Good practices on the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago is a shared heritage that has brought millions of pilgrims together along a cultural and religious route since the 9th century.
If we get to enjoy it today, it’s because others kept it alive for us. That’s why it’s now our turn to take good care of it. Here are ten guidelines to help keep the Camino de Santiago a sustainable route for every pilgrim still to come:
01
Shared responsibility and mutual hospitality
The Camino lives on thanks to the welcome pilgrims receive, and that hospitality deserves to be returned. Be kind and respectful to the people who greet you in their towns and villages.
02
Respect for Nature: leave no trace
Don’t leave any waste behind. Use trash cans and recycling bins, make the most of the free public restrooms, and save water and electricity at your lodgings.
03
Caring for our architectural and cultural heritage
Treat the monuments and cultural treasures of the places you pass through with respect. Please don’t stack stones: it isn’t a Camino tradition, it harms the ecosystem, and it damages architectural elements.
04
Authenticity
Don’t get swept up in pseudo-traditions or inappropriate practices. Trust tradition over technology: follow the waymarker stones, the scallop shells, and the yellow arrows, the signs that truly belong to the Camino de Santiago. Apps like Google Maps can add extra distance compared to the official route, and unplugging from your phone is part of the experience.
GOOGLE MAPS
Apps like Google Maps can add extra distance compared to the official route, and unplugging from your phone is part of the experience.
05
Diversity, inclusion, and respect for fellow pilgrims
Every pilgrim walks the Camino in their own way. Respect those who prefer to walk alone or in silence, and treat everyone with the same respect and equality, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or circumstances.
06
Peace and quiet: the right to rest
Celebrate the Camino without noise, and be considerate of anyone who is resting, both in the towns along the route and in Compostela when you arrive.
If you use walking poles
If you use walking poles, always fit them with rubber tips and stow them in built-up areas, especially in Santiago’s historic old town, so you don’t damage the paving or add to the noise.
07
Visual beauty and a peaceful setting
The landscapes and towns the Camino passes through are of exceptional value, and they are not places for picnics or camping. Enjoy the peace of heritage sites, parks, gardens, and the countryside, and leave them just as you found them.
UNESCO
Special care is called for in the historic center of Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
08
Road safety
Keep to the correct side of the road. On narrow roads, if you need to make way for a vehicle, step aside together, everyone to the same side. Large groups must also follow the rules of the road.
09
Cycling the Camino and pedestrian priority
Respect the signs, don’t ride through pedestrian areas or against the flow of traffic where it’s prohibited, and take extra care around pilgrims on foot.
Santiago’s pedestrian zones
In Santiago’s pedestrian zones, get off your bike and walk the last stretch calmly and carefully.
rúa de san pedro
Pay special attention to the Rúa de San Pedro, which is partly pedestrianized and where riding a bike against the flow of traffic is prohibited: walk your bike down the street, or follow the signs that divert the Camino for cyclists to the right.
10
A sustainable, local economy
Buy handmade products from local shops, take part in the cultural life of the places you visit, and discover each region’s cuisine in its restaurants.