Credencial Questions

A Good Wander · Feb 18, 2018

Greetings,

I'm beginning my first Camino on May 2nd in SJPP. I arrive at 13:00 and will walk that first day to Orisson where I have a reservation. I have a few questions about picking up my pilgrim passport:

1. I'd prefer to buy the passport at the Pilgrim's Office--seems like a great way to start. Will they be open in the afternoon?
2. I understand that they sell the new passport which doesn't have as much room for stamps as the old one. Do they still sell the old one as well? If not, is it possible to get the old one elsewhere in SJPP?
3. Or would it just be better for me to order my passport before leaving Canada so as to miss any lineup at the Pilgrim's Office? Is there typically a long wait there? Would be sad to miss the communal dinner at Orisson

Thanks,
Peter

trecile · Feb 18, 2018

You'll need to go to the Pilgrims office to get your first stamp. I've been twice, once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, and definitely less wait in the afternoon.
It's only 8 km to Orisson (but very steep), so if you are at all fit you should easily be there in time for dinner.

oursonpolaire · Feb 18, 2018

You have plenty of time to get a Canadian credencial- www.santiago.ca

A Good Wander · Feb 18, 2018

Thanks, @trecile and @oursonpolaire. Sounds like I'll have enough time to go with the original plan to make my first stop the Pilgrim's Office in SJPP.

I am curious if they still offer the old credencial for sale?

Anamiri · Feb 18, 2018

A Good Wander said:
Greetings,

I'm beginning my first Camino on May 2nd in SJPP. I arrive at 13:00 and will walk that first day to Orisson where I have a reservation. I have a few questions about picking up my pilgrim passport:

1. I'd prefer to buy the passport at the Pilgrim's Office--seems like a great way to start. Will they be open in the afternoon?
2. I understand that they sell the new passport which doesn't have as much room for stamps as the old one. Do they still sell the old one as well? If not, is it possible to get the old one elsewhere in SJPP?
3. Or would it just be better for me to order my passport before leaving Canada so as to miss any lineup at the Pilgrim's Office? Is there typically a long wait there? Would be sad to miss the communal dinner at Orisson

Thanks,
Peter

For my first Camino I got my pilgrim passport from the pilgrim office in SJPDP in the evening, - its a fairly basic concertina booklet in white card. Last year my sister joined us for the second Camino, and she pre-purchased hers through the Australian pilgrim website I think. It was the same size, a book , with a dark green cover, much nicer looking than ours. I've just purchased from Ivar (should arrive today) 4 passports, for when we take the kids next year. The cover is green, like my sisters, but it looks like its a concertina style as well. I only ordered it last week, so the DHL service is pretty quick. The first one I got did two caminos (only just), but I was only getting one stamp a day mostly and we did 25-35 kms a day. I suspect with the kids, only 20kms a day and they will look for cellos and they'll fill up more quickly.

Davey Boyd · Feb 18, 2018

A Good Wander said:
Thanks, @trecile and @oursonpolaire. Sounds like I'll have enough time to go with the original plan to make my first stop the Pilgrim's Office in SJPP.

I am curious if they still offer the old credencial for sale?

The credential issued in the pilgrims office is the French one. Well it was last time I was there. Not sure how many spaces it has though. Also the office is open until after the last transport (train/bus) arrives in town, so late afternoon/early evening ish.

Saint Mike II · Feb 19, 2018

Hola @A Good Wander ; you have hit on one of the issues with the new smaller "approved "credentials - they do not have enough stamp spaces if one wants to get intermediate (church etc) stamps - in addition to meeting the requirement for two stamps per day from Sarria. I was fortunate to have two credentials (from Ivar) I ended up doing some cutting and pasting so that I had about 50 or more stamp spots. If you obtain one with 40 or more stamp stops then I recommend getting it. Cheers and buen Camino.

A Good Wander · Feb 19, 2018

Thanks. If I can't find an old credencial with more spaces, will the pilgrims office sell me two new ones? If not, I suppose I can pick another one up along the way at one of the Albergues?

Northern Laurie · Feb 19, 2018

@A Good Wander I ordered my credencial from the Canadian Company of Pilgrims ahead of time, and displayed it at my desk for months before I left. It started lots of conversations and was a pick me up when in the preparation stages.

When I went to albergues, it became a topic of conversation for some of the hospitaleros - they hadn't seen one like that before, it was unique!

If it is important to you to have the credencial from the pilgrim's office, by all means do so! But there are some benefits to having one before you go.

Anamiri · Feb 19, 2018

Saint Mike II said:
Hola @A Good Wander ; you have hit on one of the issues with the new smaller "approved "credentials - they do not have enough stamp spaces if one wants to get intermediate (church etc) stamps - in addition to meeting the requirement for two stamps per day from Sarria. I was fortunate to have two credentials (from Ivar) I ended up doing some cutting and pasting so that I had about 50 or more stamp spots. If you obtain one with 40 or more stamp stops then I recommend getting it. Cheers and buen Camino.

Mine just arrived, two seconds ago - nowhere near as much space as my old one. Its much smaller, may be better for fitting pockets, I haven't tried it yet. It will be fine for a Leon-Santiago Camino, but only one side can be stamped. There are maps etc printed on the other side. And there is only room for 6 stamps per page. My old one could be stamped on both sides, took 8 stamps per page, and was a bit bigger, and it was ruled into boxes to keep the stamps readable and neat. A full Camino would definitely need 2, if you also collect from churches, bars, cafes etc.
I think we will rule lines into it to keep it in order. The stamps are all different sizes/shapes etc. I do refer back to my old credential for the names and addresses of different albergues. Its a great record of where you've been.

Juspassinthru · Feb 19, 2018

Wherever you get your credential, go to the Pilgrims Office for weather and other helpful info. Buen Camino.

HedaP · Feb 19, 2018

According to their website, the Pilgrim Office is:
“Open each day from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm ; Friday and Sunday from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm”
Buen camino

Humbertico · Feb 20, 2018

A Good Wander said:
Greetings,

I'm beginning my first Camino on May 2nd in SJPP. I arrive at 13:00 and will walk that first day to Orisson where I have a reservation. I have a few questions about picking up my pilgrim passport:

1. I'd prefer to buy the passport at the Pilgrim's Office--seems like a great way to start. Will they be open in the afternoon?
2. I understand that they sell the new passport which doesn't have as much room for stamps as the old one. Do they still sell the old one as well? If not, is it possible to get the old one elsewhere in SJPP?
3. Or would it just be better for me to order my passport before leaving Canada so as to miss any lineup at the Pilgrim's Office? Is there typically a long wait there? Would be sad to miss the communal dinner at Orisson

Thanks,
Peter

You can get it directly from the church in Santiago de Compostela log in to : oficinadelperegrino.com I paid for mine and received it in 3 Days for a fee. It is beautiful and large for the stamps and some history and pics.

JanelMcB · Feb 25, 2018

If you carry a guide book, and want stamps for more places than actually required, you could always have the page for your current location stamped. Might not be pretty, but once you reach your destination, you don't need the guide to tell you where you are. Don't know if the folks in Santiago would be willing to accept this method of stamps, but if you are going to carry a guide book and not remove pages as you walk, you might as well make maximum use of the available resources. Just a thought...

Peter Fransiscus · Feb 28, 2018

A Good Wander said:
Greetings,

I'm beginning my first Camino on May 2nd in SJPP. I arrive at 13:00 and will walk that first day to Orisson where I have a reservation. I have a few questions about picking up my pilgrim passport:

1. I'd prefer to buy the passport at the Pilgrim's Office--seems like a great way to start. Will they be open in the afternoon?
2. I understand that they sell the new passport which doesn't have as much room for stamps as the old one. Do they still sell the old one as well? If not, is it possible to get the old one elsewhere in SJPP?
3. Or would it just be better for me to order my passport before leaving Canada so as to miss any lineup at the Pilgrim's Office? Is there typically a long wait there? Would be sad to miss the communal dinner at Orisson

Thanks,
Peter

Hi Peter ,

1 - You also can order your Credential here at the Forum store .

2 - Take two , problem solved .

3 - Communal diner in the albergue Orisson starts at 19.00 hr. You have to be there before it begins .

Wish you a wonderfull time and a Buen Camino , Peter .

A Good Wander · Mar 4, 2018

Peter Fransiscus said:
Hi Peter ,

1 - You also can order your Credential here at the Forum store .

2 - Take two , problem solved .

3 - Communal diner in the albergue Orisson starts at 19.00 hr. You have to be there before it begins .

Wish you a wonderfull time and a Buen Camino , Peter .

I think this is exactly what I'll do. Thanks. Can't wait.

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