The Camino de Santiago is preferably walked with your own backpack. That is and remains the authentic pilgrim experience. However, sometimes circumstances require temporary help. Whether you’re dealing with blisters, sustaining an injury, forgetting something, or simply need to give your body a day of rest – camino luggage transport services can provide a solution.
While I believe that carrying your own luggage adds something valuable to your pilgrimage, both physically and mentally, there are good reasons to occasionally deviate from this. Because everyone walks their own Camino and we can’t look into each other’s heads or bodies, I’m happy to share all tips about luggage transport on the Camino de Santiago.
When is camino luggage transport useful?
Medical reasons
There can be several medical reasons that force you to send your luggage with the transport service for a day or several days. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t experience the pilgrimage.
- Injuries during the trek: Foot, knee, or back problems
- Blisters or other foot complaints
- Muscle or joint overload
- Sudden health issues
Practical situations
- Forwarding forgotten items: Like pajamas you left behind at a previous hostel
- Defective backpack or equipment
- Bad weather requiring extra items
- Recovery from illness: When you want to continue but aren’t fully fit yet
Occasional rest
- Heavy stages: Especially for distances longer than 25-30 km
- Challenging terrain: Mountainous sections or difficult ground
- Mental rest: Sometimes you simply need a day without weight
Also read: A complete guide to a goodd night sleep in albergues
How does camino luggage transport work?
The practice
You don’t need to arrange this for your entire route in advance. Most services work by visiting the hostels where they’ve delivered your bags.
Once you’re in their system, they keep coming. The first time you contact them by phone (call or WhatsApp) or email, and after that it goes automatically. If you decide to carry your own bag for a day, make sure to contact them again so they know to pick up your bag at your hostel.
How does this work in practice?
In the morning:
- Fill in an envelope (usually available at hostels)
- Note your name, destination, and phone number
- Attach a label to your bag
- Pay the fee (cash in the envelope)
- Place your luggage at the designated spot before 8:00
During the day:
- You walk with only a small daypack
- Your luggage is picked up between 8:00-9:00
In the afternoon:
- Your bag is ready before 14:30-15:00 at your new hostel
Camino luggage transport costs
Standard rates
Depending on which Camino, luggage transfer costs between €3.00 and €7.50 per bag per 25 to 30 kilometers
Rates per provider
- Correos (Paq Mochila): €3 per day (cheapest option)
- Camino Comoda: €4 per day on the last 100 km Camino Frances
- Pilbeo: From €6 per stage
- TopSantiago: €5-8 per day
- Caminofácil: €6-7 per stage
- Other services: €5-10 per day
Extra costs for long stages
For stages longer than 30 kilometers, you pay twice because the vehicle needs to travel further than the calculated costs for a shorter distance. Some services have different limits (Correos: 60 km per day without extra costs).
Cost example for your Camino
For a typical 2-week Camino (14 days):
- Correos: €42 total
- Pilbeo/TopSantiago: €84-112 total
- For long stages: Possibly 50% extra per day
Main luggage services on the Camino
To give you a complete picture regarding camino luggage transport options, I’ll mention most companies here and what they charge for the services they provide.
1. Correos – Paq Mochila (Spanish Post)
- Advantage: By far the cheapest (€3/day)
- Disadvantage: Limited seasons, max 15 kg
- Routes: Camino Frances and Portugués
- Booking: Online or on-site
2. Pilbeo
- Advantage: App with tracking, reliable
- Routes: Frances, Portugués, Finisterre
- Special feature: Barcode system
3. TopSantiago
- Advantage: Also winter months, last-minute possible
- Routes: Especially Camino Portugués
- Contact: WhatsApp (+351 969 021 000)
4. Caminofácil
- Advantage: Broad service package, also taxis
- Routes: Multiple Caminos
- Extra: Transport to starting points
5. Camino Cómodo
- Advantage: Flexible booking per stage
- Routes: Camino Frances and Finisterre
- Special feature: Also bicycle transport possible
6. Jacotrans
- Advantage: Long experience, reliable
- Routes: Especially Camino Frances
- Coverage: From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago
Practical tips for camino luggage transport
Weight limits
- Standard: 15-20 kg per bag
- Note: Maximum 15kg per luggage piece at most services
- Extra luggage: Possible for additional fee
Accommodation requirements
To pick up and deliver luggage, the accommodation must be open all day. This usually makes it impossible to use municipal albergues because they’re not open throughout the day. Hostals also don’t always have a reception and therefore can’t receive the bag either. Keep this in mind!
You must therefore:
- Reserve private accommodation
- Choose a hotel, pension, or private albergue
- Confirm they accept luggage
Identifying your bag
- Own label: Always a sturdy luggage tag with name and phone number
- Service label: From transport company, don’t remove
- Envelope: Usually available at hostels
- Contact details: Clearly legible
The envelope visible in the photo above contained triple the amount because they also brought a forgotten item to the next destination. How great that this can also be arranged through this service!
Last-minute booking
Many services accept reservations until:
- 20:00 the evening before (TopSantiago)
- Via WhatsApp (quick communication)
- On-site at hostel (envelope system)
Camino stages longer than 28 km?
A double rate is charged for stages longer than 28 km. This indeed applies to many services, but not all:
- General rule: Stages longer than 30 kilometers: pay twice
- Correos exception: Up to 60 km without extra costs
- Pilbeo/TopSantiago: Usually double rate
- Advice: Ask specifically about long stages when booking
When NOT to choose luggage transport
Authentic experience
Many pilgrims experience carrying their own belongings as an important part of the pilgrimage. Respect this choice and only use luggage transport when truly necessary.
Public albergues
If you want to sleep in municipal albergues, luggage transport is often not possible because they’re not always open for pickup/delivery.
Costs
For budget-conscious pilgrims, the extra costs (€40-140 for entire route) can be an important consideration.
Experiences and recommendations
Personal experience: I used luggage transport once on the Camino Portugués when I left my pajamas at a hostel. The service forwarded my bag two stages to my next accommodation. Super simple and effective for such a practical problem.
I also often arrange this for my pilgrims who join me on the pilgrimage I organise. I think it’s great that people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to do this are able to/dare to do so. Will you be joining us next year?
Common situations:
- Forgotten clothing or equipment
- Minor injuries requiring temporary rest
- Defective backpack or shoes
Alternatives to luggage transport
Optimize daypack
- Ultra-light packing: Basic equipment up to 7-8 kg
- Daily washing: Bring less clothing
- Share with travel companions: Distribute shared items
Partial transport
- Only heavy days: Mountainous stages
- Occasionally: For fatigue or minor complaints
- Weekend rest: One day per week walking worry-free
Forwarding to Santiago
For items you only need after the Camino, you can send a package ahead to Santiago and pick it up there.
Casa Ivar (popular choice)
- Address: Casa Ivar, Rua Nova 7, 15705 Santiago de Compostela
- Service: Up to 90 days free storage
- Contact: support@casaivar.zendesk.com
- Advantage: Extensive experience with pilgrims, hotel pickup service also possible
Correos (Spanish Post)
- Address: Oficina Principal de Correos, Rúa do Franco 4, 15702 Santiago de Compostela
- Service: Luggage storage service (daily rate)
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:30-20:30 (April-November), limited in winter
- Advantage: Centrally located, 2 minutes from the cathedral
Important: Don’t send with “PAQ Peregrino” rate to Casa Ivar – I read that with this rate you can only send to Correos and not to private addresses.
Conclusion: luggage transport as a safety net
Camino luggage transport is not shameful, but a practical solution for specific situations. Whether you’re dealing with injuries or forgotten items, these services can help you continue your pilgrimage.
The choice to temporarily have your backpack transported doesn’t make you less of a pilgrim. Sometimes it’s wise to take good care of yourself so you can enjoy the rest of your journey.
Practical advice:
- Use luggage transport preferably as a safety net for problems
- Choose the service that fits your budget and route
- Reserve accommodation that accepts luggage transport
- Save service contact details in your phone
Buen Camino – and don’t forget your pajamas! 🙂
Useful contact information
Correos Paq Mochila: elcaminoconcorreos.com
Pilbeo: pilbeo.com
TopSantiago: +351 969 021 000 (WhatsApp)
Caminofácil: caminofacil.net
Camino Cómodo: caminocomodo.com
Jacotrans: Book via local accommodation
Casa Ivar: support@casaivar.zendesk.com
Correos Santiago: Rúa do Franco 4, 15702 Santiago de Compostela
Also read:
- Packinglist for the camino – hiking trips
- Hiking with Trekking poles or without?
- Doing a 8 days pilgrimage? Read about my hike from Pamplona to Burgos