Day 08 | Villatuerta to Los Acros
All images ©Copyright: Earthy Photography®
Can you take a bus or taxi whilst walking the Camino?
In my opinion, if that’s what you want to do – then yes, we saw many pilgrims doing so. How you move between stages is a personal choice. There is no single “right way” to walk the Camino.
On day 15 leaving the town of Cirueña, I got chatting with a pilgrim. During our conversation he mentioned that he had just gotten off a bus in the town because he wanted to skip a couple of stages.
I asked him what he thought about that many pilgrims frowned upon people who did that – he replied, “In medieval times people rode donkeys on the Camino – that bus I took was my donkey.”
“You make a fair point,” I said.
5 Reasons why some pilgrims must take a bus or taxi on the Camino
1) Injury or illness
Blisters, tendonitis, knee pain, or exhaustion are common. Skipping a stage can mean the difference between finishing or quitting.
2) Time constraints
Not everyone has the required 30–45 days. Many pilgrims compress the journey to fit work or family schedules.
3) Terrain or safety
Some stages are long, remote, or weather-exposed. Transport can be a practical decision.
4) Accommodation logistics
If albergues (Hostels) are full, pilgrims sometimes must move ahead to find a bed.
5) Tour Operators
Many pilgrims travel from around the world to walk the Camino, often following a tight daily schedule set by their tour operator. They are required to finish by a specific date, with return flights already booked and paid for. Unexpected events can occur along the way, sometimes making it necessary to take a bus or taxi in order to stay on schedule.
Are you cheating if you take a bus or taxi on the Camino Frances?
This came up in conversation with a nice couple I met on Day 20 in Burgos – like many others they had taken a bus to avoid the heat and the vast 7 Km industrial estate on the last section of that stage. In their opinion they said “You cannot be cheating as it is not a race – besides the time we saved we spent looking around the Cathedral and not trudging past endless factories” … again, “You make a fair point,” I replied.
For me personally, my Camino meant walking every single step of the way – which I did.
I was also fortunate to have had the time to do so, and even more thankful to have completed it without injury.
The Only Rule that really matters:
If you want the official Compostela (Certificate) you must: Walk the last 100 km (or cycle 200 km).
Outside of that requirement, how you complete earlier sections is entirely up to you.
