Passing the Camino de Santiago is one of the most difficult task in Spain , but at the same time the most rewarding.
The long and extensive route makes it beautiful and attractive to locals and tourists.
In fact, your phone will help you with some applications of the Camino de Santiago to make your journey even easier .
There are several itineraries and several attractions that should not be missed under any circumstances, so the smartphone can serve as a pocket guide so that you don’t miss some of the national landmarks.
The pilgrimage to Santiago is becoming more popular every year.
Last year, more than 63 thousand people took part in it, which is 11% more than the previous figure.
The share of foreign participants is increasing; over the past year, it has grown to a level of 15%!
The 5 Best Camino de Santiago Apps
The Buen Camino app, Cno. Santiago App, Jacostamp, Pilbeo – Camino de Santiago , TrekRight: Camino de Santiago are the best 5 Camino de Santiago Apps.
The 5 Best Camino de Santiago Apps
Let’s look closer:
1.
The Buen Camino app
All information for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela is available in this application on your mobile phone.
Spaniard Carlos Muncos developed the Buen Camino app, available on iOS and Android platforms, capable of working without an Internet connection and containing all the details of the routes for walkers and cyclists.
This application has a weather forecast for each section of the road, and hundreds of hotels, hostels, boarding houses, other recreation points, cultural monuments, and institutions that may be of interest to tourists are marked along the way.
There is all the information about each downloaded object, from basic data to historical information.
In addition, the application notifies about all incidents on the way of pilgrims in real time and show possible changes in the route.
Only one route, Baztán, can be downloaded for free.
The remaining options—the Northern Route, the Aragonese Route, and the Easy Route—are available for money.
The exact price of downloading different maps is around of 2-4 euros.
2.
Cno.
Santiago App
This application offers you a mapping service from the National Geographic Institute and data from the Spanish Federation of Associations for the Way of Santiago.
In it, you can find information about hostels and monuments, record an itinerary, or get a pilgrim’s guide that also works both online and offline.
3.
Jacostamp
This application has just one purpose: to provide the geolocation of various stamps that the pilgrim can find so you can get your favorites.
After all, the Camino de Santiago ID, filled with stamps you’ll collect as you pass through hostels, shops, or town halls, is one of the most iconic memories of your journey on any of the Jacobin routes.
4.
Pilbeo – Camino de Santiago
This allows you to pick up the luggage of the pilgrim and leave it at the next stage. It can be paid for in a variety of ways and allows you to control the exact pickup location.
It has a search tool to select collection and delivery points for each stage. In addition, it notifies you of the status of your luggage, so you always know where it is.
5.
TrekRight: Camino de Santiago
This app is perfect for everyone, whether they prefer to walk or prefer to cycle around the Camino de Santiago , specifically the Camino France and the extension from Santiago to Finisterre.
includes detailed maps and provides information based on your location. It tells you where you are, what else you need to see, what you have around, and where to find a water source. Everything is in real time, although the application is exclusively paid.
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Does Google Maps show the Camino de Santiago?
Yes, it shows many paths: walking, cycling, by car, by bus…
But My advice: No matter how smart Google’s artificial intelligence is, Google Maps algorithms sometimes lead tourists either to the mountains, or to country roads, or to closed areas.
Therefore, I strongly recommend that you always check the path that the application has suggested . Often, it does not see the difference between a narrow, but popular route, and a mountain serpentine.
But it’s easy to see if you look at the map in satellite mode at a higher zoom level.
Safety on the Camino de Santiago Way
Those who read the book “The Diary of a Magician” by Paulo Coelho are worried about dogs, and those who watched the movie “The Way” are worried about thieves. I was lucky, and there were no unpleasant situations.
Dogs are interested mainly in table treats and are insultingly indifferent to pilgrims.
As for the thieves, of course, they are attracted by such a congestion of travelers, but the road to Santiago is much safer than sometimes a way in your home town to the the metro stop.
It is enough to adhere to simple precautionary rules and to be prudent in behavior, clothing, and expenses.
How to Follow the Route?
The entire path is marked with yellow arrows and shells, symbols of the path of St. James. The more popular the route, the better the markings, and the more people are there.
Some people say that the section of the Portuguese Way from Lisbon to Porto has poor markings, but I have not been there.
The 5 Best Camino de Santiago Apps
After a while, I began to notice signs very quickly in the background of the landscape. If suddenly there are no signs at the next fork, it means that you have lost your way.
Go to the settlement through which the route should pass. There will be yellow arrows again.
After the Camino, life becomes simpler and clearer, as if the fog is clearing.
New sensations are easy to carry with you into everyday life.
It’s like a gift for awareness and mental and physical labor on the road…
