CHANGES TO THE CAMINO COMPOSTELA: WHAT PILGRIMS NEED TO KNOW IN 2025.
For many pilgrims, receiving a Compostela, the official certificate of completion for the Camino de Santiago, is the symbolic cherry on top of a long and meaningful journey. But for years, a bottleneck effect has meant that thousands of pilgrims flock to the final 100km of the Camino Frances between Sarria and Santiago, making it one of the busiest sections of any Camino route.
Now, there’s been a quiet but significant change to the rules for receiving your Compostela. And it could just be the breath of fresh air that pilgrims – and the quieter Camino routes – have been waiting for.
What’s Changed?
Previously, to receive your Compostela on foot, you had to walk the last 100km of any Camino route into Santiago de Compostela, with the final stamp coming from the Pilgrim Office near the Cathedral. That often meant people zeroed in on one stretch: Sarria to Santiago on the Camino Francés.
From 2025 onwards, the new rule is this:
You must now walk at least 100km continuously on a single recognised Camino route, and also include the final stage into Santiago, but that final stretch doesn’t have to be part of the same 100km section.
In other words, you can now walk a more varied and interesting section of your chosen Camino (as long as it adds up to 100km), and then finish with a short walk into Santiago to receive your Compostela.
The hope is this will ease pressure on the final days of the Camino Francés and encourage pilgrims to explore less-travelled stretches of the Camino routes.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’ve always wanted to experience the Camino but didn’t fancy the crowded path from Sarria, this change opens the door to far more creative and peaceful options, especially for those with limited time or those returning for a second (or fifth!) pilgrimage.
It means you can:
- Choose a more scenic or coastal section of a Camino
- Walk your 100km in a quieter region, then travel onwards to Santiago.
You’ll still need to collect stamps in your Credencial to prove your journey – both on the 100km section and the final stage into Santiago – but the route you take is now far more flexible.
Ideas for Camino Sections to Walk (That Aren’t from Sarria)
Here are some Camino combinations to consider that would qualify you for the Compostela under the new rule, without going anywhere near the final 100km of the Camino Francés.
Camino del Norte
Walk: San Sebastián to Bilbao (~125km)
Finish: Final stage along the Camino Frances, for example 27km from Salceda.
A glorious coastal stretch of the Norte route, perfect for those who want sea breezes and pintxos before ending their pilgrimage inland.
Find our daily stages guide for the Camino del Norte here.
Camino Portugués Coastal
Walk: Porto to Vigo (~170km via the coast)
Finish: Last stage from Padrón to Santiago (~24km)
Take in the best of northern Portugal and Galicia’s coastal gems before heading inland to finish.
Find our daily stages guide for the Camino Portuguese coastal route here.
Camino Frances (Earlier Stage)
Walk: León to Villafranca del Bierzo (~125km)
Finish: Final day’s walk into Santiago (e.g. from O Pedrouzo 20km)
For those who want a taste of the historic heart of the Camino Frances, without walking the most crowded stretch.
Find our daily stages guide to the Camino Frances here.
More 1 week itineraries
We’ve written a detailed blog post about different one week (approximately 100km) itineraries that you can walk on the different Camino de Santiago routes
A Note on Planning
Remember:
- You must walk 100km on one route, continuously (in order),
- You must also walk the final stage into Santiago
- It’s fine to split your Camino over different trips, but you must resume each time where you left off
- Always stamp your Credencial at the start and end of each walking day
A Step in the Right Direction?
We think this is a welcome and thoughtful update, one that brings back a little of the Camino’s adventurous and exploratory spirit. Whether you’re a seasoned pilgrim or a first-time walker, it offers the chance to walk your Camino, your way, while still receiving recognition for your journey.
If you’re looking for advice on planning your next route or combining sections to fit the new Compostela rules, we’re always happy to help, just drop us a line.
Would you like us to plan your walk for you?
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Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
British travel writer and long-distance hiker, native to Kent. Emma has walked the Camino de Santiago more than ten times, completed trails across Europe from the Corfu Trail to the Fisherman’s Trail, and covered thousands of kilometres on foot. She always writes from first-hand experience. Her goal? Inspire just one person to go on their first long-distance hike.
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