There have been a few posts from worried pilgrims asking where to get credenciales and also some reports that one or two of the usual sources in Spain and Portugal have temporarily run out. This can happen from time to time.
Pilgrims use a credencial to collect stamps (called Sellos in Spain and Carimbos in Portugal - see below) for three main reasons:
As a personal record of the stages of the journey
To get access to albergues
To obtain the Compostela on arrival in Santiago ( having walked at least the last 100 kms or cycled the last 200 kms)
The sellos are rubber stamps which you can get in albergues, churches, hostales, tourist office etc along all of the routes. On the Camino Frances many shops also have them.
There are generally two sources for obtaining credenciales:
In your home country if there is a Society of St James
In France, Spain or Portugal at the start of, or along, the route you are walking
This page has helpful information:
http://www.csj.org.uk/how-to-get-a-credencial.htm
Credenciales are also generally available from albergues along the routes in Spain and in Portugal, some Cathedrals such as in Lisbon or Porto and from some churches.
Also regularly the Pilgrims' Office in Santiago sends out supplies of credenciales to the network of Amigos of the Camino organisations. Simply Google "Amigos Camino de Santiago de XXXXX" i.e. Valencia, Pamplona, Sevilla etc and you will get the contact details.
Many pilgrims become worried that they NEED a credencial before leaving home. This is not the case and most pilgrims simply obtain a credencial when they reach their starting point.
If for some reason you cannot get a credencial at the starting point - because they have run out or the Cathedral is closed, or whatever: Don't panic!
My advice is simply to buy a little note book and collect stamps from your starting point and along the way until you obtain the "official" credencial. Some pilgrims do this and cut out the stamps and stick them onto their credencial when they get it. Others simply keep it as a keepsake.
Another way of doing this is to either make your own in an internet cafe or take it with you "just in case". I've attached an example of one that I have used. However I stress that homemade credenciales and notebooks should only be used UNTIL you get the regular credencial along the way.
When you arrive at an albergue they will ask to see your Credencial to check that you have walked (or cycled) some distance to get there. All albergues have stamps and they will stamp your credencial. Some pilgrims collect lots of sellos as a record of their journey. As you near Santiago and for at least the last 100 kms you are advised to get a minimum of two sellos per day. On most routes this is not difficult - get a sello where you sleep and then where you stop for lunch or coffee or go to church. The Pilgrims' Office understands that on some routes such as the Camino Ingles there are some stages where 2 sellos per day may prove difficult - on that route for example 5 sellos marking each of the stages from Ferrol is perfectly acceptable.
On arrival in Santiago many pilgrims go the Pilgrims Office next to the Cathedral to obtain their Compostela or Certificate. In the Office the staff will only pay close attention to the sellos you have collected for the last 100 kms.
Pilgrims use a credencial to collect stamps (called Sellos in Spain and Carimbos in Portugal - see below) for three main reasons:
As a personal record of the stages of the journey
To get access to albergues
To obtain the Compostela on arrival in Santiago ( having walked at least the last 100 kms or cycled the last 200 kms)
The sellos are rubber stamps which you can get in albergues, churches, hostales, tourist office etc along all of the routes. On the Camino Frances many shops also have them.
There are generally two sources for obtaining credenciales:
In your home country if there is a Society of St James
In France, Spain or Portugal at the start of, or along, the route you are walking
This page has helpful information:
http://www.csj.org.uk/how-to-get-a-credencial.htm
Credenciales are also generally available from albergues along the routes in Spain and in Portugal, some Cathedrals such as in Lisbon or Porto and from some churches.
Also regularly the Pilgrims' Office in Santiago sends out supplies of credenciales to the network of Amigos of the Camino organisations. Simply Google "Amigos Camino de Santiago de XXXXX" i.e. Valencia, Pamplona, Sevilla etc and you will get the contact details.
Many pilgrims become worried that they NEED a credencial before leaving home. This is not the case and most pilgrims simply obtain a credencial when they reach their starting point.
If for some reason you cannot get a credencial at the starting point - because they have run out or the Cathedral is closed, or whatever: Don't panic!
My advice is simply to buy a little note book and collect stamps from your starting point and along the way until you obtain the "official" credencial. Some pilgrims do this and cut out the stamps and stick them onto their credencial when they get it. Others simply keep it as a keepsake.
Another way of doing this is to either make your own in an internet cafe or take it with you "just in case". I've attached an example of one that I have used. However I stress that homemade credenciales and notebooks should only be used UNTIL you get the regular credencial along the way.
When you arrive at an albergue they will ask to see your Credencial to check that you have walked (or cycled) some distance to get there. All albergues have stamps and they will stamp your credencial. Some pilgrims collect lots of sellos as a record of their journey. As you near Santiago and for at least the last 100 kms you are advised to get a minimum of two sellos per day. On most routes this is not difficult - get a sello where you sleep and then where you stop for lunch or coffee or go to church. The Pilgrims' Office understands that on some routes such as the Camino Ingles there are some stages where 2 sellos per day may prove difficult - on that route for example 5 sellos marking each of the stages from Ferrol is perfectly acceptable.
On arrival in Santiago many pilgrims go the Pilgrims Office next to the Cathedral to obtain their Compostela or Certificate. In the Office the staff will only pay close attention to the sellos you have collected for the last 100 kms.
