Where do I get my Camino de Santiago credential?

You can get a stamp at most hotels and inns, restaurants, bars, churches, museums, city halls, post offices, police stations and at all albergues. When registering at an albergue, pilgrims present their credential verifying they are walking or cycling the Camino.



The official Pilgrim Credential (the "passport" needed to collect stamps) can be obtained from several authorized sources before or during your 2026 pilgrimage. If you are starting in Spain, you can purchase one for approximately €0.50 to €2 at the Pilgrim's Reception Office in Santiago, most parish churches, local "Associations of Friends of the Way," and many pilgrim hostels (albergues) at the start of major routes. In 2026, the Spanish postal service, Correos, also sells them in their online store and at physical offices along the route. For those starting outside of Spain, many international Confraternities of St. James are authorized to issue credentials by mail. Furthermore, a digital credential app is available for Android and iOS, allowing pilgrims to collect digital stamps via QR codes. This document is essential not only as a beautiful souvenir of your journey but also to grant access to public hostels and to qualify for the Compostela certificate upon reaching the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

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It's important to note that if you are starting your Camino in Galicia, you will need to collect at least two stamps per day on your way to Santiago (at least for the last 100km). If you are starting your Camino from outside of Galicia, you will only need one stamp per day.

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Nonetheless, taking the words from the Pilgrim's Office verbatim, you need two stamps per day for the final 100 kilometers into Santiago. There is one more important requirement if you intend to receive the Compostela when you reach Santiago: You need to be sure that your Credencial is an 'official' one.

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There are some who travel the Camino without any physical preparation, and they get through it and reach the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela. You will have, however, a far more pleasant experience if you do some hill-walking or aerobic exercise in the months before going on the Camino!

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Camino Portugués Also known as the Portuguese Way, this northbound route is the flattest—therefore, easiest—choice and the sole departure from Portugal. In entirety, this stretch is 383 miles and requires 25-27 days if hikers commence in Lisbon.

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How far do you walk on the Camino each day? In general, pilgrims on the Camino walk an average of 20 to 25kms, roughly 12 to 15 miles per day.

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Total Trip Costs Most pilgrim budgets fall in the $30-60 (€25-50) per day range, meaning a 30-day walk would cost $900-1800 (€750-1500). If you don't already have hiking gear, new gear could easily cost $300-600 (€250-500) if you need to get new footwear, backpack and sleeping bag.

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The Camino Ingles is the least travelled at an average of only 4% of all pilgrims taking this route. There are no major cities along the route, just tiny villages where locals often speak Galician over Spanish.

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The Camino is doable for just about anyone; it all depends on your fitness level and the route you are taking. Some Camino routes are suitable for shorter walking days as they have less challenging terrain and are a little easier on the feet.

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