Planning the Camino de Santiago

[Andy Mal]

Hi all, not sure where to post this so here we go!

I am looking for an app to plan ahead my Camino de Santiago. I just cannot do it using google maps because it will take me through roads I do not wanna cross. I was wondering if somebody could recommend me a simple app just to trace a route and get the total distance. I found this one so far http://bit.ly/justdrawit and works pretty well, but I was wondering if you guys, more experienced than I, use a different one or any kind of online service.

Thanks in advance! All the best,
Andy

 

[Bala]

Welcome to the forum, @Andy Mal . Try these two sites for your route and distances:

www.godesalco.com/plan
www.gronze.com

Both show the actual Camino trail, give information on lodging and distances, and godesalco has a form where you can enter your start and end points, then check off how far you want to walk each day.

Have fun planning. And come back with any further questions.

 

[Andy Mal]

Awesome! Thanks a lot Bala!

 

[Bala]

Awesome! Thanks a lot Bala!

Most welcome!

 

[trecile]

The Buen Camino app has a built in "Plan your daily stages" feature. It automatically has preplanned stages, but you can delete them and create your own.

APP del Camino de Santiago Buen Camino 2014 - 2024

Aplicación del Camino de Santiago profesional, con mapas, perfiles, alojamientos, planificador de etapas, a pie o en bici (Btt), en idiomas y actualizada.

www.editorialbuencamino.com

 

[nickpellatt]

Hi Andy

What are you planning to plan? Do you have a route in mind or a timescale to work with? Are you travelling from outside Europe?

Generally, I think, depending upon individual circumstances, you dont need to plan too much, if at all. And it's very easy to over-plan and over-think, when the real beauty of a Camino, is that you dont need to think too much at all.

I was not a walker, didnt have much hiking experience, and decided to do a 32 day Camino on the Frances route. This was due to start 3 days after a two week holiday in Japan, and I didnt plan my Camino at all! I was quite nervous about it, and so although Id been given a guide book for Christmas, I didnt actually open it until the day I was travelling.

And things worked out fine and dandy. Just as they do for thousands of pilgrims every year. I've followed pretty much the same routine on my other solo Camino trips since then, and plan not to plan. Best laid plans can easily fall apart, so I prefer to just let things unfold. Set schedules are easily ruined by weather, injury, or the meeting of new friends.

I dont speak Spanish, I'm 50 and fairly healthy, and fly from the UK to start my Camino ... I appreciate the it may be harder for people with health issues, longer to fly, time constraints etc ... but you really dont need to plan too much.

 

[Bala]

Some good points from @nickpellatt . I love to plan, it's 1/3 the fun*, and on my first time out I felt so much more secure with a plan in advance. But be prepared to throw away everything after your first day out. It all works out -- far better than any planning could make it.

* Every trip: 1/3 planning, 1/3 doing, 1/3 happy memories for the rest of your life.

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi, Andy,

There are many Caminos de Santiago in whole Europe and Iberian Peninsula (https://www.rayyrosa.com/caminos) but I guess you're planning the Camino Frances.

Two more web sites with good info:

Rutas Camino de Santiago archivo - Mundicamino

El Camino de Santiago cuenta con varias rutas de peregrinación que parten de diferentes localidades, aunque todas ellas terminan en Santiago de Compostela.

www.mundicamino.com

Camino de Santiago | Rutas, Etapas y Albergues a Pie o en Bici

La mejor y más práctica Información para planificar tu viaje del Camino de Santiago paso a paso con Eroski Consumer ► Caminos, Etapas, Albergues y Monumentos ◄

caminodesantiago.consumer.es

The best is to use Search function and browse through the enourmous amount of the info on this forum. I doubt very much that any of your questions hasn't been discussed in past year

Buen Camino!

 

[André Walker]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the forum. Having walked a couple of Camino's so far, I, like you, like to plan ahead (it's so much fun). And, like a lot of other pilgrims do, I abandon them the moment I start walking. To me, it's much more relaxed to just go with the flow every day, following the arrows. What I really liked was having a drink somewhere at about 1 or 2 pm and figuring out how much further I would like to walk that day. Starting to walk in the morning not knowing where I would be at the end of the day is so liberating (to me). Although, depending on which Camino your walking, some planning might be inevitable.

If you'll be walking the Frances there's no need to worry. There are albergues everywhere, new ones opening constantly (that's why guidebooks are outdated the moment they are released). It seems that they don't built albergues, but grow them, like mushrooms.

Some of the above posts already directed you at very good websites or apps. When you search the Apple or Android store, you'll find a number of apps that might be helpful.

If you'd just like to have a GPS-track on a device or your phone, you can find various tracks on Wikiloc:

Camino de Santiago Francés 2019: Saint Jean Pied de Port - Santiago Compostela

Camino de Santiago Francés 2019: Saint Jean Pied de Port - Santiago Compostela Hiking trail in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France). Download its GPS track and follow the itinerary on a map. En mi opinión, el Camino de Santiago Francés es una obra perfecta y como tal, no admite...

www.wikiloc.com

Have fun planning and looking forward to it and even more fun when walking it.

Buen Camino.

 

[Andy Mal]

Wow guys, you are awesome! I really appreciate all your responses, suggestions and help! I love this quote, Bala "Every trip: 1/3 planning, 1/3 doing, 1/3 happy memories for the rest of your life."

Yes, I will do the Camino Frances. I will do some research through the forum, sure I will find some helpful tips too.

Thanks again, all the best!
Andy

 

[James2019]

Hi Andy

What are you planning to plan? Do you have a route in mind or a timescale to work with? Are you travelling from outside Europe?

Generally, I think, depending upon individual circumstances, you dont need to plan too much, if at all. And it's very easy to over-plan and over-think, when the real beauty of a Camino, is that you dont need to think too much at all.

I was not a walker, didnt have much hiking experience, and decided to do a 32 day Camino on the Frances route. This was due to start 3 days after a two week holiday in Japan, and I didnt plan my Camino at all! I was quite nervous about it, and so although Id been given a guide book for Christmas, I didnt actually open it until the day I was travelling.

And things worked out fine and dandy. Just as they do for thousands of pilgrims every year. I've followed pretty much the same routine on my other solo Camino trips since then, and plan not to plan. Best laid plans can easily fall apart, so I prefer to just let things unfold. Set schedules are easily ruined by weather, injury, or the meeting of new friends.

I dont speak Spanish, I'm 50 and fairly healthy, and fly from the UK to start my Camino ... I appreciate the it may be harder for people with health issues, longer to fly, time constraints etc ... but you really dont need to plan too much.

The consensus on this forum seems to be not to plan and if you don't mind sleeping anywhere with a bed/bunk it is good advice. However, if, like me, you want to sleep only in private rooms then some advance planning is essential. This is because private rooms are exceptional, unlike dormitories. There are some places well equipped with dorms in albergues but no private rooms or pensiones or hotels. This means that stopping places have to be juggled to fit your expected daily distance.
I have a plan for my walk starting at the end of September with stages ending at places with a supply of private rooms. I know that if I am on schedule I will get to Santiago by my deadline and there will be rooms to book a day or two in advance. It would not be helpful to arrive at one place only to find that the next private room is 30Km away and I can only manage a maximum of 20-22Km a day!

 

[nickpellatt]

Wow guys, you are awesome! I really appreciate all your responses, suggestions and help! I love this quote, Bala "Every trip: 1/3 planning, 1/3 doing, 1/3 happy memories for the rest of your life."

Yes, I will do the Camino Frances. I will do some research through the forum, sure I will find some helpful tips too.

Thanks again, all the best!
Andy

Best wishes and good luck Andy

The Frances is very well supported, with many choices of accomodation, and you will meet plenty of people experiencing the same as you, first timers, old hands, with blisters and backpacks walking in the rain and the sunshine.

Getting to St Jean is easy, and finding the way will be simple too. Prepare before you go in terms of walking practice, and that will surely be enough. I still believe letting it unfold when you are on the path is the best way forward as it gives you the freedom to stop or continue walking as friendships, wear and tear, weather allows.

 

[RosieRose]

Welcome to the forum, @Andy Mal . Try these two sites for your route and distances:

www.godesalco.com/plan
www.gronze.com

Thanks just an information a was looking for.

 

[Anniesantiago]

The other website I love is this one:
https://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/