Camino de Santiago by electric bicycle: is it valid to obtain the Compostela?

Hike by electric bike, image from Envato Elements

The Camino de Santiago can be done on foot, on horseback, by sail and by bike, but do you know if any type of bicycle counts? Electric bicycles are becoming more and more common, and surely more than one have wondered if it is a viable option to do the Camino de Santiago. Of course, it would make the path easier on the steepest stages. Precisely for this reason, the pilgrims who go by an electric bike may not receive the Compostela

The requirements of the Pilgrim Reception Office

The Camino de Santiago is, originally, a show of effort and devotion. Although much has changed since the Middle Ages, the current Way shares the spirit of sacrifice of yesteryear. That is why some requirements are established to obtain the Compostela:

• Travel 100 kilometers, if done on foot or on horseback
• Travel 100 nautical miles and finish the Way on foot, if done under sail
• Travel 200 kilometers, if done on a traditional bike
• Have a minimum of two daily stamps on the Credential

These requirements do not contemplate any motor vehicle, since with them that sacrificial component is lost. Pilgrims who complete their journey to Compostela by electric bike, therefore, will not be able to obtain the Compostela. There are exceptions, such as if the pilgrim who has used it suffers from a disability or similar. 

The Pilgrim Reception Office does not consider this type of bike, although some pilgrims think that it is unlikely that they will check each of the bikes with which the route is completed. Around 6% of pilgrims complete the Camino by bicycle, and so far this year there have been more than 148,000 pilgrims. This means that approximately 9,000 bicycles would have been checked to see if they meet the requirements to obtain the Compostela. That sounds like a lot, but the average is less than 25 a day. It is reasonable to think that they are going to check the bikes, and so the pilgrim who tries to sneak an electric bike will go home empty handed.

Hike by bike, image from Envato Elements

The Camino by electric bike

We must not lose sight of the fact that achieving the Compostela is not the goal of the Camino. There are many reasons to do the Camino de Santiago: religion, sport, connection with nature or with oneself… Although the Compostela certifies your experience, not having it does not detract from your trip and all the unforgettable moments you have lived. 

If for you the electric bike is worth it for all its advantages, go ahead. These types of bikes make the experience much easier, which can be very hard both because of the hundreds of kilometers it lasts and because of the intensity of the stages. If you want a document that certifies that you walked the entire Camino, you can always keep the Credential (even if it does not have the last seal).