Figuring out train and bus logistics to your start point can be tricky. Cons: Transport can be expensive and damage-prone.Not a big deal if you have experience shipping your own bike on previous trips. Pros: You know, love and can fix your own gear.It’s sort of like using a luggage transfer service. The Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago has not stated an opinion on the matter. Some do so because they’re older or have foot issues, and others because they require help with navigating the hills. There are indeed pilgrims who bring or rent ebikes. Your own comfort and experience with different types of bikes matters as well. If the latter, a road bike or hybrid bike might work for you. If the former, a mountain bike with low gearing and suspension would be best. This depends greatly on if you want to stick to the conventional trails or follow along on parallel roads. If you choose to do this, give some consideration to how you’ll deal with your backpack. Another other option is to walk most of the Francés but bike the Meseta section between Burgos and León (or Astorga). Jean Pied de Port and walk over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles or Pamplona and then pick up a bike. One of the most common options is to start in St. If you choose secondary roads over the traditional trails, many of them are also waymarked. What’s the Waymarking Like?Īll of the Caminos are marked with a mix of concrete bollards with arrows, painted arrows on walls and trees, wooden arrow signs, shell symbols embedded in walls or sidewalks, and even the occasional street art or sculpture. If you choose a route where you are sharing a lot of trails with walkers, please bring (and use!) a bell for your bike, and be sure to shout out a hearty “Buen Camino” as a way to alert the walkers. Consider your own abilities and tolerances when you map your route. Or, you can do a mix of traditional paths and road riding in order to avoid either the super-steep trails or the narrow sections where bicyclists and walkers are likely to collide. As a cyclist you can ride all of that, pushing your bike on the rocky or super steep sections. Is the Camino More Dirt Paths or Road Biking?Īll of the traditional Camino walking routes have a wide mix of road walking, hard surface trails, farm tracks, dirt trails and steep rocky pathways. Do I want to reach Santiago de Compostela?Ĭheck out our Camino routes page for more information on the most popular routes along the Way.How many miles/kilometers can I realistically do in a day (assuming a mix of road and trail, hills and flats)?.The Via de la Plata (which starts in Seville) is nice for a flatter, more forgiving terrain and quiet vibe – but it would be very hot to do in the summer.Īsk yourself the following questions when choosing a route: The Portugués is the second-most popular Camino route. For many first-time pilgrims who want to cycle a “classic” route, the Francés is a very popular choice. Many pilgrims report riding the Francés from Roncesvalles (or Pamplona) to Santiago in 11-14 days. On sections that are flatter and have low rolling hills or tarmac, you may ride up to 80 kilometers a day. On a typical day, you might expect to ride ~50 kilometers. Your typical daily distance will vary quite a bit depending on the terrain. How Long Does it Take to Bike the Camino? Camino Portugués: 217 kilometers from Vilarinho to Santiago.Camino Primitivo: 290 kilometers from Grado (or start further along with bus transit).Via de la Plata: 203 kilometers from a Gudiña to Santiago.Camino del Norte: 204 kilometers from Tol to Santiago.Camino Francés: 214 kilometers from Ponferrada to Santiago.That said, if you’re renting, your starting point may be determined by where your rental company is willing to deliver your bike. For convenience, we are listing the nearest town with a train station. Here are a few Camino biking routes with 200-kilometer minimums. And like walkers, you’ll need to produce two credential stamps (sellos) per day to show the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago de Compostela. Yes! Bicyclists need to complete at least the last 200 kilometers to earn a Compostela. Can I Earn a Compostela By Cycling the Camino? If you are looking to cycle the Camino de Santiago, use this handy Camino cycling FAQ to answer your key questions and find additional resources. Regardless, cycling the Camino is a legitimate way to engage on the pilgrimage and cyclists are eligible for a Compostela. Some folks do it because they love bike touring, others do it because they have issues that prevent them from walking, and yet other repeat pilgrims have done a mix of walking and biking. About six percent of pilgrims who arrive in Santiago seeking a Compostela have arrived there on a bicycle.
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