Practical guide

Guide and advice to prepare your journey to Compostela

Discover the advice of the Association Belge des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle to make this experience a smooth and unforgettable adventure.

1. To each his own path

Each pilgrim has his own quest and his own convictions.
Whatever your motivation and however you choose to reach Santiago, our association is here to support you.

You are free to define your itinerary, your stages and your type of accommodation, in keeping with the motto of our association: ‘To each his own’.

2. Logbook, Credencial and
Compostela

We encourage every pilgrim to keep a personal logbook, documenting the route taken, encounters and impressions. The Credencial, which can be obtained by becoming a member of our association, serves as a ‘pilgrim's passport’ and is essential for access to the pilgrim hostels along the route. Whatever your motivation and however you choose to reach Santiago, our association is here to support you.

In Santiago, on presentation of your duly stamped Credencial, you will receive the Compostela, attesting to your spiritual journey and your compliance with the minimum distances required and actually covered.

Become
a member Apply for the Credencial

3. Guides and maps

There are many topographical guides describing the main pilgrimage routes:

In Belgium: The Via Mosana 1, the Via Mosana 2, the Via Brabançonne, the Via Tenera, the Via Scaldea, the Via Gallia Belgica and the Via Thiérache.

In France:
The Route de Paris -Tours (or Via Turonensis), the Voie de Vézelay (or Via Lemovicensis), the Chemin du Puy-en-Velay (or Via Podiensis), the Route d'Arles (or Via Tolosana) and/or the Voie du Piémont pyrénéen, to name but the best known.

In Spain:
The Camino Francés, the Camino del Norte, the Camino Primitivo and others in Spain such as the Camino del Levante, the Camino Sanabrès, the Camino Mozarabe, the Via de la Plata, etc.

In Portugal:
Camino Portugues and its 2 inland routes and 2 coastal routes.

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When choosing your guide, choose the one that best matches your interests, whether in terms of history, art, culture or other aspects.

Make sure it contains essential information such as clear directions and landmarks, distances, available accommodation, dining options, cash dispensers and access to medical services.

4. Accommodation

Using a tent can be a practical solution for accommodation, but it's important to consider the extra weight it represents in your equipment, whether in a rucksack or bike bag.
Make sure you also find out about local camping laws.

In France, along the Sentiers de Grande Randonnée (GR) or the routes signposted by local pilgrimage associations, you'll find a variety of accommodation options including gîtes d'étape, pilgrim hostels, chambres d'hôtes, small hotels and even campsites and parish or municipal gîtes. This accommodation is generally spread evenly along the routes.

In Spain, municipal, parish or private refuges or albergues are also regularly found along the pilgrimage routes. They often offer an infrastructure that encourages meetings and exchanges between pilgrims, although they can sometimes be noisy.
In high season, particularly in summer, temporary campsites are sometimes set up to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, under the management of the local authorities. On these routes, pedestrians have priority over cyclists in the accommodation.

Find accommodation
in Belgium Find accommodation
in France and Spain

5. Typical pilgrim's day

The pace of your journey is a personal matter, but a few tips may be
useful:

It is advisable to get up early and perhaps take a siesta later in the day at the hottest times. This will enable you to reach your stage early enough.
Try to complete about half the stage before midday.
Don't forget to do your shopping in the morning to avoid finding the shops closed in the afternoon.
Make sure you stay hydrated at all times.
Make sure you fill in your logbook every evening.
Respect the closing times of refuges (refuges are generally closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.), as hospitaleros also need to rest.
Pay attention to the Spanish timetable: the siesta is generally observed from midday to 4pm; shops and cultural sites are closed during this period.

6. Equipment: what should you bring?

On foot

A backpack of between 40 and 50 litres, adapted to your body shape, is recommended, containing :

A sleeping bag and/or ‘meat bag’ (light sleeping sheet) and a light foam mattress (for camping)
A water bottle and cutlery
Rain protection for you and your rucksack
Your personal belongings
A first-aid kit and toiletries
Your money, identity papers, Credencial and European Health Card
A few clothes pegs, safety pins and soap for washing
The guide book and maps
Your mobile phone and charger.

Wear good quality walking shoes that have been broken in before you leave, suitable socks, sandals for the evening, comfortable walking clothes, a walking stick, a headlamp, a whistle and a hat.

If you take a tent, make sure it is lightweight.

By bike

Before you set off, give your bike a thorough service (tyres, lights, brakes, chain and derailleur).
Divide your equipment between the front and rear panniers, and the left and right panniers, to balance the load,
including :

Possibly a tent and camping gear as light and compact as possible
Stewarding and repair equipment
Your helmet (compulsory in Spain and strongly recommended elsewhere)
Your cycling equipment and personal belongings
A first-aid kit and toiletries
Your money, identity papers and Credencial and European healthcare card.
A few clothes pegs, safety pins and soap for washing
The guide book and maps
Your chargers (mobile phone, bike battery)

7. Means of transport

To reach your starting point or return home, you can combine different means of transport: train, coach (Flixbus, Alsa, etc.), plane, hire car.

You can also use specialist websites to optimise your journeys. The earlier you book your transport, the better the conditions for obtaining your tickets.

To transport your bike, you can
choose between:

Train or coach: you must pack your bike. Remember to check with the company you use.
Some private companies also organise transport for bikes and luggage.
Plane: you can choose to take your bike as accompanied luggage, or send it as freight on a different flight (given the way luggage is handled, there is sometimes a risk of damage). Please note: electric bicycles are not accepted as baggage on planes.
Car: you can ask someone to accompany you in your car, to drive you or to pick you up.

We strongly encourage prospective pilgrims to attend our information sessions to learn more.

8. Advice before the pilgrimage

Prepare individually or as a family, possibly involving your spouse in the preparations.
Meet pilgrims returning from Compostela to share their experiences.
Research the pilgrimage phenomenon.
If necessary, learn a minimum of Spanish and brush up your English.
Gradually train with a rucksack or loaded cast iron for stages of between 10 and 25 km if you're on foot, and between 50 and 80 km if you're a cyclist.
Buy quality equipment, distinguishing between the essential and the superfluous, as the weight of your bag can quickly become a burden.

9. Advice during the pilgrimage

Be aware of the happiness that comes with going on a pilgrimage.
Learn trust, detachment and voluntary simplicity.
Take the time to become a pilgrim and respect the pace of other walkers.
Respect the regulations in force, the highway code and the injunctions of the authorities.
Enrich yourself culturally by visiting churches, museums, etc.
Take care of your body and don't give up unless you have a health problem.
Manage your efforts appropriately, ensuring that the weight of your rucksack does not exceed one tenth of your body weight.

10. Advice after the pilgrimage

Take part in a weekend of spiritual reflection.
Put into practice and live the values you have discovered or rediscovered, such as sharing, solidarity and fraternity.
Share your pilgrimage experience with your family.
Rediscover part of the route with them, by car.
Share the story of your human adventure along the Camino with your friends and family.
Come and join the association and help us to inform future pilgrims. Why not?