Hello

[Jrs80920]

Hey, my name is Joe and I live In Colorado Springs, Colorado. Just beginning the planning process for the Camino. We are shooting for late September/October of 2026! One question tho... can we break it up over more than one year and still get our finisher certificate?

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

Yes, take as long as you wish, just make sure you collect the stamps in your pilgrim passport as you pass through the towns and villages on the Way. Pilgrims who walk the last 100k qualify for a Compostella or a Certificate of Distance. I took three years to walk from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago.

 

[henrythedog]

Hey, my name is Joe and I live In Colorado Springs, Colorado. Just beginning the planning process for the Camino. We are shooting for late September/October of 2026! One question tho... can we break it up over more than one year and still get our finisher certificate?

Yes, although the sections have to be in continuous sequence towards Santiago and you need a stamp from where you stopped and restarted, even if they are the same place.

To appease those who still insist on calling your cheap walking holiday a pilgrimage, you might want to do a bit of reading about the meaning of that ‘finisher certificate’.

 

[Jrs80920]

Yes, although the sections have to be in continuous sequence towards Santiago and you need a stamp from where you stopped and restarted, even if they are the same place.

To appease those who still insist on calling your cheap walking holiday a pilgrimage, you might want to do a bit of reading about the meaning of that ‘finisher certificate’.

Henry, thank you, great information! I apologize for using an improper term. I've no intent on disrespecting anyone. I'm about 48 hours into my journey of exploring/planning our Camino, and I have much to learn... What is the proper name for the certificate which is presented at the end of the Camino?

 

[henrythedog]

Henry, thank you, great information! I apologize for using an improper term. I've no intent on disrespecting anyone. I'm about 48 hours into my journey of exploring/planning our Camino, and I have much to learn... What is the proper name for the certificate which is presented at the end of the Camino?

It is a Compostela - as in Santiago de Compostela.

Apologies if I was a bit snarky - honestly; do some research, whether you’re Catholic or not or religious or not, it’s significant in historic and current Spanish culture.

Have a go with the ‘search’ function on here, it’s often under-used and can send you off down the Camino rabbit hole.

And: welcome.

 

[David Tallan]

You can certainly spread the pilgrimage over a number of years and trips. Many Europeans do. The key thing to remember is to get your credencial stamped wherever you stop a particular year's journey and get it stamped again in the same place (town or village) when you come back to resume it. Thus documents your continuity and that you started again from just where you left off.

There are actually two different certificates that you can get from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago. One is the Compostela, that henrythedog referenced above. The other is a Distance Certificate that includes information like: how far you walked, from where, on what route. This information is not on the Compostela. The Distance Certificate is available at a modest price. There used to be a third, the Welcome Certificate, that was an alternative to the Compostela, given to non-religious pilgrims, but reports are that it is no longer used and Compostelas go to everyone who meet the requirements of distance walked and documentation of the journey.

 

[Jrs80920]

You can certainly spread the pilgrimage over a number of years and trips. Many Europeans do. The key thing to remember is to get your credencial stamped wherever you stop a particular year's journey and get it stamped again in the same place (town or village) when you come back to resume it. Thus documents your continuity and that you started again from just where you left off.

There are actually two different certificates that you can get from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago. One is the Compostela, that henrythedog referenced above. The other is a Distance Certificate that includes information like: how far you walked, from where, on what route. This information is not on the Compostela. The Distance Certificate is available at a modest price. There used to be a third, the Welcome Certificate, that was an alternative to the Compostela, given to non-religious pilgrims, but reports are that it is no longer used and Compostelas go to everyone who meet the requirements of distance walked and documentation of the journey.

Thanks David!

 

[Jrs80920]

It is a Compostela - as in Santiago de Compostela.

Apologies if I was a bit snarky - honestly; do some research, whether you’re Catholic or not or religious or not, it’s significant in historic and current Spanish culture.

Have a go with the ‘search’ function on here, it’s often under-used and can send you off down the Camino rabbit hole.

And: welcome.

Thanks again Henry!

 

[Jrs80920]

Yes, take as long as you wish, just make sure you collect the stamps in your pilgrim passport as you pass through the towns and villages on the Way. Pilgrims who walk the last 100k qualify for a Compostella or a Certificate of Distance. I took three years to walk from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago.

Caomhin, thanks! I'm thinking we would probably try and do it over a two-year time period. It would be nice to be closer and to be able see Spain and the Camino over three years!​