Walking the Camino with children
It is one of the trips that works best as a family, on one condition: that the stages are planned around the child's pace and not the other way round. What ruins these Caminos is not the distance, it is the rush.
What works at each age
| Age | Km per day | How |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 | — | In a carrier. The adult does the kilometres |
| 4–6 | 5–8 km | Very short stages, with a carrier or buggy for rough sections |
| 7–9 | 10–14 km | Short days and plenty of stops |
| 10–12 | 15–18 km | Almost normal stages if they are used to walking |
| 13+ | 18–22 km | Adult stages, with margin |
These are guides, not rules: some eight-year-olds walk fifteen kilometres without complaint and some teenagers fall apart at ten. What is constant is that boredom tires them more than distance.
Which route to choose
The criteria that matter with children are different from the usual ones: frequent services, splittable stages, and easy transport if a day has to be abandoned.
| Route | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Sarria to Santiago | The best option. Services every few kilometres, plenty of people, easy transport and it splits into 7 short stages |
| Tui to Santiago | Gentle profile and fewer people. Slightly fewer services |
| Baiona to Santiago | Starts by the sea, which motivates younger children |
| Primitivo or Norte | Not advisable with young children: climbing, sections without services and few ways out |
On the Sarria crowds: with children they work in your favour. More people means more bars, more albergues, more pharmacies and an easier taxi on the day someone has had enough.
How to split the stages
- Halve the classic split. The five stages from Sarria become seven or eight. The 7-stage split is here.
- Set off early and finish by midday. The free afternoon in the village is part of the plan, not an improvised rest.
- Book luggage transfer. With children it is not a luxury: it lets you carry only water, food and a waterproof. How it works.
- Book accommodation. Hunting for a bed at five in the afternoon with tired children is the worst possible combination.
- Have a plan B each day. Knowing a taxi exists removes a lot of pressure, even if you never use it.
Keeping them going
- Give them their own credential and let them ask for the stamps. Collecting stamps turns the stage into a game with a goal.
- Set short targets. Not «12 km to go», but «as far as that church».
- Hunt yellow arrows. Let them spot the waymarks and lead the group.
- A small pack of their own with their things: water, a toy, their snack.
- Stage rewards. An ice cream on arrival works better than any speech about the meaning of the Camino.
Practicalities
- Municipal albergues accept children, though in bunks in a shared room. With young children a private room is usually worth the money.
- The Compostela is issued to minors who complete the 100 km. Very young children can receive an adapted version.
- Sun cream and a hat, always. And in summer, no walking between two and five.
- Break in their footwear too. Children's blisters end a trip faster than anything else.
- Health card and a basic first-aid kit, with plenty of blister dressings.
Common questions
What age can children walk the Camino de Santiago?
Any age in a carrier. Walking on their own, from around six or seven with short stages.
How many kilometres can a child walk in a day?
5 to 8 km at four to six years old, 10 to 14 at seven to nine, and almost normal stages from ten.
Which route is best with children?
Sarria to Santiago split into seven stages: frequent services, easy transport and plenty of people around.
Do children get the Compostela?
Yes, if they complete the 100 km with a stamped credential. Very young children can receive an adapted version.