Requirement for Compostela certificate

[CaminoErin]

Do pilgrims have to walk the last 100km immediately before Santiago, or at least 100km somewhere on the Camino to get a certificate? I will be walking several hundred Kilometers along Frances but being my 2nd Camino may not walk from Sarria if it is too busy. Unsure if I can still get a certificate in Santiago if I show my route from SJPP. The info online isn’t clear on the requirement. Thanks!

 

[Bradypus]

You must walk the final 100km of a recognised Camino route to receive a Compostela. Walking any other 100km section is not enough to qualify.

 

[Robo]

It's clearly stated here.

The Compostela: accreditation of the pilgrimage to Santiago

The “Compostela“, the accreditation of the pilgrimage to the Tomb of St. James.

oficinadelperegrino.com

 

[J F Gregory]

I have walked 3 Caminos and only have my from my first Camino. The only thing I keep is my Pilgrim Passports.

 

[Galuh]

What about the last 200 Km with a bike/ebike also 2 stamps ?? Or 1 stamp a day is ok?

 

[Bradypus]

What about the last 200 Km with a bike/ebike also 2 stamps ?? Or 1 stamp a day is ok?

You will need two stamps per day for that final 200km if you are cycling. You need to have two stamps per day once you are within the minimum distance for your own method of travel. Walkers only need them for the final 100km.

 

[Galuh]

Thanks

 

[LakeTahoe342]

Do pilgrims have to walk the last 100km immediately before Santiago, or at least 100km somewhere on the Camino to get a certificate? I will be walking several hundred Kilometers along Frances but being my 2nd Camino may not walk from Sarria if it is too busy. Unsure if I can still get a certificate in Santiago if I show my route from SJPP. The info online isn’t clear on the requirement. Thanks!

We just finished our Camino Frances and we went off stage to avoid crowds from Sarria to Santiago

 

[Texas Walker]

We just finished our Camino Frances and we went off stage to avoid crowds from Sarria to Santiago

The last 100km is very well supplied with places to stay. (The "stages" are just convenient divisions of the distance by various guidebook and online info site makers.) Staying in places other than the most famous sleeping towns is often very pleasant.

 

[boyfester]

This is great information to hear and read. I've been hearing conflicting answers on the American Pilgrims Facebook page saying you must start from Sarria (115km from Santiago), but I found some other small towns named Morgade and Ferreiros that are just a little over 100km from Santiago.

 

[Vacajoe]

This is great information to hear and read. I've been hearing conflicting answers on the American Pilgrims Facebook page saying you must start from Sarria (115km from Santiago), but I found some other small towns named Morgade and Ferreiros that are just a little over 100km from Santiago.

Well those posts are absolutely incorrect. That 100kms can be on any recognized route, such as the Portuguese or even the Ingles (which is not in itself long enough, but you can count a dedicated stage of walking at home as part of the 100km).

 

[trecile]

This is great information to hear and read. I've been hearing conflicting answers on the American Pilgrims Facebook page saying you must start from Sarria (115km from Santiago), but I found some other small towns named Morgade and Ferreiros that are just a little over 100km from Santiago.

I think that they just say Sarria because it's the biggest town that's at least 100 km from Santiago on the Camino Francés. Same with the Portuguese Central - people will tell you that you have to start from Tui, but you can start a little farther down the trail at O Porriño.

 

[Bradypus]

Well those posts are absolutely incorrect. That 100kms can be on any recognized route, such as the Portuguese or even the Ingles (which is not in itself long enough, but you can count a dedicated stage of walking at home as part of the 100km).

Not quite that simple. The Ingles from Ferrol is well over 100km and so is long enough to qualify by itself. The exception which allows someone to walk 25km+ in their home country first is to allow people to walk the Ingles branch from A Coruña which is only about 80km and still receive a Compostela on arrival.

 

[David Tallan]

Not quite that simple. The Ingles from Ferrol is well over 100km and so is long enough to qualify by itself. The exception which allows someone to walk 25km+ in their home country first is to allow people to walk the Ingles branch from A Coruña which is only about 80km and still receive a Compostela on arrival.

And just to clarify that the 25+km in your home country also needs to be on a recognized route. I was hearing from one of the coordinators of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims that one of their pilgrims walked 30km from their home to the airport collecting stamps along the way before starting in A Coruña, only to be told when they got to the Pilgrim Office in Santiago "nice try". The Vancouver Chapter now has established a local route, with places of historic, cultural, and religious interest along the way and got it approved by the Cathedral authorities. So folks there can walk at home first - along that route. But just any old walk at home won't do. We're working on creating a similar route here in Toronto, so this is top of mind.