Different ways to walk the Camino de Santiago -- Albergues

It’s almost too personal to ask people why they’re walking the Pilgrimage route to Santiago.  After one becomes friends, it might become apparent.  

A great number of people do it because it is interesting, epic – and also because it can be done inexpensively using a historic network of albergues (or hostels) on the trail.

Sheets drying -- getting 

ready for the next batch 

of pilgrims.  Everyone 

must

leave the albergue by 8 am.

Albergues offer basic places to sleep and eat – they usually cost about 8 euro a night.  You share a large room with others on bunk beds.  You may cook a common meal with other pilgrims – or go to a local restaurant for a pilgrim menu meal. 

Some albergues are privately run, some run by the small historic pilgrim towns along the Way and others are run by the Catholic Church.  

Co-ed bunk beds in the
albergues

We met one young girl walking the Camino, a Roman Catholic, who planned her walk to only stay in Catholic albergues because they provide separate accommodations for men and women….while other albergues are usually co-ed. 

Doing daily laundry in the 

albergue.

Pilgrims who carry their packs and stay in albergues can usually walk the Camino for less than 30 euro a  day. 

Albergues ask people to leave

their shoes outside...

John and I chose not to follow the alberge route…though we have many friends who have. 

This little tag moves our 

luggage every day...

Instead, a company in Ireland, Camino Ways, organized our trip – booked our hotels and managed our daily luggage transport.  We’ve stayed in the same towns – but usually in a charming little hotel or a former convent or monastery. 

We stayed in a former monastery - 

called a Parador in Spain.  

The Camino offers opportunities for everyone!