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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Days from Burgos to Santiago?

LynneR

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF '16, '18
I plan to begin my camino in Burgos. Can anyone recommend the number of days I should plan to walk? I don't want to overdo it; but on my past, shorter walk we averaged 12-18 miles a day. The 18-mile day was rough and we learned we pushed ourselves past our limit. Thanks in advance for the tips!!
 
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There is so much to see, and ideally it would be good to have an extra day in Leon to look around. It took us 3 weeks exactly from Burgos - Santiago, with a free day in Leon. But I would like to do it again and have time to look around more. I find 25-28 kms a day worked well to still have time to look around. 35-40kms, and you're too hot , too knackered to do much at all.
 
On my previous Camino's we took 24 days including one rest day in Leon from Burgos to Santiago. I've found a 40 day Camino from SJPdP including 2 or 3 rest days is the right amount of time for me.
 
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Hi, @LynneR, the guidebooks figure that to be 21 days, but remember they are suggestions only. Some people will do it in less time, others will take far more.

I will also be leaving from Burgos and am only planning to go as far as Sarria. But I am allowing myself 27 days to do that segment (compared to guidebook suggested 16). Like you, I did 12-18 miles per day my first time on the Camino and it just about did me in. :p This time I am planning on 8-10, and I'll see how far that gets me.

Figure out what's a comfortable daily average for yourself and then divide that into 320, which is roughly the mileage between Burgos and Santiago. That ought to give you something to start with. Happy planning and Buen Camino.
 
On my previous Camino's we took 24 days including one rest day in Leon from Burgos to Santiago. I've found a 40 day Camino from SJPdP including 2 or 3 rest days is the right amount of time for me.

What that 24 days of walking?
 
Well, all I can tell you is what it took me in 2015. I walked 23 days from Burgos to Santiago, not counting one rest day in León. I averaged 13 miles a day while walking that stretch. The people I was walking with suffered some illness while on that part of the walk, so we had some short days in there. My guess is that without those short days, I would have made it to Santiago two days earlier.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Just get one of the many good guidebooks out there, and map out a plan. Not one set in stone, mind you, but a general plan.
The guidebooks show you distances, elevations, town information etc. Some even break it down in stages. Don't take the stages as gospel. It's simply the author of the guidebook's recommendation.
After some research you will determine a time frame.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
@LynneR , hi

I understand you have a limit of 20 to 25 km a day (just my thinking and most guide books, maps etc use km)

Using the Michelin guide 160 Camino de Santiago I suggest:

day 01 - 22 km Leon to Villadangos

day 02 - 28 km Villandangos to Astorga

day 03 - 20 km Astorga to Rabanal

day 04 - 20 km Rabanal to Molinaseca (down hill)

day 05 - 24 km Molinaseca to Cacabelos

day 06 - 22 km Cacabelos to La Portela de Valcarce

day 07 - 11 km La Portela to La Faba (steep climb up last 3 km)

day 08 - 13 km La Faba to Hospital de la Condesa

day 09 - 23 km Hospital to Samos

day 10 - 17 km Samos to Barbadelo

day 11 - 16 km Barbadelo to Portomarin

day 12 - 17 km Portomarin to Airexe

day 13 - 20 km Airexe to Melide

day 14 - 17 km Melide to Arzua

day 15 - 19 km Arzua to O Pedrouzo

day 16 - 20 km O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostella

I hope that gives you food for thought.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
That's a nice itinerary @AlwynWellington . And I see you've included Samos. I'm making a note of it for myself. Who knows? I'm starting in Burgos, and maybe by the time I get to Leon I'll be strong enough to push on through to Santiago. All options open.
 
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
I plan to begin my camino in Burgos. Can anyone recommend the number of days I should plan to walk? I don't want to overdo it; but on my past, shorter walk we averaged 12-18 miles a day. The 18-mile day was rough and we learned we pushed ourselves past our limit. Thanks in advance for the tips!!

Your actual daily average is more important than your shortest versus longest walking days --- and I'd guess that your average is lower than 15 miles / 24 K -- but that 25-30 K + is a good distance for you to aim for (to keep your average up), though you will sometimes surpass it, and yet far more often fall below.

But you'll also likely need at least a couple of rest days.

Burgos to Santiago is about 500 K, so I'd say 28 days or so, plus any extras you'd feel comfortable with adding as insurance.
 
I started in Burgos. Here are my overnight stops.
Hotanas
Itero de la Vega
Carrion de Condes
Ledigos
Bercianos
Mansilla
Leon - one extra night
Villavante
Astorga
Foncebadon
Molinaseca
Villafranca
O Cebriero
Tracalestra
Sarria
Portomarin
Palas del Rei
Ribadiso
O Pedroza
SDC
20 days walking, 1 rest day.

Started to write it up at
man-walks-into-an-airport.com
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
We did 24 days from Burgos to Leon, with 2 days off.

I believe our overnight stops from Burgos were:
Hornillos
Castrojerez
Fromista
Carrion de los Condes
Calzadilla de los Cuezas
Sahagun
Leon
Villar de Mazarife
Hospital de Orbigo
Astorga
Rabinal del Camino
El Acebo
Villafranca al Bierzo
Vega del Valcarce
Fonfria
Morgade
Gonzar
Palas de Rei
Melide
Arzua
O Amenal
Santiago

We did take a train from Sahagun to Leon and then stayed 2 nights in Leon - my plantar facitis was flaring up big time and I needed a couple days to let the feet rest. Then we did a couple short days following Leon to make sure the feet were fine. We had a few shorter days in Galicia too - mostly because of heavy rain.
 
I plan to begin my camino in Burgos. Can anyone recommend the number of days I should plan to walk? I don't want to overdo it; but on my past, shorter walk we averaged 12-18 miles a day. The 18-mile day was rough and we learned we pushed ourselves past our limit. Thanks in advance for the tips!!

This website allows you to make an itinerary based on how far you want to walk each day and the facilities available at the various possible stops. It also has elevations and lots of other useful stuff. I use it to get a rough idea of dates. Then change everything as the Camino decides!
 
Burgos - Hornillos del Camino - 21,3 km
Hornillos del Camino - Castrojeriz - 20,4 km
Castrojeriz - Boadilla del Camino - 19,6 km
Boadilla del Camino - Carrión de los Condes - 25,7 km
Carrión de los Condes - Terradillos de los Templarios - 26,9 km
Terradillos de los Templarios - Bercianos del Real Camino - 24,0 km
Bercianos del Real Camino - Reliegos - 21,0 km
Reliegos - Puente Villarente - 12,4 km
Puente Villarente - León - 12,8 km (extra time in León cathedral)
León - Villar de Mazarife - 21,1 km
Villar de Mazarife - Astorga - 31,4 km
Astorga - Rabanal del Camino - 20,8 km
Rabanal del Camino - Molinaseca - 25,6 km
Molinaseca - Ponferrada - 8,1 km (extra time in Ponferrada Templar castle)
Ponferrada - Villafranca del Bierzo - 23,2 km
Villafranca del Bierzo - Las Herrerías de Valcarce - 20,9 km
Las Herrerías de Valcarce - Fonfría - 20,3 km
Fonfría - Samos - 19,7 km
Samos - Sarria - 15,1 km
Sarria - Portomarín - 23,1 km
Portomarín - Palas de Rei - 25,5 km
Palas de Rei - Boente - 20,9 km
Boente - Salceda - 19,9 km
Salceda - Lavacolla - 17,9 km
Lavacolla - Santiago de Compostela - 10,4 km
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Well, all I can tell you is what it took me in 2015. I walked 23 days from Burgos to Santiago, not counting one rest day in León. I averaged 13 miles a day while walking that stretch. The people I was walking with suffered some illness while on that part of the walk, so we had some short days in there. My guess is that without those short days, I would have made it to Santiago two days earlier.
You walk to fast old man
 
@LynneR , hi

I understand you have a limit of 20 to 25 km a day (just my thinking and most guide books, maps etc use km)

Using the Michelin guide 160 Camino de Santiago I suggest:

day 01 - 22 km Leon to Villadangos

day 02 - 28 km Villandangos to Astorga

day 03 - 20 km Astorga to Rabanal

day 04 - 20 km Rabanal to Molinaseca (down hill)

day 05 - 24 km Molinaseca to Cacabelos

day 06 - 22 km Cacabelos to La Portela de Valcarce

day 07 - 11 km La Portela to La Faba (steep climb up last 3 km)

day 08 - 13 km La Faba to Hospital de la Condesa

day 09 - 23 km Hospital to Samos

day 10 - 17 km Samos to Barbadelo

day 11 - 16 km Barbadelo to Portomarin

day 12 - 17 km Portomarin to Airexe

day 13 - 20 km Airexe to Melide

day 14 - 17 km Melide to Arzua

day 15 - 19 km Arzua to O Pedrouzo

day 16 - 20 km O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostella

I hope that gives you food for thought.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)

Thank you .
I am leaving in 10 days to walk Leon to Santiago with my daughter so will take note of your itinerary suggestion. Fits in perfectly with my 17 days (all going well) time frame.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
So few people seem to be enjoying the towns and cities on the route it seems to me.

I love Sarria so 2 full days wandering around, Leon as well so same there, Palas de Rie, Castrojeriz, Fromista, Terradillos de los Templarios, Astorga all 1 day, and Santiago 3 days looking around.

As has been said many times on this forum; 'It isn't a race'. You may never return so enjoy as much as you can and, for me, looking at some of the places I stayed in was a part of the adventure.

Buen Camino.
 
Last edited:
Hi all

Just curious on this route, as i am time limited to approx 30 days and want to make sure i leave some flex in my itinerary for spontaneity and rest if needed. Did you at all feel a bit socially disadvantaged given many others started previously, or was there no issues with meeting and socialising with other walkers?

Thanks,
 
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Hi all

Just curious on this route, as i am time limited to approx 30 days and want to make sure i leave some flex in my itinerary for spontaneity and rest if needed. Did you at all feel a bit socially disadvantaged given many others started previously, or was there no issues with meeting and socialising with other walkers?

Thanks,
It's true that some groups form early on in St Jean Pied de Port, but there are always new pilgrims joining the Camino. You will find that it's fairly easy to strike up a conversation with other pilgrims at the bars/cafes and albergues. Bringing a bottle of wine to share usually helps too. 😉
 

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