camino por tramos

Pilgrim in the Camino de Santiago, image from Envato Elements

The Camino de Santiago is a unique experience, and many people change qhen they return. However, doing one of the complete routes that lead to Compostela takes time. For example, to complete the Camino Frances would take 33 days, and not many people can have that much time out of the routine.

That is why this alternative has become popular, which allows us to walk the entire Camino but in a time adapted to our possibilities. We can complete the Camino de Santiago in sections, doing the stages in several trips. Taking advantage of the distribution of holidays and vacations, we can complete the Camino at our own pace.

Advantages of doing the Camino de Santiago in sections

There are those who, if they cannot do the entire Camino de Santiago, decide to do the 100 kilometers just needed to get the Compostela. However, that limits the experience. Doing the Camino in sections you won't have to give up anything on the Camino de Santiago

In addition, this modality is perfect for leaving behind a sedentary life. By doing only one part without the intention of continuing, we can fall back into the sedentary lifestyle prior to this experience. If you have a longer-term goal, you will maintain this active lifestyle for longer.

Before doing the Camino, we prepare above all the technical issues such as shelters and material. During the Camino itself, we are so immersed in the experience (and exhaustion) that we do not learn more about the Jacobean culture. By doing the Camino in sections, we can pay more attention to things that could go unnoticed if it is the first time we are on a route of this caliber. 

The Camino de Santiago can be a significant economic outlay if we do the entire route we want in one go. The French Way and the Portuguese Way take a whole month if done consecutively, and not all they can afford to pay for accommodation that long in a row. This option allows you to spread your expenses as much as you want.

The backpack is heavy, but it doesn't have much space. Preparing the luggage for a week is much easier than calculating for a whole month, especially when we have so little space and everything that is heavy, we will be the ones who have to charge it. Don't forget to follow the 10% rule so as not to overload your back too much. 

Camino de Santiago, image from Envato Elements

French Way in sections

This is one of the most popular routes to get to Compostela and many people start it in Sarria, where it reaches 100 kilometres. However, it is much more enriching to do this complete route, divided into sections. In addition, they are very easy to access since most of the starting points of these sections are in the provincial capital. 

• Section 1: 160.4 km
  • Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Roncesvalles: 24.2 km
  • Roncesvalles - Zubiri: 21.4 km
  • Zubiri - Pamplona: 20.4 km
  • Pamplona - Queen's Bridge: 23.9 km
  • Queen's Bridge - Estella: 21.6 km
  • Estella - Los Arcos: 21.3 km
  • Los Arcos - Logroño: 27.6 km
• Section 2: 121.4 km
  • Logroño - Nájera: 29 km
  • Nájera - Santo Domingo de la Calzada: 20.7 km
  • Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Belorado: 22 km
  • Belorado - San Juan de Ortega: 23.9 km
  • San Juan de Ortega - Burgos: 25.8 km
• Section 3: 178.7 km
  • Burgos - Hornillos del Camino: 21 km
  • Hornillos del Camino - Castrojeriz: 19.9 km
  • Castrojeriz - Frómista: 24.7 km
  • Frómista - Carrión de los Condes: 18.8 km
  • Carrión de los Condes - Terradillos de los Templarios: 26.3 km
  • Terradillos of the Templars - Bercianos del Real Camino: 23.2 km
  • Bercianos del Real Camino - Mansilla de las Mulas: 26.3 km
  • Mansilla de las Mulas - León: 18.5 km
• Section 4: 152.9 km
  • León - San Martín del Camino: 24.6 km
  • San Martín del Camino - Astorga: 23.7 km
  • Astorga - Foncebadón: 25.8 km
  • Foncebadón - Ponferrada: 26.8 km
  • Ponferrada - Villafranca del Bierzo: 24.2 km
  • Villafranca del Bierzo - O Cebreiro: 27.8 km
• Section 5: 160 km
  • O Cebreiro - Triacastela: 20.8 km
  • Triacastela - Sarria: 25 km
  • Sarria - Portomarín: 22.2 km
  • Portomarín - Palas de Rei: 24.8 km
  • Palas de Rei - Arzúa: 28.5 km
  • Arzúa - O Pedrouzo: 19.3 km
  • O Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela: 19.4 km

Portuguese Way, image from Wikimedia Commons

Portuguese Way by sections

This route is not normally taken into account in its full magnitude, since it starts in Lisbon and adds up to more than 600 kilometres. If it is not done in sections, it intimidates any pilgrim. However, it is a spectacular route both for its landscape and its culture. so We will be able to get to know all of Portugal, and open our borders a little more on this trip. Getting to each stage is easy thanks to the good communications at each of the starting points of the stages, both in Spain and Portugal.

• Section 1: 124.2 km
  • Lisbon - Alpriate: 21.7 km
  • Alpriate - Vila Franca de Xira: 18.8 km
  • Vila Franca de Xira - Azambuja: 20 km
  • Azambuja - Santarém: 33 km
  • Santarém - Golegã: 30.7 km
• Section 2: 123.1 km
  • Golegã - Tomar: 31.3 km
  • Tomar - Alvaiázere: 31.7 km
  • Alvaiázere - Alvorge: 22.7 km
  • Alvorge - Cernache: 26.1 km
  • Cernache - Coimbra: 11.3 km
• Section 3: 127 km
  • Coimbra - Sernadelo: 24.8 km
  • Sernadelo - Águeda: 23.5 km
  • Águeda - Albergaria-a-Velha: 15.8 km
  • Albergaria-a-Velha - São João da Madeira: 28.8 km
  • São João da Madeira - Grijó: 19 km
  • Grijó - Porto: 15.1 km
• Section 4: 124.8 km
  • Porto - Vilarinho: 26.5 km
  • Vilarinho - Barcelos: 27.3 km
  • Barcelos - Ponte de Lima: 34.5
  • Ponte de Lima - Rubiães: 17.4 km
  • Rubiães - Tui: 19.1 km
• Section 5: 115.2 km
  • Tui - Redondela: 31.9 km
  • Redondela - Pontevedra: 19.6 km
  • Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis: 21.2 km
  • Caldas de Reis - Padrón: 18.6 km
  • Padrón - Santiago de Compostela: 23.9 km

Primitive Way by sections

The Camino de Santiago through the Camino Primitivo is not one of the main options for do it in sections. Its total distance is less than that of other routes, so it is divided into only two sections. This division is very balanced: same days and practically the same distance. In two weeks that you can distribute as you wish, you will be able to complete the Camino de Santiago. The turning point is in Fonsagrada, as far as we can get by bus from Lugo. 

• Section 1: 152.7 km
  • Oviedo - Grado: 25.2 km
  • Grado - Salas: 22.1 km
  • Salas - Tineo: 19.8 km
  • Tineo - Borres: 15.9 km
  • Borres - Berducedo: 24.1 km
  • Berducedo - Grandas de Salime: 20.4 km
  • Grandas de Salime - A Fonsagrada: 25.2 km
• Section 2: 155 km
  • A Fonsagrada - O Cádavo: 24.3 km
  • O Cádavo - Lugo: 29.5 km
  • Lugo - Ferreira: 26.5 km
  • Ferreira - Melide: 20 km
  • Melide - Arzúa: 16 km
  • Arzúa - O Pedrouzo: 19.3  km
  • Pedrouzo - Santiago de Compostela: 19.4 km

The credential on the Camino by sections

If you're wondering if your pilgrim credential will lose its validity. its validity for doing the Camino de Santiago in sections, don't worry. As long as you complete the Camino ordered chronologically and geographically, you can use the same credential. Of course, do not forget to stamp your credential twice at each stage. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not be able to obtain the Compostela.