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CAFOD

Camino for charity: pilgrimage for CAFOD

8 October 2013
Europe - Camino - cathedral

Walk the Camino de Santiago for charity and see the wonderful cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Raise money for CAFOD by walking the final 100 miles of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. This is an opportunity to take part in an amazing pilgrimage whilst raising funds for our work to make a real difference to the lives of those in need. 

The Camino trail - also called the ‘route of the stars’ because it lies beneath the Milky Way, takes pilgrims along the beautiful and peaceful countryside across the north of Spain. The end point is the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Give this amazing challenge even more meaning by fundraising for CAFOD as part of your spiritual journey.

Set up a page on JustGiving to raise money for people living in poverty

Walking the Camino: logistics

To help you organise the logistics of your journey, Macs Adventures specialise in organising and booking Camino trips. They can advise you on your best travel options, and if you so choose, book your accommodation along the way.

  • The most popular Camino journey for CAFOD pilgrims is the last 100km of the route of the 'Camino Frances'. See the Macs Adventures options for this part of the journey. 

  • If you are thinking about a longer journey, please see the 'Full Camino'

  • If you are still deciding on the length of your trip, please see the different stages that are available on the Macs Adventure website.

Macs Adventures can help you with your logistical plans and supply you with a pilgrim passport. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Frequently Asked Questions

You should be prepared to walk between 12 and 18 miles each day so generally it will take about 7-10 days. You will be carrying your own luggage along the route (so pack lightly!). The route is well maintained but paths range from well surfaced roads to less defined tracks, so a walking pole could be a good idea. People of all abilities complete the Camino each year, but some preparation and training is recommended beforehand to minimise the risk of injury on the journey.

You are responsible for your pilgrimage, your travel and your expenses. Many pilgrims purchase a return flight to Santiago and travel in a taxi or by bus to their start point at Piedrafita O Cebreiro.

There is a variety of shelter at each stage along the route, some in the form of ‘Albergues and Refugios’; basic accommodation designed for pilgrims, consisting of a large room and washing facilities for between 4-40 people. They don’t take advance bookings, and operate a strict policy of early mornings. If they are very busy you may have to sleep on a roll mat rather than a bed, and though some have kitchens, the majority do not. This accommodation is quite cheap and can vary from 10-25 euros a night depending on where you are staying. There are also hostels which have bedrooms and bathrooms for smaller groups, costing around 20 euros, and a few hotels, which are substantially more expensive. Every town has a bar that serves the ‘Pilgrim’s Menu’ a three course meal with wine or water in the evening. There are small shops you can buy food in if your hostel has a kitchen, which also sell cold snacks such as bread and cheese for picnic lunches along the way.

Though this area is usually hot and dry, temperatures can range from 14-24 degrees. Mornings can be chilly so it’s advisable to prepare for that by bringing some thinner waterproof layers, such as a poncho.

Join Team CAFOD

Gearing up for a run, walk, swim or bike ride for charity? We would love you to join us in raising funds for our brothers and sisters around the world.