Ferrol - where to get the first Sello/ stamp

[Deleted member 89957]

We arrive in Ferrol on a Saturday at the end of September. We hope to get to Ferrol around 5.30 - 6pm. We have booked the Hotel Almendra overnight and plan to walk to Neda on Sunday morning. Our Credentials have just arrived (thanks for the Camino Forum Shop). Where can we get our first stamp when we arrive in Ferrol? Does it have to be at a church? I see the tourist information is open till 6.30pm and again on Sunday from 9am and wondered whether we could get our stamp there. Ideally we'd like to set off early on Sunday morning well before the tourist information opens so would prefer to try and get the stamp on Saturday. Also, do we complete the front page of the Credencial - ie name, passport number, route etc? Advice appreciated.

 

[Former member 49149]

Others can tell you the answer to the first question. As someone who does a spot of being hospitalera, it helps a lot if you do fill in the details on the first page of the ceredncial. Some people don’t like the idea of recording passport details there, but it saves handing over two documents. All they need is the passport number, and that is kept in a register in case it is ever needed to be checked by the police. It is not published on the wwweb!

 

[Deleted member 67185]

There is a Camino/tourist office near to the 'official' starting point.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

The office is behind the round, yellow Correos box and the green Correos box and right behind those folded down white umbrellas.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Tincatinker]

The Hotel’s stamp will suffice to show where you started. I’ve kicked off with a stamp from the railway station before now. It was the only place exhibiting any sign of cognizant human life at “sparrow fart” of the morning

 

[Deleted member 89957]

The Hotel’s stamp will suffice to show where you started. I’ve kicked off with a stamp from the railway station before now. It was the only place exhibiting any sign of cognizant human life at “sparrow fart” of the morning

Thank you. That’s reassuring to know.

 

[natefaith]

Yes! The tourist office or your hotel would be fine. Buen Camino!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

The Hotel’s stamp will suffice to show where you started. I’ve kicked off with a stamp from the railway station before now. It was the only place exhibiting any sign of cognizant human life at “sparrow fart” of the morning

I second that - the tourist offices in Ferrol both seem to open late and close early - my first stamp in Ferrol was from my hotel.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

There is a Camino/tourist office near to the 'official' starting point.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

The office is behind the round, yellow Correos box and the green Correos box and right behind those folded down white umbrellas.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Swish looking office - presumably it doesn't open until 10:30 because they want to wait until the pilgrims have already departed?

 

[KinkyOne]

You can also get a stamp from any bar/restaurante at the old port of Ferrol where Ingles starts. TO is just across the street of the starting mojon and those bars.

Buen Camino!

 

[Deleted member 89957]

Thank you for the helpful advice. It’s our first Camiño and we’re really looking forward to it.

 

[hel&scott]

It's worth noting that you can get sellos from anywhere, ideally they should have a stamp with the location on it and then write the date in, but I have heard of hand drawn sellos. Often churches are closed so you can end up with a lot of bar stamps. My personal favourites are from the local post offices, location and date in one and the posties are usually chuffed to be asked. Scott was very proud of his Guardia Seville sellos, although they are not keen on stamping credentials. On short routes such as the English Way you need to get two sellos a day, so get creative and ask around, it's also a great way to meet locals.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Swish looking office - presumably it doesn't open until 10:30 because they want to wait until the pilgrims have already departed?

LOL!!! That article was from 2016. I found the information below at another site about the office, which I guess is called Via Compostellam:

"This tourist office is oriented mainly to the pilgrim. It is located at kilometer 0 of the route and in it you can get the Jacobea Credential. Open from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. "

I plan to get my Credential stamped there the afternoon or evening before departure the next morning. Or at the hotel. Or at a church/chapel. Or maybe all of them

 

[lindam]

We have, on at least a few occasions, gone into a pharmacy to request a stamp. They are dated and show the location. Not fancy stamps, but will serve the purpose of getting your credential stamped and they are generally open early in the mornings. Another option is to go to a local police station where they will give you a stamp.

 

[Deleted member 29041]

Hotel stamp, or/and one of the multiple bars on the harbor front, next to the pillar marking the start (and next to the tourist office). Café Sarga provided the best cup of café con leche I had on the entire trip.

 

[JLWV]

one of my daughters started her first camino from the same place/hour that you three days ago.
She went directly after arrival at the hotel Almendra to the tourist office at km0 and got the first stamp.
Next day she started from the hotel, saving so 2 km on that day.
But IMO, as Ferrol is 119 away from Santiago, if you start in any place of Ferrol city, it will be more than the 100 km required, although km0 has a symbolic value.
buen camino

 

[Tia Valeria]

If the tourist office is still open when you arrive on the Saturday they will stamp your credencial for you with the Sunday date if you ask. They gave us the next day date for our start one year. There are also 3 bars at the harbour - we bought a drink and they gave us a stamp the second time. Hotel Almendra also have a sello and are very pilgrim friendly...
We walked from the Almendra to the harbour, had a drink and got a sello then walked the Camino back to the Plaza de Espana and the Almendra. Started from the Almendra next day (sello that morning) via the Plaza de Espana. It made the first day to Neda easier by about 3kms.
Buen Camino

 

[Deleted member 89957]

one of my daughters started her first camino from the same place/hour that you three days ago.
She went directly after arrival at the hotel Almendra to the tourist office at km0 and got the first stamp.
Next day she started from the hotel, saving so 2 km on that day.
But IMO, as Ferrol is 119 away from Santiago, if you start in any place of Ferrol city, it will be more than the 100 km required, although km0 has a symbolic value.
buen camino

Thanks. We are actually staying at the Almendra so this is a good idea.

 

[Deleted member 89957]

We have, on at least a few occasions, gone into a pharmacy to request a stamp. They are dated and show the location. Not fancy stamps, but will serve the purpose of getting your credential stamped and they are generally open early in the mornings. Another option is to go to a local police station where they will give you a stamp.

Thank you. I love the idea of getting a sello at a local police station, especially as I was a police station duty solicitor for several years!

 

[Walking Lover]

We arrive in Ferrol on a Saturday at the end of September. We hope to get to Ferrol around 5.30 - 6pm. We have booked the Hotel Almendra overnight and plan to walk to Neda on Sunday morning. Our Credentials have just arrived (thanks for the Camino Forum Shop). Where can we get our first stamp when we arrive in Ferrol? Does it have to be at a church? I see the tourist information is open till 6.30pm and again on Sunday from 9am and wondered whether we could get our stamp there. Ideally we'd like to set off early on Sunday morning well before the tourist information opens so would prefer to try and get the stamp on Saturday. Also, do we complete the front page of the Credencial - ie name, passport number, route etc? Advice appreciated.

Your hotel.

 

[Deleted member 29041]

Another option is to go to a local police station where they will give you a stamp.

Depends in the locale. I tried that for fun in Sigüero in 2017 - it was NOT appreciated.

 

[Wombat]

You can also get a sello from the Concatedral de San Julian de Ferrol, Rúa Igrexa, 104, 15402 Ferrol, La Coruña, . It has a mass starting at 1930 each day. I got mine there earlier in the day from a room/vestry behind the alter, but also had got one next morning from the Hostal.

the Oficina de Turismo Ferrol, is in the Praza de España.

Buen Camino

 

[lindam]

Depends in the locale. I tried that for fun in Sigüero in 2017 - it was NOT appreciated.

Interesting...certainly has not been my experience!

 

[Deleted member 29041]

Interesting...certainly has not been my experience!

A friend and I had been discussing it, so we tried. We were told to quit bothering him and get one from our albergue. Perhaps he was having a bad day.

I very much suspect that he was/is the exception. I've heard from several others that both the regular police and the Guardia Civil usually are very forthcoming in that regard.

 

[Greg Wilson]

Lots of good advice in these posts. At the start point we went to the bar " La Gruta" next to the archway where they happily stamped our pilgrim passports. We ordered our first Spanish beers and to our surprise and delight we were given a bowl of delicious lentil soup followed by a selection of cake and buns, all free. A very nice start to our adventure.

 

[Laura Blue]

Hi you can get your first stamp in the hotel, so no worries.

 

[trecile]

"This tourist office is oriented mainly to the pilgrim. It is located at kilometer 0 of the route and in it you can get the Jacobea Credential. Open from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. "

Has anyone received their credential (not just a stamp) from the tourist office? Just looking for verification to advise another pilgrim. Thanks

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Has anyone received their credential (not just a stamp) from the tourist office? Just looking for verification to advise another pilgrim. Thanks

The information I read says that they are available there, but I have not seen it for myself. I am a bit uncertain of the information so I am getting my Credencial before heading off to Ferrol in October. In fact, I just placed an order through APOC.

 

[trecile]

The information I read says that they are available there, but I have not seen it for myself. I am a bit uncertain of the information so I am getting my Credencial before heading off to Ferrol in October. In fact, I just placed an order through APOC.

After doing further reading, it appears that the credential that the tourist office has is just a xerox single sheet credential.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

After doing further reading, it appears that the credential that the tourist office has is just a xerox single sheet credential.

Well, I am glad I have mine ordered

 

[OzAnnie]

After doing further reading, it appears that the credential that the tourist office has is just a xerox single sheet credential.

@trecile Hi trecile
When a hospi on the primitivo; the local tourist office (in Grado) gave out folded ‘primitivo maps’ with spaces for Stamps. Quite a few pilgrims presented them as their credencial..(that was in 2016)I don’t believe it is an accepted document by SdC pilgrim office. So advised them and we had a supply of credencial at Grado if they wanted the real deal.

@bronzevernis hi
Btw there is nothing to stop you getting your first stamp from home (your local church etc)...then again when you start in Ferrol.
In 2016 I had been visiting pilgrim friends in Dublin and they suggested I obtain my first stamp from St James’gate at Guinness .
No problems there. They weren’t surprised at the request .

Ps I stayed in Hotel Almendra also. Booked 2 nights there and that’s where I got one stamp from plus the post office.

Buen camino
Annie

 

[Juspassinthru]

In early June I did the Inglés and stayed at the Almendra, they can provide your first stamp. I walked down to the port to the beginning of that route and then to the Con-Cathedral for my second stamp (office on the right behind the alter) and then set off the next day, a Sunday morning. It’s very quiet and not well marked, keep the water to your right. I left early as I was going to Pontedeume, I didn’t see another Pilgrim for 4 hours, the solitude was nice. Enjoy, Buen Camino.