Backpack Transfer on the Camino de Santiago: Complete Guide

Backpack transfer on the Camino de Santiago

One of the most practical decisions you'll make before starting the Camino is what to do with your backpack. Many people picture the pilgrim carrying everything on their back, mile after mile, and it's a romantic image. But the reality is that more and more pilgrims choose backpack transfer between stages — and not out of laziness. Sometimes it's the difference between finishing the Camino enjoying every step or finishing it with an injury.

In this guide we'll explain honestly how the service works, what it really costs, how to book it, how to label your bag, and above all who it's worth it for and who can skip it.

How backpack transfer works

The system is simple and very well established along the whole French Way, especially on the last 100 km from Sarria. It works like this:

• In the morning: , you leave your backpack at reception or an agreed point in your accommodation before the cut-off time (usually 8:00 am).
• A transfer company picks it up and takes it to your next accommodation.
• When you arrive at the next stage, your backpack is already waiting for you, normally before 2:00 or 3:00 pm.
• You walk with just a small daypack: water, a snack, rain jacket, phone and little else.

You don't need to meet anyone or wait around. The service runs "accommodation to accommodation", so the logistics are handled between them.

How much does it cost?

The standard price is around €8 to €10 per stage per backpack. So if you walk the last 100 km from Sarria over five stages, you're looking at roughly €40 to €50 in total for the whole route. Some services charge a little more in high season or if your bag is over a weight limit (usually 15-20 kg).

It's not pocket change, but compared with the overall cost of the trip it's very reasonable. If you want to plan all your numbers before you set off, our Camino de Santiago budget guide will help.

How to book the service

There are several ways to arrange it, depending on how much you want sorted in advance:

1. Through your accommodation

The easiest option. Many rural houses, hostels and guesthouses work with a trusted transfer company. You just let them know the night before, drop your bag in the morning, and they handle it. At Casa Andaina, for example, we're happy to point you to the local service and help you coordinate it.

2. Booking it yourself directly

Several companies have websites where you book stage by stage, enter the pick-up and drop-off addresses, and pay online or in cash inside an envelope you attach to the bag. It's flexible and lets you skip a day if you'd rather carry your pack.

3. With a local taxi transfer

If you're travelling with bulky luggage, in a group, or want to move several suitcases at once (not just pilgrim backpacks), a local taxi is often the best option. Taxi Castro runs transfers between stages and to Santiago airport, and it's very useful when your luggage doesn't fit the standard backpack-transfer format.

4. With the whole trip organised

If you'd rather not worry about anything at all — accommodation, luggage transfer, experiences, meals — you can book the Camino through a local agency that designs it around you. OurWay.Travel, an agency based in Palas de Rei, organises guided Camino experiences, gastronomic routes across Galicia and group logistics. It's the choice for those who just want to walk and have everything else taken care of. If this route interests you, we cover the pros and cons in our guide to the organised Camino de Santiago.

Labelling: the step you must not skip

Most backpack-transfer problems come from incomplete labelling. It's the one moment that needs your full attention:

• Write down the name of your next accommodation, the town and, if you have it, the phone number.
• Add your own name and mobile number too.
• If you're paying in cash, put the money in the envelope the company provides and tape or tie it firmly to the bag.
• Close the outer pockets and tuck your poles inside or strap them down so nothing gets lost along the way.

A handy trick: take a photo of the label with your phone. If any doubt comes up, you've got the details to hand.

Timings worth getting clear

• Pick-up: leave your backpack before 8:00 am (some services accept until 8:30, but don't count on it).
• Delivery: it usually arrives between 12:00 and 3:00 pm. So even if you reach your destination early, be patient — your bag may take a little longer than you.
• Rest day or change of plan: always give advance notice if you change destination, because the bag goes where you said it would, not to wherever you happen to be.

Who is it worth it for?

Let's be honest, because not everyone needs it.

It is worth it if:

• You have back, knee or foot trouble, or you're coming back from an injury.
• You're walking with children and already have plenty to manage with their pace and their things. If that's you, take a look at our guide to the Camino de Santiago with kids.
• You're in a large group and want to walk light and enjoy the scenery without suffering.
• You're doing long stages or routes with serious climbs and prefer to conserve energy.
• It's your first Camino and you're not sure about your fitness.

You may not need it if:

• You're well trained and enjoy the physical challenge of carrying everything.
• You have a very light pack (under 6-7 kg) that's well adjusted.
• You're after the most "classic", self-sufficient pilgrim experience.

A middle path: some people carry their pack for the first few days to feel the full experience and only send it ahead on the toughest stages. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Carry less weight: start with your pack

Backpack transfer solves the weight problem on the trail, but it doesn't replace packing well. The less you carry, the better you'll walk — and the cheaper it'll be if a service charges for excess weight. Before you leave, go through what you really need with our Camino packing list, and if you're travelling in the shoulder months, check the best time to walk the Camino so you don't carry extra clothing.

Casa Andaina: your base in Palas de Rei

In the heart of Palas de Rei, right on the French Way and 65 km from Santiago, Casa Andaina is the ideal place to start or rest on your stage. You're literally on the route: step out the door, follow the yellow arrows and leave your backpack ready for the transfer to collect in the morning.

We have 6 bedrooms across two independent apartments (sleeping 10 and 5), two fully equipped kitchens, two bathrooms with bathtubs, fibre WiFi and central heating. There's no washing machine, but there are two launderettes 50 metres away. The apartment is available from €140/night and the whole house from €250/night, always with direct booking, no commissions.

To plan your time in the area, we can help with accommodation on the Camino de Santiago, options for where to stay in Palas de Rei, and if you're coming as a group, our rural house for groups in Galicia.

Book now by calling +34 982 204 131 and let your backpack travel light while you enjoy the Camino. Buen Camino!