I have experienced the joys of both walking and cycling the Camino. When I am asked which is best, I always reply the same – it is a question of personal choice and preference. Ask yourself: Are you more a walker or a cycler? Who are your travelling companions (if any) going to be? What kind of experience are you looking for? Walking The Camino is hard going on your feet. Cycling the Camino is hard on your thigh muscles and expect a sore bottom. Take your pick!
Cycling the Camino is a relatively contemporary take on this ancient pilgrimage. Many moons ago your only options were by foot, horseback or boat. Today, the requirements to get your certificate of having completed the Camino de Santiago (Compostelana) are to have walked the last 100km, cycled the last 200km or sailed 90 nautical miles and finished the rest of your Camino by foot from your last port of disembarkation. In terms of distances, you can cycle on average between 45 to 70kms a day and walk between 15 and 25kms a day.
The advantage of cycling is that you can cover much larger distances and therefore take in a greater diversity of landscape in any one day. There are stretches of the Camino particularly the French Camino across the plains of Castilla & Leon which can seem by foot like endless days of sameness. But, don´t let that put you off, there is a wonderful beauty and serenity in experiencing that landscape.
Your go to bike for cycling The Camino should be a robust, durable bike that is ideal for long-distance cycling. You want a bike that is designed with comfort in mind, for riding long stretches on various terrain such as tarmac, cobblestones and gravel. You want a bike that can adapt to those parts of the Camino where a bit of traction and stability on uneven surfaces is needed. It also needs to perform well on steep ascents and descents. Based on our experience and these criteria, at The Way Experiences we provide our clients with hybrid bikes which are a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. We also offer the option of electric hybrid bikes.
Some say cycling the Camino is harder. Personally, think the jury is still out on this one. There are non-cyclable parts of the Camino which are rocky, slippery or steep or all three where you´ll need to take the road instead of the path. Crossing some of the mountain ranges such as O Cebreiro or Cruz de Hierro are a particularly hard slog on a bike. But then of course you come across the downhills which are just a dream on your bike. Cycling the Portuguese Camino Coastal route you can meet some headwinds that make you feel like you´re peddling and going nowhere – I write from experience here! Mind you, walking it was not much easier and when you get a tailwind on a bike it´s a breeze.
Something very special about walking the Camino is the opportunity talk whilst you walk. It is harder to chat on a bike. We advise against riding two abreast on the busier stretches out of consideration for fellow pilgrims on the trail. When doing the Camino by foot, I don´t know if it is the pace, but have found myself to be a lot more sociable with fellow pilgrims – both those I am travelling with and new faces I meet on the way.
Both walking and cycling the Camino are very meditative experiences. They both allow you to find your own rhythm and pace and to dig deep into your thoughts. Cycling in many ways gives more opportunities for that reflective experience as you are at one with your thoughts even when you are travelling in a group with others.
If you decide to cycle the Camino self-guided, then you´ll need at least some basic know how about bikes such as how to change a puncture. If you opt for an electric bike, then you´ll need to be mindful of the battery distance you can cover before running out of juice. One of the advantages of a guided-cycling tour such as the ones we offer at The Way Experiences is that you don´t need to worry about that. You can just relax and cycle in the knowledge that there is a support vehicle and bike mechanic very close by.
At The Way Experiences we specialise in guided walking and cycling tours of the Camino. Our tours are designed to provide you with a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you decide to join one of our guided cycling or walking tours, rest assured that you will be led by one of our expert guides. All the logistics will be taken care of, enabling you to immerse yourself in the experience. Whether you have blisters or a punctured tire, we will be there. Whether you want to be a Peregrino (walking Pilgrim) or a Bicigrino (cycling pilgrim) the choice is yours, so sign up to one of our tours and “Buen Camino”.
I have experienced the joys of both walking and cycling the Camino. When I am asked which is best, I always reply the same – it is a question of personal choice and preference. Ask yourself: Are you more a walker or a cycler? Who are your travelling companions (if any) going to be? What kind of experience are you looking for?
One of the (many) joys of The Camino is that you don´t need to be pending on any apps or maps to guide your way. Just look around you, enjoy the scenery and keep your eyes peeled for the next waymarker.
The French Camino – Maybe not the Original Camino but it is arguably the most Iconic Camino.
The Camino del Norte is an absolutely stunning route steeped in beauty, culture and history. The Northern Way starts in Irún and there are 35 sections and 820 kilometres before you arrive in Santiago de Compostela. This route crosses the whole of the north of Spain. It´s an absolute gem, following the Cantabrian coastline from France to Galicia.
Often overshadowed by the more popular and transited French and Portuguese Way, The Camino del Norte is an absolute gem of a route. The Camino de Santiago originated in ancient times as a pilgrimage taking Christians to visit the tomb of Saint James (Santiago). All routes take you to the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, and more specifically Santiago Cathedral.
The Jubilee or Jacobean year (Xacobeo) is the year when the day of St James the Apostle (25th of July) falls on a Sunday. This happens about 14 times each century. Every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years apparently. This was decreed by Pope Calixtus II in 1126 and coincided with the laying of the last stone at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
