What to do for a Week’s Recovery After the Camino

Each time I walked I took some time at the end for recovery after the Camino de Santiago. I also wanted to be a tourist for a while and immerse myself in the local culture. I have walked the Camino Frances twice and a part of the Le Puy route in France. For me, it would be a missed opportunity not to enjoy more of the country I am in after travelling so far.

My experiences are not for everyone, so I reached out on Facebook and asked “What would you do after the Camino de Santiago?” Below are my experiences of people’s holiday itinerary after the Camino.

There were a few suggestions like this. Many, after reaching Santiago de Compostela decide to walk to Finisterre and/or Muxia. After finishing my first Camino in 2004 I took a bus to Finisterre and walked back for two days. My plan was to walk to Santiago again, but after two days of pouring raining I gave up and hopped on a bus.

This was a good way to ease off walking for many kilometres a day, rather than simply stopping. It’s a good warm down!

I had lots of spare time that year, and I had arranged to for 3 days on the Camino Aragon with the friend who had convinced me I would love the Camino. He was right! This route is very different from the Frances. It is much quieter, hillier, and easier to get lost. It fuelled a desire to experience the Camino again.

After I left Daragh, I headed down the coast to the Costa Dorada to enjoy a beach holiday with my family. This had been arranged before leaving for the Camino. Obviously, I could not take account of what I would want after walking a pilgrimage, although maybe an unwilling one.

The beach holiday which I would have enjoyed in the past was in a tourist area that was too busy and devoid of the spirituality and helpfulness I had enjoyed while walking the Camino. Looking back, a lot of my unhappiness with that holiday was just me. Spirituality is available pretty much everywhere, it was just new to me at the time and therefore fragile.

There were many suggestions on Facebook about beach destinations and sun holidays. You can fly easily and cheaply from Santiago de Compostela to almost anywhere in Europe or Spain.  These were the main suggestions: travel down the coast to Portugal, Majorca, Tenerife, Malaga, and a few of the usual tourist destinations in Spain.  But, don’t forget Finisterre has a great beach and if you have walked there it can be a great place to relax away from the bustle for a few days.

Portugal is interesting as you can stay in places that are on the beach and on the Camino Portugues – and not as busy as the Spanish resorts. Anywhere north of Porto up to Viana do Castelo was on the suggestions list.

Another recommendation was Sanxenxo, which is south of Santiago and just off the Portuguese Way, which means you could walk there. The beach is beautiful and considered the best in Galicia, but that also makes it one of the most expensive places to holiday in Galicia.

If you like surfing perhaps somewhere near Bilbao would be for you. This area apparently has the best waves along the north coast of Spain.

Many others suggested staying for a few nights in Santiago de Compostela, catching up with fellow pilgrims and taking in the city. Santiago is not a large city, so you can walk around easily. A couple of days in Santiago for me is a culinary delight as I love seafood and there is a great choice in Santiago.

Everyone will likely visit the Cathedral de Santiago, but take a stroll across the square and visit the Parador, it is worth the visit.

Some look for peace and quiet after their Camino. There are two retreats I know of in the Monastery de Oseira and the Monastery de Santa Maria de Sobrado. The latter is on the Camino del Norte and also a pilgrim’s hostel.

There are various opportunities to volunteer to help in hostels along the Camino. There is no central place to find these and you are best checking out the forums and asking your home Confraternity who will likely run one or more hostels.

The pilgrims’ office also has a chapel for prayer and reflection and now has a large garden where you can relax.

Many other suggestions were visiting Madrid and Barcelona. If you have not already visited these cities, it is well worth taking the extra time and choosing one – especially if you have flown over the Atlantic to get here.

Barcelona is likely the most out of the way for pilgrims coming to or leaving Spain, but it comes top in the Facebook suggestions as places to see. I spent two days there and can highly recommend it. You of course need to see the Catalan modernista architecture at the Sagrada Família and experience Barcelona’s surprising Roman history.

Many from North America fly in and out of Madrid, so it makes sense to get a train from Santiago back to Madrid and enjoy the city. You will find lots to see and do in Madrid. I have been there several times and highly recommend it outside of July and August when the temperatures are in the high 30 degrees Celsius.

I hope this short guide has given you a few suggestions on what to do for a week after the Camino de Santiago.

Leslie Gilmour is a guest writer for the Follow the Camino blog.

For guidance on what to do and on recovery after the Camino, you can talk to one of our expert Camino planners!