate as nears as I could tell, but had no useful information aside from that line and no information about alternative routes. When I began traveling with them, CW demonstrated real attention to detail and clearly served it's customers with integrity and ground level knowledge of the camino. Those things are clearly no longer priorities for this company and I would not recommend them.Written 28 October 2023
- Roam7383770 contributionsA rainy Portuguese coastal walk with bus & train rescueThe accomodations were fabulous! We did self guided witch I don’t think is possible without a GPS ( Google maps or Apple Maps). Take toilet paper. The coastal route of Portugal is beautiful but sparse. Casinos was very helpful when weather threatened to close down ferry & we had to make some changes. 7 days of wind & rain forced us on to buses & trains but we made it to Santiago de Compestello Afterall. Luggage transfer is a must & was excellent. Spend several days in Porto! It is a wonderful city!!Written 26 October 2023
- Fred_Fillmore0 contributionsI'd give Camino Ways 6 stars if I couldThanks to Camino Ways, we had an unforgettable walk on the Camino del Norte. Our accommodations were wonderful, clean and well-located. Many of our hosts were friendly, engaging and helpful (bless the host who did our laundry and hung it out to dry ... there's NOTHING better than clean socks in the morning!). The luggage transfer worked like a charm. We were provided comprehensive information in advance of our trip that was helpful (including how to prepare physically for the challenge). As a result of Camino Ways' diligence and attention to detail, we had a most amazing and fulfilling walk. Our camino experiences are seared into our memories ... hearing the choir at the Bilbao cathedral, walking the Flysch near Zumaia, soaking in the coastline as you approach Santander, strolling Cathedral Beach near Ribadeo at low tide, the caretaker of a tiny rural church who unlocked the doors for us, and the elation of entering the cathedral courtyard in Santiago de Compostela. We highly recommend Camino Ways for helping you live the dream of the Camino.Written 25 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.5
200 reviews
Excellent
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40
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10
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6
Daranmac
Strabane, UK3 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Just back from our Camino from León to Santiago. I have to say I had a brilliant experience in spite of this company. We had booked with Camino Ways as they seemed to have a really good reputation and we just wanted the whole organisational side of things handled by a so-called expert. There was also the reassurance of assistance via their 24hr phone number.
The booking process went well and we arrived in Spain expecting just minor hiccups. Our bikes hire of which was arranged via Camino ways were at our hotel in León as promised so everything looked ok.
On our first day out from León the bike chain on one bike broke within 20 mins. The tool kit did not include a chain tool and as any cyclist knows , you wont fix a broken chain without a chain tool, a wee bit of an oversight to say the least. With the help of some great Catalan Bicigrino we were able to get the chain shortened and back on road. Confident that we were now on the way to Astorga trouble free we pushed on , only to be confronted with a catastrophic mechanical failure on bike 2. The threads on the crank for bike 2 had been completely stripped by a previous user something which didn't become apparent 30 mins outside León.
So there we were on a Sunday in Spain , with an unusable bike, but we had booked with Camino ways so we'd be ok right, WRONG!
We called their emergency number and were constantly asked if we had fitted the pedals correctly, a bit insulting considering we both experienced road cyclists and were quite aware of what needed to be done to resolve the issue. We were told that the guy from the bike company would call us but we waited and waited and no call. Despite numerous calls to Camino ways we were given no alternatives and basically left to fend for ourselves. So one of rode while the other combined a mixture of free wheeling and walking to eventually make it to Astorga. The net effect was our first day was completely ruined. I ended up walking most of the way from León and needless to say we never got the call from the bike company.
The bikes were a total disaster , as someone who rides a full carbon roadie at home , I could only describe these as cheap supermarket junk 245 euro in a bike shop in Melide. Thankfully we got the bikes fixed by a Wizard of mechanic in Astorga , Roberto . Bike 2 required a new bottom bracket and cranks at our expense ( Not Good), why this should fail after less than an hours riding is a mystery to me, the bikes were obviously not checked before being dispatched a total disgrace.
The bikes themselves were not up to the job, sending someone out to cycle some of the descents which you encounter on the camino with callipers brakes is downright crazy and I wouldn't even say dangerous, disc brakes are a nescessity. We were just lucky we were blessed with good weather.
Bikes aside the hotels were actually OK apart from ponferrada where we seemed to have been sent to a bar with rooms attached. I wouldn't mind this per se but what I do mind is that fact that although we were booked for breakfast none was provided. We eventually got a cup of coffee for we were charged, what a complete joke.
I don't know what the problem is here but we were talking to fellow cyclists who had paid no more than us and we were in better hotels and actually were provided with proper bikes , not the rubbish that we were sent.
I certainly shall not be using Camino Way again and wont be recommending them to anyone. As far as assistance is concerned you're on your own when you book with this crew, you better make contingency plans lol.
The booking process went well and we arrived in Spain expecting just minor hiccups. Our bikes hire of which was arranged via Camino ways were at our hotel in León as promised so everything looked ok.
On our first day out from León the bike chain on one bike broke within 20 mins. The tool kit did not include a chain tool and as any cyclist knows , you wont fix a broken chain without a chain tool, a wee bit of an oversight to say the least. With the help of some great Catalan Bicigrino we were able to get the chain shortened and back on road. Confident that we were now on the way to Astorga trouble free we pushed on , only to be confronted with a catastrophic mechanical failure on bike 2. The threads on the crank for bike 2 had been completely stripped by a previous user something which didn't become apparent 30 mins outside León.
So there we were on a Sunday in Spain , with an unusable bike, but we had booked with Camino ways so we'd be ok right, WRONG!
We called their emergency number and were constantly asked if we had fitted the pedals correctly, a bit insulting considering we both experienced road cyclists and were quite aware of what needed to be done to resolve the issue. We were told that the guy from the bike company would call us but we waited and waited and no call. Despite numerous calls to Camino ways we were given no alternatives and basically left to fend for ourselves. So one of rode while the other combined a mixture of free wheeling and walking to eventually make it to Astorga. The net effect was our first day was completely ruined. I ended up walking most of the way from León and needless to say we never got the call from the bike company.
The bikes were a total disaster , as someone who rides a full carbon roadie at home , I could only describe these as cheap supermarket junk 245 euro in a bike shop in Melide. Thankfully we got the bikes fixed by a Wizard of mechanic in Astorga , Roberto . Bike 2 required a new bottom bracket and cranks at our expense ( Not Good), why this should fail after less than an hours riding is a mystery to me, the bikes were obviously not checked before being dispatched a total disgrace.
The bikes themselves were not up to the job, sending someone out to cycle some of the descents which you encounter on the camino with callipers brakes is downright crazy and I wouldn't even say dangerous, disc brakes are a nescessity. We were just lucky we were blessed with good weather.
Bikes aside the hotels were actually OK apart from ponferrada where we seemed to have been sent to a bar with rooms attached. I wouldn't mind this per se but what I do mind is that fact that although we were booked for breakfast none was provided. We eventually got a cup of coffee for we were charged, what a complete joke.
I don't know what the problem is here but we were talking to fellow cyclists who had paid no more than us and we were in better hotels and actually were provided with proper bikes , not the rubbish that we were sent.
I certainly shall not be using Camino Way again and wont be recommending them to anyone. As far as assistance is concerned you're on your own when you book with this crew, you better make contingency plans lol.
Written 11 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Daranmac,
Thank you so much for travelling with us and for sharing your feedback. I believe our customer care team has been in touch directly in relation to the problems arising during your holiday.
Kindest regards on behalf of the CaminoWays.com team
Written 19 March 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Susan L
Crofton BC37 contributions
Sept 2013 • Friends
Six of us set out to walk a small portion of the Camino, organized by Camino Ways, a company that operates out of Dublin, Ireland. Apart from a couple of glitches, mainly because the person doing our booking wasn't/isn't a "detail" person, I cannot say enough positive things about this company. Each morning we left our bags in the hotel reception and on arriving at the next hotel, there our bags were, just waiting for us, like magic.
We were collected from Santiago airport and driven to Sarria, where we started our 115km walk. During our walk, we stayed in seven hotels, none of them fancy, all in the 2 and 3 star region, all spotlessly clean and perfectly acceptable. We never had an uncomfortable bed and there was always lashings of hot water for much needed showers. Our booking was on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and the food was basic, but more than acceptable, with wine and beer included with dinner. Our favourite hotel was the Hospederia San Martin Pinario in Santiago. This is a converted monastery and it is situation across the square from the beautiful Cathedral of Santiago. The rooms were small, with four foot thick outside walls and very thin inside ones. Fortunately our neighbours on either side were as exhausted as we were and so very quiet.
What can I say about the actual walk, that hasn't already been said? We met lots of people, all of them walking for various reasons and the reason that I was there is because I'm terrified of being left out of anything. I suppose it could be considered an intermediate walk, but we all managed it without issue and we are all in our mid to late 60s. We did some training, but certainly nothing that was going to get us to the seniors Olympics. The trails were extremely well maintained and I didn't think there were any dangerous bits. We walked in mid-September and it was hot, high 20, with beautiful blue skies to go with the gorgeous green countryside.
We started our walk each morning at 8.30, walked until lunch, which was taken in any one of the numerous inns, pubs, coffee shops or farms along the way. We ate amazing sandwiches, fantastic green salads and washed them down with ice cold cervesa. The food in Galicia in Northern Spain is simple, but wonderful and you shouldn't leave without trying the octopus.
No review would be complete without talking about blisters and as many, many tomes on the subject have been written, suffice to say ouch, ouch, bloody ouch! Hindsight is no sight, but if I'd done my research on blisters, I would have found out that unless you can rest them, you should pop them, clean them and bandage them well. I didn't and ended up in emergency in Santiago with three infected toes. Getting processed in the Santiago Hospital, where there was little to no English spoken, was an experience, not to be missed. Within 30 minutes of walking into their triage unit, a file was opened for me, I was examined by a doctor, my feet attended to and bandaged and I was out of there with a prescription. Amazing!
If you are unable to walk, but still want an experience of a lifetime, visit Santiago, because it's a blessed city. There is a pilgrims mass in the cathedral at 12.30/pm each day and again at 7.30/pm and it shouldn't be missed. The cathedral is absolutely spectacular and worth going to Spain for.
And finally, do yourself a favour and use Camino Way to organize your Galicia experience. You won't be sorry.
We were collected from Santiago airport and driven to Sarria, where we started our 115km walk. During our walk, we stayed in seven hotels, none of them fancy, all in the 2 and 3 star region, all spotlessly clean and perfectly acceptable. We never had an uncomfortable bed and there was always lashings of hot water for much needed showers. Our booking was on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and the food was basic, but more than acceptable, with wine and beer included with dinner. Our favourite hotel was the Hospederia San Martin Pinario in Santiago. This is a converted monastery and it is situation across the square from the beautiful Cathedral of Santiago. The rooms were small, with four foot thick outside walls and very thin inside ones. Fortunately our neighbours on either side were as exhausted as we were and so very quiet.
What can I say about the actual walk, that hasn't already been said? We met lots of people, all of them walking for various reasons and the reason that I was there is because I'm terrified of being left out of anything. I suppose it could be considered an intermediate walk, but we all managed it without issue and we are all in our mid to late 60s. We did some training, but certainly nothing that was going to get us to the seniors Olympics. The trails were extremely well maintained and I didn't think there were any dangerous bits. We walked in mid-September and it was hot, high 20, with beautiful blue skies to go with the gorgeous green countryside.
We started our walk each morning at 8.30, walked until lunch, which was taken in any one of the numerous inns, pubs, coffee shops or farms along the way. We ate amazing sandwiches, fantastic green salads and washed them down with ice cold cervesa. The food in Galicia in Northern Spain is simple, but wonderful and you shouldn't leave without trying the octopus.
No review would be complete without talking about blisters and as many, many tomes on the subject have been written, suffice to say ouch, ouch, bloody ouch! Hindsight is no sight, but if I'd done my research on blisters, I would have found out that unless you can rest them, you should pop them, clean them and bandage them well. I didn't and ended up in emergency in Santiago with three infected toes. Getting processed in the Santiago Hospital, where there was little to no English spoken, was an experience, not to be missed. Within 30 minutes of walking into their triage unit, a file was opened for me, I was examined by a doctor, my feet attended to and bandaged and I was out of there with a prescription. Amazing!
If you are unable to walk, but still want an experience of a lifetime, visit Santiago, because it's a blessed city. There is a pilgrims mass in the cathedral at 12.30/pm each day and again at 7.30/pm and it shouldn't be missed. The cathedral is absolutely spectacular and worth going to Spain for.
And finally, do yourself a favour and use Camino Way to organize your Galicia experience. You won't be sorry.
Written 7 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Willow7900
Baltimore, MD6 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
We are walkers and in our late 60s; trekking the French Camio from Sarria to Santiago was one of our most enjoyable and unique experiences. We thought the crux of the adventure was found in the quality of the people we met as well as the chance to meditate on what was actually before us as we walked the by-ways and experienced staying in what was mostly unusual and comfortable places chosen by Camino Ways. It was a real joy to have our packs show up at the destination we chose each day as we walked the approximately 114 km of our 9 day trek. We had not expected the people from Camino Way to meet us at the station to take our packs on the first day; it was a true blessing as we realized after our first day's walk we would not have enjoyed the excursion with our heavy packs. We are returning this May to walk another section of the Way and highly recommend the Camino Ways as they customized our plan with them to suit our needs and provided impeccable service.
Written 2 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Willow, thank you for your kind comments and useful feedback about your Camino trip. We are delighted that you had an enjoyable experience on your Camino journey. Enjoy the next section of the Way and hopefully more adventures to come in the future. Buen Camino.
Written 18 April 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
pogglesgrandma
Brighton, Australia132 contributions
Aug 2013
Walked 380 Klms from Leon to Santiago. We chose to go with a travel company that booked our hotels each night so we had no choice but to get to the destination each day. August is far too hot and busy. From Leon to Astorga was beside a busy highway for the day and a half. Very noisy and the first part was past the residential area with the communal rubbish bins, in the August heat the smell was yuk. Then we cross the bridge at Hospital de Orbigo and there are two ways to go, we chose the usual way, some travel companies advise their walkers to go the other way as it easier but again you follow the highway all the way. And some travel companies taxi their walkers to here to start. There was no shade or relief from the beating sun. This is where the people staying in albergues have it over being locked into accommodation as when they get tired they can stop for the day. From Astorga things improved, the scenery was quite good and the villages were as you see in the travel literature. There were not too many people on the way either. Recommend walking Astorga to Sarria only. Then we leave Sarria on a Sunday not realising that the Europeans that only have a week off get there on Saturday and start walking Sunday. We could not believe the number of people walking. And to make matters worse it was school holidays so we had the families and an influx of university students, flirting, talking loudly, mobile phones and two had radios that they thought we might like to hear. After Sarria the track became very easy to walk, only slight inclines etc and the track was wider. We saw a couple with a pusher with a baby probably six months old, so shows how easy this is. If you are only walking the last bit to get your certificate do not leave Sarria on a Sunday, and the scenery is not that spectacular and there are none of the beautiful little villages that you see before Sarria. The hotels we stopped at were all spotless clean, not sure about the albergues, but spoke to many people that said for what they were mostly good. We did not feel like sharing a mixed sex dormitory with up to 50 people in double bunks and the snoring, coughing and the eager beavers that leave at 5.00am packing their backpacks.
Written 28 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eidorb101
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Aug 2016 • Solo
Note: My overall rating is for the tour not the entire Camino
Camino Ways - Self guided tour 4 days from St jean Pied De Port to Pamplona, Summer tour – August. Cost: €613.00 or $904 AUD. I chose the French way with the intention of completing the entire walk (Successfully completely this September 2016, Go me!). I chose this tour as I was a solo traveller and I wasn't sure what to expect from the walk having never done anything like this before. I wanted to know that I had accommodation sorted each day and guidance for the first few stages.
I found this tour to be incredibly expensive and quite frankly useless. . I did not receive a travel package as promised and had to request my accommodation list 3 days before my trip. I found the maps and walking guides to be completely inadequate. I was fortunate enough to have my own travel guide book on The French Way which gave me more appropriate and detailed guidance on each stage.
As far as self-guided tours go this was a complete understatement – I felt almost abandoned as I stood warily at the reception desk on day one waiting for other fellow pilgrims to arrive. I knew that I wouldn’t have a typical tour guide with an outstretched hand to lead the way but I did think (probably some wishful thinking) there might have been other participants who would be commencing the tour the same day as me. I waited at reception until 9:30am until I finally accepted defeat and decided it was time to put my boots to use! It would have been nice to have been notified that I was the only person leaving St Jean on the tour day as I would have left much early.
The hotels were quite inconsistent for the 4 days and were not up to the promised standard for each stage. However the meals included were great especially dinner usually a 2 course meal with your choice of wine. Breakfast for me was a missed opportunity as I was unable to have my meal any early then 7:30am often I had already set out on my day prior to this time. I also had issues with early morning checkout – most hotels wanted you return your key after 9am..with much dismay I did manage to organise early morning checkout with reception. (For pilgrims in summer the early start was important to avoid the blistering sun!)
I didn't utilise the luggage transfer during my "Tour" as I had the intention of walking the entire way and would be carrying my pack throughout so I am unable to comment on the service however what I can tell you is that this service is not compulsory and will make the tour cheaper (I found this out post my tour...very convenient) as I was emailed on the 2nd night by Camino Ways concerned that I might have dropped off the face of the earth as their driver came each day to pick up my missing bag. Naïve me had assumed that this was a local service that picked up other tour participants packs as well as Camino ways... and my one missing bag would not be a big deal.
Tips For solo travellers completing the Camino (My personal opinion only):
-You DO NOT need a tour; I repeat you do not need a tour! Utilise the pilgrim office to pick up your official passport (€2), maps, gradient references and full list of Albergues (hostel style accommodation) were offered up for free, as was useful advice. There are pilgrim offices in most of the end points of each stage and in some smaller communities throughout the walk. Also there is the flexibility that you don’t get from being on tour. I loved being able to stop and start where I liked.
-The Albergues are a much cheaper option for accommodation starting as little as €5 and most expensive was €15 (that was in the city of Santiago). I found staying in these places were so enriching I was able to meet so many fellow pilgrims to share the experience with. If you need the privacy of your own room – Pension hotels were almost half the price of a normal hotel averaging around €30-60.
-Do not utilise the luggage transfer unless you absolutely have to - pilgrims are like snails - there life is on their back for the duration of the walk. Day one is hell but you will eventually become one with your pack as you get stronger each day.
-Pre-book your accommodation in Santiago whether you are staying in an Albergue, Pension or hotel. It is a very small city centre and gets booked out very quickly from day to day. I arrived in Santiago on a Thursday and found it very difficult to find any accommodation (regardless of price)
-I recommend buying a guide book - The one I chose was “A Pilgrim’s guide to the Camino de Santiago” it became my bible on the way. The whole Camino was divided into 33 stages averaging 25kms per day. It offered detailed routes, maps and information regarding each little town you passed through.
-Everyone should attempt The Camino whether in its full entirety or just a segment it is an absolutely amazing experience , I promise you won’t regret it !
Camino Ways - Self guided tour 4 days from St jean Pied De Port to Pamplona, Summer tour – August. Cost: €613.00 or $904 AUD. I chose the French way with the intention of completing the entire walk (Successfully completely this September 2016, Go me!). I chose this tour as I was a solo traveller and I wasn't sure what to expect from the walk having never done anything like this before. I wanted to know that I had accommodation sorted each day and guidance for the first few stages.
I found this tour to be incredibly expensive and quite frankly useless. . I did not receive a travel package as promised and had to request my accommodation list 3 days before my trip. I found the maps and walking guides to be completely inadequate. I was fortunate enough to have my own travel guide book on The French Way which gave me more appropriate and detailed guidance on each stage.
As far as self-guided tours go this was a complete understatement – I felt almost abandoned as I stood warily at the reception desk on day one waiting for other fellow pilgrims to arrive. I knew that I wouldn’t have a typical tour guide with an outstretched hand to lead the way but I did think (probably some wishful thinking) there might have been other participants who would be commencing the tour the same day as me. I waited at reception until 9:30am until I finally accepted defeat and decided it was time to put my boots to use! It would have been nice to have been notified that I was the only person leaving St Jean on the tour day as I would have left much early.
The hotels were quite inconsistent for the 4 days and were not up to the promised standard for each stage. However the meals included were great especially dinner usually a 2 course meal with your choice of wine. Breakfast for me was a missed opportunity as I was unable to have my meal any early then 7:30am often I had already set out on my day prior to this time. I also had issues with early morning checkout – most hotels wanted you return your key after 9am..with much dismay I did manage to organise early morning checkout with reception. (For pilgrims in summer the early start was important to avoid the blistering sun!)
I didn't utilise the luggage transfer during my "Tour" as I had the intention of walking the entire way and would be carrying my pack throughout so I am unable to comment on the service however what I can tell you is that this service is not compulsory and will make the tour cheaper (I found this out post my tour...very convenient) as I was emailed on the 2nd night by Camino Ways concerned that I might have dropped off the face of the earth as their driver came each day to pick up my missing bag. Naïve me had assumed that this was a local service that picked up other tour participants packs as well as Camino ways... and my one missing bag would not be a big deal.
Tips For solo travellers completing the Camino (My personal opinion only):
-You DO NOT need a tour; I repeat you do not need a tour! Utilise the pilgrim office to pick up your official passport (€2), maps, gradient references and full list of Albergues (hostel style accommodation) were offered up for free, as was useful advice. There are pilgrim offices in most of the end points of each stage and in some smaller communities throughout the walk. Also there is the flexibility that you don’t get from being on tour. I loved being able to stop and start where I liked.
-The Albergues are a much cheaper option for accommodation starting as little as €5 and most expensive was €15 (that was in the city of Santiago). I found staying in these places were so enriching I was able to meet so many fellow pilgrims to share the experience with. If you need the privacy of your own room – Pension hotels were almost half the price of a normal hotel averaging around €30-60.
-Do not utilise the luggage transfer unless you absolutely have to - pilgrims are like snails - there life is on their back for the duration of the walk. Day one is hell but you will eventually become one with your pack as you get stronger each day.
-Pre-book your accommodation in Santiago whether you are staying in an Albergue, Pension or hotel. It is a very small city centre and gets booked out very quickly from day to day. I arrived in Santiago on a Thursday and found it very difficult to find any accommodation (regardless of price)
-I recommend buying a guide book - The one I chose was “A Pilgrim’s guide to the Camino de Santiago” it became my bible on the way. The whole Camino was divided into 33 stages averaging 25kms per day. It offered detailed routes, maps and information regarding each little town you passed through.
-Everyone should attempt The Camino whether in its full entirety or just a segment it is an absolutely amazing experience , I promise you won’t regret it !
Written 25 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear eidorb101,
Thank you for travelling with us and for sharing your feedback.
Please note the luggage transfer is an optional service and this can be removed from the booking. However, once on the trail, our transporters need to make sure all bags are delivered so it is important to notify the team if the service is no longer required. We are happy the Customer Care team was in touch to double check this as this is part of our package.
Many pilgrims do the Camino independently every year and choose to stay in albergues, organise their stops and meals, etc... which is fantastic.
What we do, however, is slightly different: we organise packages adapted to pilgrims who would prefer to have assistance with their trip, including accommodation, meal, luggage transfers and other additional services. We provide both self-guided and guided tours and we generally recommend guided tours for those who would like to be part of a group and travel with other pilgrims.
We hope you enjoyed the Camino experience overall. Kindest regards.
Written 12 October 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SuzanneLG
Gresham, OR842 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
My husband and two other couples, form our neighborhood decided to have an adventure together and this tour company, would fill the bill for us, (reasonable price, take our luggage, the hotels and bk plus dinner would be provided, what more could we need).
All we had to do was walk, ha ha, (we also did the short version, form Sarria) 7 nights and 6 days.
My husband and I took 3 cameras, so when someone asked where we were, I heard them say their back there taking pic., (but that what we like to do, the only thing bad is when we're back home, well that;s a lot of pic., to go over, (I use sutterfly to make a photo book with). We tried to enjoy the journey, as much as we can, (STOP AND TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, AND GET SOMETHING TO Eat or put your feet in the streams along the way it's not a race).
Tip, we took some oatmeal packets, protein powder and almonds, (a continental bk may not be enough to keep your energy going till lunch time, (also took protein bars too). The dinners were more than addiquit, (some more than others,). Tip, if you can take your own pillows, (I do everywhere, because, if the bed isn't to your liking, I'll always, have great pillows).
I can not say enough about the actuarial walk, we will never forget it. we would see the sun rise and the fog lifting, the dairy farms, (you'll smell them before you see them, ha ha) farmers, in the fields, sheep, small hamlets, churches, lots of corn fields, (though I might be in Kansas for a while, ha ha). Seriously, I WILL NEVER HAVE THAT MUCH time spent enjoying NATURE, PROBABLE EVER AGAIN, and the start and end of each day with our good friends.
One last tip, arrive a day or so early, so you can rest and look around the town, (you can be picked up at a hotel as well as the airport). Do this sooner than later, book now.and make memories....
All we had to do was walk, ha ha, (we also did the short version, form Sarria) 7 nights and 6 days.
My husband and I took 3 cameras, so when someone asked where we were, I heard them say their back there taking pic., (but that what we like to do, the only thing bad is when we're back home, well that;s a lot of pic., to go over, (I use sutterfly to make a photo book with). We tried to enjoy the journey, as much as we can, (STOP AND TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, AND GET SOMETHING TO Eat or put your feet in the streams along the way it's not a race).
Tip, we took some oatmeal packets, protein powder and almonds, (a continental bk may not be enough to keep your energy going till lunch time, (also took protein bars too). The dinners were more than addiquit, (some more than others,). Tip, if you can take your own pillows, (I do everywhere, because, if the bed isn't to your liking, I'll always, have great pillows).
I can not say enough about the actuarial walk, we will never forget it. we would see the sun rise and the fog lifting, the dairy farms, (you'll smell them before you see them, ha ha) farmers, in the fields, sheep, small hamlets, churches, lots of corn fields, (though I might be in Kansas for a while, ha ha). Seriously, I WILL NEVER HAVE THAT MUCH time spent enjoying NATURE, PROBABLE EVER AGAIN, and the start and end of each day with our good friends.
One last tip, arrive a day or so early, so you can rest and look around the town, (you can be picked up at a hotel as well as the airport). Do this sooner than later, book now.and make memories....
Written 8 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveldipper
England, UK304 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
This was a totally new experience for me as I am more used to holidays on the beach! My walks are usually a 2/3 hour walk once a week, and normally I'm in jeans, so getting wick away tops and zipped trousers not to mention poles was a bit of a novelty! I did however listen to some very good advice when I started on the Route de Napoleon, about taking the first few days at a slower pace than normal and therefore got home with only a small blister to show for nearly a 288km walk.
I compared 3 travel companies who deal in Camino de Santiago holidays and decided to go with Camino Ways. I found them very informed, friendly and flexible. I was not disappointed. I did stages 1 to 3 from St Jean Pied de Port to Burgos. There is a nice pilgrim's menu at restaurant Cidrerie at St Jean with the lovely local tart to finish with and a warm welcome if you are starting there. Camino ways added an extra day in St Jean, Pamplona and Logrono for me. Most of the hotels were good and a few were memorable because of the food and charm of the places as well as the friendly management. Hosteria de Zubiri stood out for good food & the friendliness of Javier & Fermina who looked after our every need. Also Hostal Pedro Primero, a family run hostel with simple fresh food. Remember to ask if you want to leave early in the morning, most places will try to accommodate you if given notice. For me the daily walks were extraordinary for the scenery, the peace and the beautiful villages along the way. The hotels were easy to find and near the main attractions and on arrival my luggage would be waiting which was like seeing an old friend and it would confirm that I was in the right place! I met a few other pilgrims staying in the same hotels as me and so we sometimes had supper together in a group which was great fun, and sometimes we'd meet up in small villages along the way when we stopped for a coffee or lunch.
I am looking forward to doing stages 4, 5 & 6 from Burgos to Ponferrada next year. I will be using Camino Ways again because everything went so well and I know I will be in safe hands. Thanks to Alexandra & all the team for a wonderful experience and I look forward to some more Caminos!
I compared 3 travel companies who deal in Camino de Santiago holidays and decided to go with Camino Ways. I found them very informed, friendly and flexible. I was not disappointed. I did stages 1 to 3 from St Jean Pied de Port to Burgos. There is a nice pilgrim's menu at restaurant Cidrerie at St Jean with the lovely local tart to finish with and a warm welcome if you are starting there. Camino ways added an extra day in St Jean, Pamplona and Logrono for me. Most of the hotels were good and a few were memorable because of the food and charm of the places as well as the friendly management. Hosteria de Zubiri stood out for good food & the friendliness of Javier & Fermina who looked after our every need. Also Hostal Pedro Primero, a family run hostel with simple fresh food. Remember to ask if you want to leave early in the morning, most places will try to accommodate you if given notice. For me the daily walks were extraordinary for the scenery, the peace and the beautiful villages along the way. The hotels were easy to find and near the main attractions and on arrival my luggage would be waiting which was like seeing an old friend and it would confirm that I was in the right place! I met a few other pilgrims staying in the same hotels as me and so we sometimes had supper together in a group which was great fun, and sometimes we'd meet up in small villages along the way when we stopped for a coffee or lunch.
I am looking forward to doing stages 4, 5 & 6 from Burgos to Ponferrada next year. I will be using Camino Ways again because everything went so well and I know I will be in safe hands. Thanks to Alexandra & all the team for a wonderful experience and I look forward to some more Caminos!
Written 7 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
993halc
Saratoga Springs43 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
My wife and I spent 5 days covering 110 km from Sarria to Santiago. Our overnight accommodations were prearranged by caminoways and were friendly, clean and beautiful. When needed, we were picked up and dropped off at the Camino by our hosts. The breakfasts and dinners were top notch. The local food and wine filled out the experience. Since we were traveling in October, we were often the only guests. We met great people from all over the world in our travels and are planning for a return trip this summer.
Written 1 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear 993halc, thank you for your kind feedback about your Camino trip. We are delighted to hear that you had a great Camino experience. We hope that you are already getting excited about your next Camino trip. Kindest regards.
Written 18 April 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
750Joanne
Dublin, Ireland11 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
I used Camino Ways in May 2013 to do the final 100kms from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. It was a guided tour, half board, luggage transfers etc. I found the company to be excellent to deal with and the most reasonably priced too. Our tour guide Carlos was brilliant so enthusiastic and he really couldn't do enough for us! He recommended food to try for our evening meals, local specialities, he translated for us with the waiter's and helped us out with any issues.
The benefits of doing the group tour is that you have the help of the tour guide throughout the journey. This was a comfort to me especially as I went on this holiday on my own. Plus they can tell you lots of local and historical info that you might otherwise miss.Having accommodation sorted in advance means you can relax and enjoy the walk, you don't have to rush like other pilgrims to the next town to get accommodation.
Downside of the guided group tour was that with everything organised like meals/accommodation etc you tend to stick with the same group all the time, which I felt was a bit restrictive. Though, having said that, when you are out walking you are able to walk on at your own pace and breakaway from the group if you so wish.
I would recommend it for solo travellers who like me,were nervous of going on their own.
I would use CaminoWays again to book the accommodation for me because its hassle free and they give you all the necessary information to guide you along the camino like maps, directions, travel tips etc., I just wouldn't book the tour group next time, I'd go it alone
The benefits of doing the group tour is that you have the help of the tour guide throughout the journey. This was a comfort to me especially as I went on this holiday on my own. Plus they can tell you lots of local and historical info that you might otherwise miss.Having accommodation sorted in advance means you can relax and enjoy the walk, you don't have to rush like other pilgrims to the next town to get accommodation.
Downside of the guided group tour was that with everything organised like meals/accommodation etc you tend to stick with the same group all the time, which I felt was a bit restrictive. Though, having said that, when you are out walking you are able to walk on at your own pace and breakaway from the group if you so wish.
I would recommend it for solo travellers who like me,were nervous of going on their own.
I would use CaminoWays again to book the accommodation for me because its hassle free and they give you all the necessary information to guide you along the camino like maps, directions, travel tips etc., I just wouldn't book the tour group next time, I'd go it alone
Written 9 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giggy78
Galway, Ireland11 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Having returned two days ago from my camino trip, Sarria to Santiago over 5 days, I felt I must write this review.
My problem was with the notes and guides which I had received from Caminoways, the reason that we had decided to go with a tour group and not do everything alone, and paid highly for (the price for hotels we stayed in was around €69 for 2 including breakfast for 2 people, we paid over 100each per night, massive mark up!) we chose the ‘self tour’ option and this was truer than we could have thought.
Upon arrival Santiago airport, we realised there was a 2 and a half wait for a bus to Lugo and then change to Sarria. This was very annoying as I had asked caminoways about transfers and was told there was a regular bus service from the airport every hour so I did not bother to organise any transfer. This was a sign of things to come, we arrived in a rainy Sarria bus station with no directions to the hotel, no taxis, pouring rain and dark. Thankfully we have i phones as without google maps our whole trip would have been a disaster.
The notes we received were useless, i would go so far as to say they have been put together from different sources and i don't think anybody from caminoways has used the notes as a guide or they would have realised very quickly how poor the notes are. When we arrived in Portomarin after completing our first days walk, made harder by our walking notes which informed us that we would have 5.5km to services which ended up being nearer to 10km without services, one would expect that Caminoways would check when such services opened for the season, they were aware we were travelling in April! Our notes were very clear, go up the stairs at end of bridge, at the top of the stairs continue on straight until you reach a church (no name for the church of course). Following these directions we did not find any church and eventually had to revert to google maps once again, We infact should have turned right at the top of the stairs to find our hotel. Frustrating as you can imagen after a 25km walk in the rain and mud.
The next day we walked to Palais De Rei, another tough day, after finishing our walk we followed the instructions to get to our hotel, which were quite clear, follow markers to 66.5 km, unfortunatly for us this was 2.5 km on from the 68.014 km marker just at the hotel, luckily for us when we called the hotel one of the lovely employee’s came to pick us up, another mess from the ‘notes,.
The ‘notes’ which we paid for very highly which are e-mailed to us to be printed at our expense, seems a little much to me that caminoways don’t print them for there customers.
There were many other issues with our ‘notes, hotels being 3 or 4 km further on than the notes said they were. No mention of bad turns and placed one could go wrong, towns missed completley. All in all poor, poor, poor. Also for anyone doing the camino, after rushing all moring to try and make the pilgrim mass at 12 we arrive at the cathedral to find we cannot bring our medium size backpack s in with us – something that is quite important!! There is a place that you can leave your bag for €3 near by but you will have walked around the outside of the rather large cathedral to find it, something to beware of!
The hotels were fine, nothing amazing but all clean and quiet. The food was ok again, nothing amazing but fine (the 3 dinners included were all 'menu del dia' which you can get anywhere en-route for between 8 and 10 euro). Breakfast was basic, bread/cheese/ham some fruit/yoghurt juice and coffee again the same could be purchased for a few euros anywhere en-route. The baggage being collected at each hotel and moved onto the next was faultless, but this is a service that is offered in every hotel and hostel on the camino for a few euros so not a huge expense at all.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the camino and will do more, I would recommend it to anyone but DO NOT USE CAMINOWAYS, they are overpriced and poor quality service and if I had not been with a great friend who made me laugh through our series of disasters things could have been very different.
Caminoways, update your notes, infact walk the route using the notes and see how poor they are! Shame on you taking peoples hard earned money for such shoddy ‘walking notes ‘ .
My problem was with the notes and guides which I had received from Caminoways, the reason that we had decided to go with a tour group and not do everything alone, and paid highly for (the price for hotels we stayed in was around €69 for 2 including breakfast for 2 people, we paid over 100each per night, massive mark up!) we chose the ‘self tour’ option and this was truer than we could have thought.
Upon arrival Santiago airport, we realised there was a 2 and a half wait for a bus to Lugo and then change to Sarria. This was very annoying as I had asked caminoways about transfers and was told there was a regular bus service from the airport every hour so I did not bother to organise any transfer. This was a sign of things to come, we arrived in a rainy Sarria bus station with no directions to the hotel, no taxis, pouring rain and dark. Thankfully we have i phones as without google maps our whole trip would have been a disaster.
The notes we received were useless, i would go so far as to say they have been put together from different sources and i don't think anybody from caminoways has used the notes as a guide or they would have realised very quickly how poor the notes are. When we arrived in Portomarin after completing our first days walk, made harder by our walking notes which informed us that we would have 5.5km to services which ended up being nearer to 10km without services, one would expect that Caminoways would check when such services opened for the season, they were aware we were travelling in April! Our notes were very clear, go up the stairs at end of bridge, at the top of the stairs continue on straight until you reach a church (no name for the church of course). Following these directions we did not find any church and eventually had to revert to google maps once again, We infact should have turned right at the top of the stairs to find our hotel. Frustrating as you can imagen after a 25km walk in the rain and mud.
The next day we walked to Palais De Rei, another tough day, after finishing our walk we followed the instructions to get to our hotel, which were quite clear, follow markers to 66.5 km, unfortunatly for us this was 2.5 km on from the 68.014 km marker just at the hotel, luckily for us when we called the hotel one of the lovely employee’s came to pick us up, another mess from the ‘notes,.
The ‘notes’ which we paid for very highly which are e-mailed to us to be printed at our expense, seems a little much to me that caminoways don’t print them for there customers.
There were many other issues with our ‘notes, hotels being 3 or 4 km further on than the notes said they were. No mention of bad turns and placed one could go wrong, towns missed completley. All in all poor, poor, poor. Also for anyone doing the camino, after rushing all moring to try and make the pilgrim mass at 12 we arrive at the cathedral to find we cannot bring our medium size backpack s in with us – something that is quite important!! There is a place that you can leave your bag for €3 near by but you will have walked around the outside of the rather large cathedral to find it, something to beware of!
The hotels were fine, nothing amazing but all clean and quiet. The food was ok again, nothing amazing but fine (the 3 dinners included were all 'menu del dia' which you can get anywhere en-route for between 8 and 10 euro). Breakfast was basic, bread/cheese/ham some fruit/yoghurt juice and coffee again the same could be purchased for a few euros anywhere en-route. The baggage being collected at each hotel and moved onto the next was faultless, but this is a service that is offered in every hotel and hostel on the camino for a few euros so not a huge expense at all.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the camino and will do more, I would recommend it to anyone but DO NOT USE CAMINOWAYS, they are overpriced and poor quality service and if I had not been with a great friend who made me laugh through our series of disasters things could have been very different.
Caminoways, update your notes, infact walk the route using the notes and see how poor they are! Shame on you taking peoples hard earned money for such shoddy ‘walking notes ‘ .
Written 11 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Giggy, thank you for travelling with us and for sharing your feedback. I trust our Customer Care team has been in contact directly to address your concerns. We are obviously disappointed as the team works hard to offer what we believe is a good product at a fair price. We provide our clients with as much information as possible ahead of their trip, as well as a 24/7 emergency number to help if any problem arises during the trip. Certain things are out of our control, such as public transport, visiting rules at the cathedral and obviously the weather. We hope you enjoyed the trip. If there is anything else we can do, the Customer Care team will be happy to assist.
Written 15 April 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Irina H.
7 contributions
Hi! We're thinking to take the Sarria to Santiago tour. At the end of it, would we receive the Camino Certificate of Completion, or should we have walked a longer way? Do you also sell a private tour (with guide) for the same ? Thanks!
Kaylene F
12 contributions
Yes you receive your Compestelo if you walk more than 100k and Sarria to Santiago is 112k. Re the other questions I would contact Camino ways directly not through TripAdvisor Buen Camino
Spaintravel2015
Seattle, WA13 contributions
We are thinking about walking the last 100 k of the Camino in early October and want to know what to expect as far as weather and temperature
Uta B
86 contributions
Hi i did it in end of sep to 10th of oct. The weather is dry. In the morning a litte fresh about 17 deggrees celsius . So you have to waer long trousers. But at 10 am it is warm enough to wear shorts and t shirt.use sandals to walk. And if you want your baggage will be transported daily for 3€a day to your next hotel.
Good luck even if the cathedral is under construction
Helmo M
Niterói
Bom dia. Gostaria de informações para fazer um percurso mais longo (20dias) . Tem como incluir no pacote as passagens de avião do Brasil?
Helmo M
Niterói
Bom dia. Gostaria de informações para fazer um percurso mais longo (20dias) . Tem como incluir no pacote as passagens de avião do Brasil?
ladyG2
Benicia, CA43 contributions
I'm wondering about injuries. Seems people had a lot of injuries on this particular trail
j0hnnykay
Winnipeg, Canada102 contributions
Our group of 5 ages 58 to 73 had none. Saw a few younger girls (20 ish) with blisters. We took Sox and shoes of every time we stopped. Put talcum powder on before leaving.
me gustaría saber mas sobre el camino primitivo de Lugo a Santiago de Compostela, o de Sarria a Santiago no se por cual decidirme. muchas gracias
Terri H
1 contribution
Are there ample public bathroom facilities along the route? Thank you.
Russell W
Hervey Bay, Australia21 contributions
Yes there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars along the way that have very clean bathroom facilities, but do take some tissues just in case you are caught short and have to go "bush".
Glenn L
2 contributions
Myself and my two sister would like to do this trip, is it possible for 3 to share a room, do you do more than 7 days maybe 10 days, what airport would we fly to and would we still qualify to the certificate over that timespan. Thankyou
DavidandPaula
Ashwood, Australia429 contributions
First point I would make is that CaminoWays have a good website and you could look there initially for a suitable itinerary. Then contact them and get some specific answers. Unlike many tour operators I found them willing to answer questions. We did a tour with the following specifics:
1. The walk length was decided by the before (Barcelona) and after(Porto, Lisbon, Madrid) planning to fit in with airline schedules and available leave for Paula. I in fact retired the day before we flew out of Melbourne so I could have as long as I wanted but Paula had to fit in with available annual leave.
2. The walking distances as I was 68 when we did the walk so I was not looking for any extreme walking trip. We took the split option which gave an extra day and reduced the maximum daily walk distance rather than have a 29km day in the middle. As it was we started with a 23km walk on the first day from Sarria to Portomarrin and then subsequent days had a maximum of about 15km. I found the walking a bit tedious at times but easily achieved our daily walk.
3. We chose the 4+ star option but I would have to say some of the accommodation was below my expectations. I think only one of our accomodations would have suited 3 people sharing a room but I am sure CaminoWays could find some options. Of course there are always the albergues.
We did miss a few things on our trip. One of my bucket list items is to visit all the Guggenheim museums. As we did not get to Bilbao as transport options in Northern Spain really suck and I could not allow for plans like Barcelona to Bilbao to Sarria. Hence after this August when we are in Venice and I get to visit the Guggenheim I will need another trip that will get me to Bilbao. Camino Ways have a last 100km on the Camino Norte which starts in Bilbao so who knows.
I am sure CaminoWays could push a trip out at the start to get you to 10days. Ask them after looking at their already planned trips, even think about the Portugese Way as Porto is a very lovely city.
The baggage transfer feature is great but do remember that most days you will need to get your luggage from reception to room and back. Many of the places we stayed at had very narrow stairways so don't go overboard on your packing (like Paula did)
Last point as you mentioned getting your credentials. Once you arrive at Santiago you have to go and get your passport processed. Paula got hers but had to stand in a line for just over 4 hours. I cannot stand in lines due to feet problems and bailed out after 2 hours and did not get my credentials.
I wish you well on your Camino, there will be some annoyances, my main one was the behaviour of the cyclists who are in such a hurry that they think they have right of way at all times. You just need to take the walk at your pace and enjoy the scenery and the lovely local population you interact with. Buen Camino