Walking the Camino de Santiago is meant to be a pilgrimage, not an exercise in self destruction via 12kg of socks and a bucket of tiger balm!
As a 40 year old camino walker with a slightly dodgy knee and an unhealthy love of blister plasters, I am firmly in the camp that says you do not have to suffer to have an authentic Camino.
That is where luggage transfer services come in.
These bag courier companies move your main rucksack or suitcase from one stop to the next while you walk with just a day pack.
So here’s everything you need to know about how luggage transfer on the Camino works.
From typical prices for this service, to the recommended companies, plus how to book, and all the pros and cons, it’s designed to help you decide if luggage transfer on the Camino might just make your walk a lot easier… and more enjoyable!
Related Posts
- Hiking the Camino de Santiago as a Solo Female
- Connectivity on the Camino: eSIMs and Mobile Data
- What to Packing for the Camino: Female-Specific Check List
How Luggage Transfer Works on the Camino
Although each luggage transfer company on the Camino uses a slightly different system, the basic process for the service is the same…
- You decide on your Camino stages and book luggage transfer between your chosen towns or villages.
- You stay in private accommodation that agrees to accept bags, such as private albergues, pensiones, guesthouses or small hotels. Public albergues in Galicia usually do not accept bag deliveries, so most services ask you to use a nearby partner accommodation instead.
- The night before, you confirm your luggage pick up and drop off points, often by calling or Whatsapp-ing your chosen operator. Remember to keep your luggage weight under the specified maximum (usually around 15kg).
- In the morning, leave your luggage at reception, or a designated collection point, by about 8:00 in the morning. Remember to attach a label or company envelope to your bag with your name, date, route and destination. Many services provide pre-printed envelopes to make this simple.
- A driver collects your bag and transports it to your next stop, usually delivering it before mid-afternoon, often between 2.30 and 4:30pm. I highly recommend keeping your passport with you in your day pack in case you arrive at your accommodation and want to check in, before your luggage turns up.
- You then breeze along the trail carrying only a small day pack with water, snacks, rain gear and valuables. By the time you limp, stride or hobble into your next town, your bag is already waiting behind the desk.
- Bag courier services normally run throughout the main Camino season from about March to October. Some companies operate in winter, but often with higher prices or limited coverage, especially on the Portuguese routes, so do bear this in mind.
Typical Costs of Luggage Transfer on the Camino
Prices are usually charged per bag per stage.
A “stage” is the distance between two overnight stops, generally up to 25-30km, with weight limits around 15kg per bag.
Rough guide prices as of 2025-26…
- On some parts of the Camino Francés, local companies prices start from about 4€ per bag per stage for up to 30km. This is among the cheapest rate you’ll find
- Other operators on other Camino routes offer luggage transfer for between 5-10€ per bag per day, depending on distance and region
- Guides for the Portuguese Camino find that the average price is slightly higher, around 7€ per bag per day, working out at roughly 98€ for a 14 day walk
If you are walking the full Camino Francés, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, prices can quickly add up.
For 30 to 33 days at 4-7€ a day, you are looking at around 120-231€ in total.
For a shorter one week section, say from Sarria to Santiago, luggage transfer prices are far more manageable and often makes a huge difference to your comfort.
Of course, the other option is to book your whole camino adventure through an operator like Follow the Camino, as I did.
As part of their package, Follow the Camino will then provide luggage transfer in their included overall price.
Get 10% off your Follow the Camino adventure with the discount code: Steph10
Main Camino Luggage Transfer Providers
There are lots of regional players, but a few luggage transfer company names come up again and again among pilgrims…
#1 Paq Mochila
The Spanish postal service runs Paq Mochila – a huge luggage transfer network that covers the Camino Francés from Roncesvalles, parts of the Camino Portugués, Camino del Norte, Primitivo, Inglés, Vía de la Plata, Invierno and the routes to Fisterra and Muxía.
You can book online and then print or pick up their labels to hang on your bag.
Leave your luggage at reception by 8am.
A postman then collects it and drops it at your next accommodation before around 2:30pm.
#2 Jacotrans
Jacotrans focuses on the Camino Francés, transporting backpacks and suitcases from Saint Jean Pied de Port or Roncesvalles, all the way to Santiago and on to Finisterre
Prices start around 6€ per transfer on some sections, and the service is bookable online in advance.
#3 Xacotrans
Operating on parts of the French Way between O Cebreiro and Santiago, Xacotrans’ prices start from 4€ per bag per stage (up to 30 km), with extra charges for accommodation located off the main route.
#5 Pilbeo
Pilbeo is a luggage transfer company that works on various Camino routes and allows online booking with payment by card or PayPal.
Each bag can weigh up to 20kg (making them one of the companies with the heaviest allowance) and is moved stage by stage.
#6 TopSantiago and Caminofácil
On the Camino Portugués, companies such as TopSantiago and Caminofácil are the big players.
Their reviews give typical prices of around 7€ per bag per day.
Caminofácil also offers taxi services for people (not just bags!) depending on the stage.
How to Book Camino Luggage Transfer
You have three main booking options…
- Book direct online: Most companies have websites in English where you can choose your route, dates and stages, then pay securely.
- Book through your Camino tour operator: If you are using an agency for pre-booked accommodation, like Follow the Camino, they can usually add luggage transfer to your package and handle all the logistics. This costs more but keeps everything under one booking.
- Book day by day on the ground: On busier routes you will see labels and adverts for local carriers in many albergues and cafés. Simply fill in the details on the envelope, put the correct cash inside and leave your bag at the designated pick up point by the cut off time. Usually this option is only available during high season.
Whichever method you choose, you will need…
- Confirmed accommodation for that night, not just vague plans
- Your name and mobile number (get an Holafly eSIM for unlimited date connectivity across the Camino)
- The exact address or at least the name of your pension, albergue or hotel
- One bag per person, which is under the specified weight limit
If you struggle with set itineraries, you can mix and match.
For example, on the Camino del Norte you might arrange bag transfer for the long, hilly stretches into Bilbao and Santander, then carry your full pack on shorter or more flexible days.
Pros of Using Luggage Transfer on the Camino
#1 Comfort and Injury Prevention
The biggest advantage is obvious. Removing 8-12kg from your shoulders and knees makes long walking days much more manageable, especially in Galicia where the hills feel personal, or during hot Spanish summer afternoons.
It is also a great option if you already have issues with joints, feet or back. Tendonitis and knee problems are common among pilgrims and that bag transfer can significantly reduce fatigue and strain.
#2 Accessibility
Luggage transfer makes the Camino de Santiago more inclusive for older walkers, those recovering from injury, or anyone who wants to come along but cannot safely carry their full kit.
#3 Flexibility When Packing
Because your main luggage is being transported, you can bring slightly more clothing to the Camino.
A nicer outfit for evenings in cities such as Burgos, León or Santiago, or extra layers for chilly spring mornings without obsessing over grams, can go a long way!
In essence, luggage transfer lets travellers feel more confident, by allowing them to packing a few extra comfort items without worrying about the weight. I was very glad about this!
Cons of Luggage Transfer on the Camino
#1 Cost Over Long Distance
On a full Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago route, the cost of luggage transfer is not insignificant.
For budget pilgrims trying to keep their daily spend low, the cost of bag courier services – 6-7€ a day – is the price of a menu del día, or a dorm bed in some cheaper albergues, so think about your budget carefully.
#2 Less Spontaneity
Because luggage transfer relies on pre-booked stages and specific accommodations, you lose some freedom to decide, mid-afternoon, if you fancy stopping 5km earlier in a village with a particularly tempting bar.
If you change your Camino plans at the last minute, you may need to grab a taxi to your bag.
#3 Restrictions on Accommodation
Many public albergues, especially in Galicia, do not accept bags that arrive by courier.
That nudges you towards private options, which are often lovely, but slightly more expensive – again a budget issue.
#4 Environmental Considerations
Every bag that gets moved on the Camino is another van on the road.
On busy sections this is not trivial, so some pilgrims prefer to carry their pack to reduce vehicle traffic, or to use luggage transfers only on harder days.
Is Camino Luggage Transfer Worth It?
In the end, the answer to this this comes down to your body, your budget and what sort of pilgrimage you want to be.
If you are reasonably fit, doing a short 1 week route like Sarria to Santiago, and enjoy the simplicity of carrying everything, then you may not need luggage transfer at all.
If, however, you are nervous about old injuries, planning 20-30 km days on steep terrain, walking in heat, or simply want to enjoy the Spanish bars and Galician hills without silently crying into your trekking poles, then paying someone to move your bag can be money very well spent.
Personally I see it as another tool in the Camino toolbox and taking advantage of luggage transfer definitely improved my enjoyment of the whole experience.
Use it for a whole route, for one tough mountain day, or just when your knees start filing formal complaints – the choice is yours!
In my opinion, the shell still goes on your pack, your feet still cover every km into Santiago de Compostela, and the sense of achievement tastes just as good with a slightly lighter rucksack.
Camino Quick Tips
When to Hike the Camino?
I recommend Spring or Autumn for best weather, lowest crowds and reasonable prices.
eSIM
Holafly offer unlimited data eSIMs for Spain that are perfect for staying connected on the Camino.
Insurance
World Nomads offer simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Travel Money
Spain uses the Euro.
I always travel Europe with my Wise card, which makes spending abroad cheaper with real exchange rates and no sneaky transaction or ATM fees – grab yours here.
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My Camino trip was kindly gifted by Follow the Camino but, as always, all views are my own.
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