Walking the last 100 km of the Camino is the most popular way to experience it and to earn the Compostela without needing weeks. It's the minimum walking distance the Cathedral requires to issue the certificate, completed in about 5-7 days within reach of almost anyone with basic preparation. This guide explains where to start, what the stages are like and what you need for the plan to go smoothly.
The key: choose your starting point well for the route, carry the credential stamped and enjoy the Camino for what it is —an experience, not a race—.
Where to start for the Compostela
| Route | Start | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Camino Francés | Sarria | ~114 km |
| Camino Portugués | Tui | ~118 km |
| Camino Inglés | Ferrol | ~118 km |
⚠️ Warning: for the Compostela you must walk at least 100 km (or 200 km by bike). That's why Sarria is the most popular start on the Camino Francés: just over the minimum. Note: A Coruña falls short (75 km) for the Inglés; you must start from Ferrol.
The stages from Sarria (Camino Francés)
| Stage | Route | Approx. km |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarria → Portomarín | 22 |
| 2 | Portomarín → Palas de Rei | 25 |
| 3 | Palas de Rei → Arzúa | 29 |
| 4 | Arzúa → O Pedrouzo | 19 |
| 5 | O Pedrouzo → Santiago | 20 |
Five comfortable stages (you can split the third). Monte do Gozo, 5 km from Santiago, gives the first view of the cathedral towers.
The credential and the Compostela
- Pilgrim credential: the "passport" where stamps are collected. In the last 100 km you need two stamps a day (bars, hostels, churches).
- The Compostela: the certificate is collected at the Pilgrim's Office (Rúa das Carretas), in Santiago, by presenting the stamped credential.
When to go
| Season | Verdict |
|---|---|
| May-June and September | Ideal: good weather and atmosphere |
| July and August | Hot and very crowded (Sarria fills up) |
| October-April | Quiet; rain and some hostels closed |
| Holy Year (Xacobeo) | More pilgrims than ever |
What to bring
- Broken-in footwear (don't debut boots on the Camino).
- Raincoat or poncho: Galicia rains often.
- Layered clothing and a light backpack.
- Foot care: petroleum jelly, tape, technical socks.
⭐ Tip: there are backpack transport services between stages, and it's worth booking accommodation (private hostels) in high season. Sarria, as the mass start, fills up: book the first night.
What we don't recommend
- Starting in A Coruña expecting the Compostela. It's 75 km; below the minimum.
- Debuting boots. The error that causes the most blisters.
- Doing Sarria in August without booking. It's the busiest start of the year.
- Forgetting the two daily stamps in the last 100 km: without them they won't give the Compostela.
Common mistakes
⚠️ Warning: the slip-ups we see most.
- Overloading the backpack. Every gram tells after a few days.
- Not booking in season. You'll be left without a bed in the small stages.
- Ignoring foot care. Blisters ruin the Camino.
In one sentence
The last 100 km of the Camino —usually from Sarria— are five or six days walking to the cathedral, with the credential stamped and the Compostela as the reward. The goal is the city covered in Santiago in one day.