Questions/FAQS
Annie and Martin Sheen during the filming of The Way
Are you tour guides? Is this a 'tour?'
We are not tour guides and this is not a guided tour.
We are pilgrims who have walked the Camino many times.
We love the Camino and want others to be able to enjoy it.
We are simply here to facilitate your walk.
Must we walk with the group or the leader?
No.
You are free to walk at your own pace, or to walk on your own. We find that generally, the group will break up into tortoises and hares, with a few stragglers. Please walk according to your own comfort level within reason. We consider 8 hours to be a reasonable time to complete any of the stages, with plenty of stops and rests.
Are you a business?
No, we are not a business.
We are simply pilgrims helping pilgrims walk the Camino.
Is this a luxury trip?
No.
We want you to have a true pilgrim experience, but with a bit of comfort and on a reasonable budget! We have sourced the best possible lodgings,
based on the location, the facilities they provide, comfort and hospitality.
In order to really experience Spain, we enjoy staying in rustic, character-filled pensions in the old quarter of town rather than in modern, smart establishments on the outskirts.
Pensions and hostales in Spain are spotlessly clean, usually family-owned,
and are, therefore, friendly places to stay.
Where lodging is scarce, we may house you in a private room in a pilgrim albergue
or put you in a triple or quad lodging.
We feel this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know pilgrims from all over the world, and should be cherished as such.
Is this a party trip?
No. ABSOLUTELY NOT!
We want you to have fun.
However, we expect people to behave like responsible adults.
NO EXCESSIVE DRINKING. NO BAD BEHAVIOR.
If poor behavior causes problems of any kind, we reserve the right to ask you to leave the group, to cancel your lodging reservations, and we will not refund your money. Over the years, we have formed relationships with our landlords, and we want to keep those intact.
What do you mean by 'Best of Both?'
There are many different ways to undertake a pilgrimage to Santiago.
You can go by car or other transport;
you can walk parts of the way with a back-up vehicle
and have your luggage transported between overnight stops.
You can stay in 5-star hotels and Paradors, or you can stay in little inns or rural B&Bs.
There is a chain of private pilgrim hostels along the route and many traditional simple pilgrim shelters, some in ancient monasteries or converted churches.
On our walk, we have the 'Best of Both' - some albergues hotels, inns, and some private rooms in pilgrim refuges to give you a true sense of being a pilgrim.
What does my fee cover:
What are some things my fee does NOT cover?
Your fee does NOT cover the following:
Which Camino will we walk?
We have chosen some of the most scenic sections of the Camino Frances, the Jacobean Route, which is the one most people talk about, have written about, and is the most historically supported of all the Camino routes. If you wish to walk another route, contact Annie for a private group.
Is this a religious trip?
It can be, if that is your goal. 2022 will be a Holy Year and that is very important to Catholics. There are churches offering Mass all along the route. For most, it is a spiritual trip and for some, simply a way to see Spain. Although this began essentially as a Catholic pilgrimage trail, the Camino has become a secular journey, and anyone is welcome to walk it - Christian, Buddhist, agnostic and secular humanists. One can enjoy it just for the wonderful hike through stunning landscapes. The majority of the most important architectural monuments are churches, cathedrals and abbeys and we will do our best to visit these. Some offer the pilgrims a special blessing and others, Gregorian Chant - all part of the rich tapestry of tradition that makes the Camino so special.
How many people will be in a group?
Our group will have between 6 and 8 people.
Do I have to train for the walk?
You don't have to be a super athlete to walk the Camino, but you should be fit enough to walk an average of 20 kilometers per day. This is approximately 12-13 miles per day. Please play attention here. If you are unable to walk 20 km to day, we advise you to budget extra for bus and taxi transport. It is nearly always possible to taxi or bus portions of each stage. We can help you book taxis when necessary.
There are a few sections with up and down hills. We recommend you start walking short distances at least 3 times a week, building up to longer distances 5 times a week for a few months before you leave. You should be able to walk 20-25 kilometers with a daypack - approximately 12-13 miles.
This said, remember, you will be walking in a leisurely fashion. This is not a mountain climbing experience, though there are a few steep hills. This is more a meandering walk over and through valleys and hills, and you have at least 8 hours to walk since you have your lodging booked.
If you can walk 1.5 miles per hour, you will be fine.
Must I carry a backpack?
You will not have to carry a backpack because pack transport is included in your fee. Each morning that we WALK, a van will pick up and transport your pack to the next destination. You should carry a small daypack with water and snacks, and rain gear.
Pay attention here! THERE ARE NO PORTERS. In many places where our rooms are on 2nd or 3d floors, there are NO ELEVATORS so you will be lugging whatever you bring up those stairs by yourself. Your group leader is not allowed to carry your bags for you at risk of injury. We ask that your bag be no heavier than 12 kg. That is 26 pounds but that is VERY heavy - and you need to be sure you can handle it on the bus/taxi days and up flights of stairs. We suggest you not pack more than 10% of your body weight.
Each person is allowed ONE transport bag only.
What are the lodgings like?
Accommodation is in small hotels, inns, pensiones, apartments, family owned rural houses and the occasional shared room in a pilgrim albergue. I have tried to post photos to give you a good idea of how your lodging will look. Double private rooms can be smaller in Spain than in the USA but are quite sufficient for a pilgrim. Please note we will be staying in one actual albergue in Roncesvalles where lodging is extremely scarce. Most pilgrims love this experience. The beds are in enclosed quads - 4 beds to a space - and this is at the beginning of the trip when you're still fresh! If lodging is tight, and you have not paid for a private room, you may find yourself in a triple or quad in one or two villages along the way, but we will do our very BEST to ensure you are in doubles the majority of the trip.
Please remember, ours is not a 5-star luxury walk. We think our lodgings are wonderful! However, we are a budget trip. Costs have been kept down by sourcing the best possible budget accommodation based on the location, the facilities they provide, comfort, and hospitality.
About Private Rooms (Single Supplement)
This is an option for people who like their privacy, have special needs (CPAP for instance), or for those who know they snore and don't want to upset a roommate. This is also MANDATORY if you are the last person to sign up and there is no available roommate for you.
Will Private Rooms Always Have Their Own Bathroom?
MOST of the time, the private rooms are ensuite. However, sometimes you will share a bathroom. This is not uncommon in Spain. We will do our best to find ensuite rooms.
Can I have a private single room?
Yes. There are both single and double twin rooms available. A single supplement will be charged if you require a private single room OR if you are the last person to send your deposit and there is no other person to share a room with you.
Why would I want a private single room?
After a long day of walking, there's nothing like having your own private space to undress and relax in. A trek like this requires you to have a good night's rest, and sometimes that can be difficult with a roommate. If your assigned roommate talks in their sleep, or has annoying habits, you are stuck. We cannot rearrange roommates mid-trip, and that's the bottom line. Those who have booked single supplement say the extra cash is worth the advantages!
Pilgrim Albergues. The majority of the lodging is in double or single private rooms. However, there are a few small villages with limited lodging where we will put members of our group in private rooms above a pilgrim albergue. (al-bur'-gay) This will give you the opportunity to interact with other pilgrims, meet people from all over the world, share food, wine, and stories with each other!
What About Bathrooms?
It is quite common for bathrooms in Spain to be shared by people staying in the same Casa Rural, Pension, or Albergue. Many of our rooms have ensuite bathrooms/showers. However, in some places bathrooms are shared by members of your walking group. We will do our best to book rooms with private bathrooms. If that is an absolute necessity for you, you will need to pay the single supplement and give me plenty of notice so I can find you an ensuite room. It may or may not be possible but I will do my best.
We will cover toilets on the trail in our newsletters.
Will I need a sleeping bag?
You will need a lightweight sleeping bag or blanket for your nights in SJPP unless you choose to book a private hotel room there. Except for the gite in SJPP and triple/quad in Roncesvalles, all rooms have beds with clean linens included. I usually take my lightweight down sleeping bag because I find it comfortable and I'm able to treat it for bedbugs before the trip. If I were doing this trip, I might bring a lightweight fleece blanket that I could either carry or discard after the night in Roncesvalles. Talk to me more about this if you find it a concern.
What if I snore?
If you snore, please book the single supplement unless you can find your own roommate who doesn't mind your snoring. A successful Camino depends on getting a good night's sleep and when one walker snores and the other does not, neither are able to get the required rest.
Please note: If you DO snore and do NOT take the single supplement, and your roommate complains, you will be expected to move to a private room at your expense, so please be up front.
Where will we eat?
When staying in pilgrim albergues or apartments, you can eat out or make your own food in the kitchen.
In some places, breakfast is included.
In other places you can purchase a light breakfast (what I'd call a Continental Breakfast) for a small fee of €3-7.
Pilgrims usually have a breakfast stop after an hour or so of walking.
There are places to eat along the trail.
Lunch can be a picnic on the side of the trail or in a café-bar or restaurant. Dinner could be a communal affair with pilgrims chipping in or a special pilgrim menu in a café-bar or restaurant.
There are Menu del Peregrinos (pilgrim menus) offered all along the route. These usually consist of a 3 course meal for as little as €10 and almost always quite good!
I will give you lots of information on food so you can plan your food budget.
We are not tour guides and this is not a guided tour.
We are pilgrims who have walked the Camino many times.
We love the Camino and want others to be able to enjoy it.
We are simply here to facilitate your walk.
Must we walk with the group or the leader?
No.
You are free to walk at your own pace, or to walk on your own. We find that generally, the group will break up into tortoises and hares, with a few stragglers. Please walk according to your own comfort level within reason. We consider 8 hours to be a reasonable time to complete any of the stages, with plenty of stops and rests.
Are you a business?
No, we are not a business.
We are simply pilgrims helping pilgrims walk the Camino.
Is this a luxury trip?
No.
We want you to have a true pilgrim experience, but with a bit of comfort and on a reasonable budget! We have sourced the best possible lodgings,
based on the location, the facilities they provide, comfort and hospitality.
In order to really experience Spain, we enjoy staying in rustic, character-filled pensions in the old quarter of town rather than in modern, smart establishments on the outskirts.
Pensions and hostales in Spain are spotlessly clean, usually family-owned,
and are, therefore, friendly places to stay.
Where lodging is scarce, we may house you in a private room in a pilgrim albergue
or put you in a triple or quad lodging.
We feel this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know pilgrims from all over the world, and should be cherished as such.
Is this a party trip?
No. ABSOLUTELY NOT!
We want you to have fun.
However, we expect people to behave like responsible adults.
NO EXCESSIVE DRINKING. NO BAD BEHAVIOR.
If poor behavior causes problems of any kind, we reserve the right to ask you to leave the group, to cancel your lodging reservations, and we will not refund your money. Over the years, we have formed relationships with our landlords, and we want to keep those intact.
What do you mean by 'Best of Both?'
There are many different ways to undertake a pilgrimage to Santiago.
You can go by car or other transport;
you can walk parts of the way with a back-up vehicle
and have your luggage transported between overnight stops.
You can stay in 5-star hotels and Paradors, or you can stay in little inns or rural B&Bs.
There is a chain of private pilgrim hostels along the route and many traditional simple pilgrim shelters, some in ancient monasteries or converted churches.
On our walk, we have the 'Best of Both' - some albergues hotels, inns, and some private rooms in pilgrim refuges to give you a true sense of being a pilgrim.
What does my fee cover:
- Your fee covers the cost of your credential, your lodging, and any land transportation between the start/stop dates that is included according to our schedule.
- Your fee covers your backpack transport from Pamplona on the first day to Santiago.
- Your fee covers all the information you need (in our opinion) to plan and complete your Camino.
- Your fee covers personal consultation when you need it.
- Your fee covers the costs of the group leader as well as modest administration costs.
- There are no invisible costs or fees.
- However, as explained, if costs go up DRAMATICALLY before or while ON the trip, due to rise of exchange rate or lodging rate increase, those costs can be transferred to you.
What are some things my fee does NOT cover?
Your fee does NOT cover the following:
- Your airfare to and from Spain
- Porters. We can NOT carry your bags up and down stairs. Please do not ask. You must pack no more than you can carry by yourself.
- Food and Water - occasionally a light breakfast will be included with lodging
- Taxis not expressly stated as included in the itinerary
- Other transportation not expressly stated as included in the itinerary
- Health and Travel Insurance
- Medical services
- Emergency services in case of war or disaster
Which Camino will we walk?
We have chosen some of the most scenic sections of the Camino Frances, the Jacobean Route, which is the one most people talk about, have written about, and is the most historically supported of all the Camino routes. If you wish to walk another route, contact Annie for a private group.
Is this a religious trip?
It can be, if that is your goal. 2022 will be a Holy Year and that is very important to Catholics. There are churches offering Mass all along the route. For most, it is a spiritual trip and for some, simply a way to see Spain. Although this began essentially as a Catholic pilgrimage trail, the Camino has become a secular journey, and anyone is welcome to walk it - Christian, Buddhist, agnostic and secular humanists. One can enjoy it just for the wonderful hike through stunning landscapes. The majority of the most important architectural monuments are churches, cathedrals and abbeys and we will do our best to visit these. Some offer the pilgrims a special blessing and others, Gregorian Chant - all part of the rich tapestry of tradition that makes the Camino so special.
How many people will be in a group?
Our group will have between 6 and 8 people.
Do I have to train for the walk?
You don't have to be a super athlete to walk the Camino, but you should be fit enough to walk an average of 20 kilometers per day. This is approximately 12-13 miles per day. Please play attention here. If you are unable to walk 20 km to day, we advise you to budget extra for bus and taxi transport. It is nearly always possible to taxi or bus portions of each stage. We can help you book taxis when necessary.
There are a few sections with up and down hills. We recommend you start walking short distances at least 3 times a week, building up to longer distances 5 times a week for a few months before you leave. You should be able to walk 20-25 kilometers with a daypack - approximately 12-13 miles.
This said, remember, you will be walking in a leisurely fashion. This is not a mountain climbing experience, though there are a few steep hills. This is more a meandering walk over and through valleys and hills, and you have at least 8 hours to walk since you have your lodging booked.
If you can walk 1.5 miles per hour, you will be fine.
Must I carry a backpack?
You will not have to carry a backpack because pack transport is included in your fee. Each morning that we WALK, a van will pick up and transport your pack to the next destination. You should carry a small daypack with water and snacks, and rain gear.
Pay attention here! THERE ARE NO PORTERS. In many places where our rooms are on 2nd or 3d floors, there are NO ELEVATORS so you will be lugging whatever you bring up those stairs by yourself. Your group leader is not allowed to carry your bags for you at risk of injury. We ask that your bag be no heavier than 12 kg. That is 26 pounds but that is VERY heavy - and you need to be sure you can handle it on the bus/taxi days and up flights of stairs. We suggest you not pack more than 10% of your body weight.
Each person is allowed ONE transport bag only.
What are the lodgings like?
Accommodation is in small hotels, inns, pensiones, apartments, family owned rural houses and the occasional shared room in a pilgrim albergue. I have tried to post photos to give you a good idea of how your lodging will look. Double private rooms can be smaller in Spain than in the USA but are quite sufficient for a pilgrim. Please note we will be staying in one actual albergue in Roncesvalles where lodging is extremely scarce. Most pilgrims love this experience. The beds are in enclosed quads - 4 beds to a space - and this is at the beginning of the trip when you're still fresh! If lodging is tight, and you have not paid for a private room, you may find yourself in a triple or quad in one or two villages along the way, but we will do our very BEST to ensure you are in doubles the majority of the trip.
Please remember, ours is not a 5-star luxury walk. We think our lodgings are wonderful! However, we are a budget trip. Costs have been kept down by sourcing the best possible budget accommodation based on the location, the facilities they provide, comfort, and hospitality.
About Private Rooms (Single Supplement)
This is an option for people who like their privacy, have special needs (CPAP for instance), or for those who know they snore and don't want to upset a roommate. This is also MANDATORY if you are the last person to sign up and there is no available roommate for you.
Will Private Rooms Always Have Their Own Bathroom?
MOST of the time, the private rooms are ensuite. However, sometimes you will share a bathroom. This is not uncommon in Spain. We will do our best to find ensuite rooms.
Can I have a private single room?
Yes. There are both single and double twin rooms available. A single supplement will be charged if you require a private single room OR if you are the last person to send your deposit and there is no other person to share a room with you.
Why would I want a private single room?
After a long day of walking, there's nothing like having your own private space to undress and relax in. A trek like this requires you to have a good night's rest, and sometimes that can be difficult with a roommate. If your assigned roommate talks in their sleep, or has annoying habits, you are stuck. We cannot rearrange roommates mid-trip, and that's the bottom line. Those who have booked single supplement say the extra cash is worth the advantages!
Pilgrim Albergues. The majority of the lodging is in double or single private rooms. However, there are a few small villages with limited lodging where we will put members of our group in private rooms above a pilgrim albergue. (al-bur'-gay) This will give you the opportunity to interact with other pilgrims, meet people from all over the world, share food, wine, and stories with each other!
What About Bathrooms?
It is quite common for bathrooms in Spain to be shared by people staying in the same Casa Rural, Pension, or Albergue. Many of our rooms have ensuite bathrooms/showers. However, in some places bathrooms are shared by members of your walking group. We will do our best to book rooms with private bathrooms. If that is an absolute necessity for you, you will need to pay the single supplement and give me plenty of notice so I can find you an ensuite room. It may or may not be possible but I will do my best.
We will cover toilets on the trail in our newsletters.
Will I need a sleeping bag?
You will need a lightweight sleeping bag or blanket for your nights in SJPP unless you choose to book a private hotel room there. Except for the gite in SJPP and triple/quad in Roncesvalles, all rooms have beds with clean linens included. I usually take my lightweight down sleeping bag because I find it comfortable and I'm able to treat it for bedbugs before the trip. If I were doing this trip, I might bring a lightweight fleece blanket that I could either carry or discard after the night in Roncesvalles. Talk to me more about this if you find it a concern.
What if I snore?
If you snore, please book the single supplement unless you can find your own roommate who doesn't mind your snoring. A successful Camino depends on getting a good night's sleep and when one walker snores and the other does not, neither are able to get the required rest.
Please note: If you DO snore and do NOT take the single supplement, and your roommate complains, you will be expected to move to a private room at your expense, so please be up front.
Where will we eat?
When staying in pilgrim albergues or apartments, you can eat out or make your own food in the kitchen.
In some places, breakfast is included.
In other places you can purchase a light breakfast (what I'd call a Continental Breakfast) for a small fee of €3-7.
Pilgrims usually have a breakfast stop after an hour or so of walking.
There are places to eat along the trail.
Lunch can be a picnic on the side of the trail or in a café-bar or restaurant. Dinner could be a communal affair with pilgrims chipping in or a special pilgrim menu in a café-bar or restaurant.
There are Menu del Peregrinos (pilgrim menus) offered all along the route. These usually consist of a 3 course meal for as little as €10 and almost always quite good!
I will give you lots of information on food so you can plan your food budget.
Booking your flight:
Meeting Us in Pamplona!
We would like to meet as many of the group as possible in Pamplona one or two days BEFORE the trip begins. Your first night in Pamplona is included in the cost. Pamplona is a wonderful place to adjust to the time change and to Spanish culture. There are several cathedrals, historical sites, and museums to see there. Your group leader will arrive at least two days in advance of the trip. We will spend the day getting our Pilgrim Credentials, getting sim cards and/or phones, touristing around the city and sampling tapas at the local bars. If you would like to arrive early, let us know and we may be able to advise you regarding lodging if we know enough time ahead.
If you are flying from the USA, it is my opinion that it is easiest either to fly into Pamplona directly, or to fly into Madrid, then catch a bus from the airport to Pamplona. We can help you with this information.
We would like to meet as many of the group as possible in Pamplona one or two days BEFORE the trip begins. Your first night in Pamplona is included in the cost. Pamplona is a wonderful place to adjust to the time change and to Spanish culture. There are several cathedrals, historical sites, and museums to see there. Your group leader will arrive at least two days in advance of the trip. We will spend the day getting our Pilgrim Credentials, getting sim cards and/or phones, touristing around the city and sampling tapas at the local bars. If you would like to arrive early, let us know and we may be able to advise you regarding lodging if we know enough time ahead.
If you are flying from the USA, it is my opinion that it is easiest either to fly into Pamplona directly, or to fly into Madrid, then catch a bus from the airport to Pamplona. We can help you with this information.