What's included in a Holy Year Camino trip?

Hand-picked hotels with daily breakfast, luggage transfers, a pilgrim passport and shell, and 24/7 support from our Camino experts. Check each trip page for the exact inclusions on your route.

How do luggage transfers work?

We move your luggage ahead to your next hotel each day, so you only walk with a day bag. That means you can pack what you prefer without carrying it.

What grade are the Holy Year Camino routes?

Routes are graded Easy, Easy to Moderate, Moderate or Strenuous. The Camino Portugués is easier and mainly flat, the Camino del Norte is tougher, and the Camino Primitivo is more challenging, so you can pick a route and pace that suits your fitness. We offer a few Relaxed camino tours that allow you walk the best Caminos and stages in more days at a more relaxed pace.

How far in advance should I book for 2027?

As early as possible. Trip dates and hotels can sell out in a Holy Year, especially in July around the July 25 Feast Day, so book early to improve your chances of your preferred dates.

What gear do I need to bring?

Comfortable, well-broken-in walking shoes, layers for changeable weather and a day pack cover the essentials. We transfer your luggage, so the rest is up to you. A packing list is included in your trip information once you book.

Yes. You can walk solo or with who you choose, and meet fellow pilgrims along the way. Single-room pricing varies by trip, so ask our Camino experts to confirm when you book.

How do I prepare and book?

Build your walking fitness with regular walks and a light pack, then speak with our Camino experts to confirm your route and secure your 2027 dates early. Consider requesting rest days when you book, or one of our Relaxed caminos.

4.7(1,520)

Camino de Santiago Holy Year

A Camino Holy Year, or Año Xacobeo, happens when the Feast of St James on July 25 falls on a Sunday - and 2027 is one of them. Macs Adventure is a leader in self-guided travel, and we'll help you walk the Camino de Santiago at its most meaningful, with hand-picked hotels, daily breakfast, and luggage transfers so you only carry a day bag.

Pilgrims from around the world head for Santiago de Compostela, drawn by tradition, celebration, and an atmosphere only a Holy Year brings. The cathedral's Holy Door opens, plazas host concerts and fireworks, and the trails are busier than usual. Choose the Camino Francés, Camino Portugués, Camino del Norte, or another route.

Holy Year dates and hotels can sell out, so book early. Our Camino experts offer 24/7 support, and your pilgrim passport and shell are included.

Happy pilgrim with a signed Compostela!
Santiago Cathedral Holy Door opens only during a Holy Year
Woodland trail on the Camino de Santiago
Pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago
Santiago Cathedral

8 hand-picked routes

France · Spain
4.8 (1,032)
Camino Frances
Walking
7–57 days
Easy to Moderate
from$1,340CAD pp
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Portugal · Spain
4.6 (142)
Camino Portugues Coastal Way
Walking
7–22 days
Easy - Moderate
from$1,670CAD pp
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Spain
4.7 (117)
Camino del Norte
Walking
8–42 days
Moderate to Moderate - Challenging
from$1,950CAD pp
View Route
Portugal · Spain
4.7 (102)
Camino Portugués
Walking
8–33 days
Easy - Moderate to Moderate
from$1,855CAD pp
View Route
Spain
4.5 (51)
Camino Inglés
Walking
7 days
Moderate
from$1,410CAD pp
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Spain
4.8 (45)
Camino Primitivo (Full Walk)
Walking
16 days
Moderate
from$3,135CAD pp
View Route
Portugal · Spain
4.6 (25)
Camino Portugues Coastal Way By Bike
Cycling
9 days
Easy - Moderate
from$2,785CAD pp
View Route
Portugal · Spain
4.3 (6)
Camino Portugues By Bike
Cycling
8 days
Moderate
from$2,445CAD pp
View Route

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What is a Camino Holy Year?
A Jacobean Holy Year (Año Xacobeo) happens when the Feast of St James on July 25 falls on a Sunday. Holy Years come around every 5, 6 or 11 years - the last was 2021 and the next is 2027. It's different from broader Catholic Jubilee Years like Rome's, which follow their own rhythm, generally every 25 years.
What happens at Santiago Cathedral during a Holy Year?
The Holy Door (Puerta Santa) opens only in a Holy Year. This year it will open on Dec 31, 2026 in a special Mass. Pilgrims pass through it, descend to the tomb of St James, then rise back into the light. In Catholic tradition, pilgrims who pray, attend Mass and receive Confession (within 15 days before the trip or after the cathedral visit) may receive a plenary indulgence. Santiago also hosts plaza concerts, historical exhibitions and some fireworks nights.
When is the best time to walk a Camino in a Holy Year?
July is the peak - packed trails, especially in Santiago on the July 25 Feast Day - if you want the Camino's energy at its highest. June to August still brings special events, fellow pilgrims and summer heat. Spring and autumn are milder with slightly fewer travelers, a good fit if you want a Holy Year experience with more breathing room.
Which Camino is right for me?
The Camino Francés is the most popular and sociable, ideal for first-timers, from the Pyrenees to the Meseta to Galicia via Pamplona, Burgos and León. The Camino Portugués and its Coastal Way are easier and mainly flat, passing Pontevedra, Padrón and Porto. The Camino del Norte is quieter and tougher, with clifftop paths and Basque pintxos. The Camino Primitivo is the original medieval route, mountainous and challenging. The Camino Inglés takes just 5 days from Ferrol, the Camino Finisterre walks on to the 'end of the world', and the Camino Le Puy crosses rural France via the Aubrac Plateau and the Lot Valley.
How do I prepare to walk the Camino?
Start walking regularly and build distance slowly, ideally with a light pack and well-broken-in shoes. Strengthen your legs and core, and consider requesting rest days when you book. Just as important is mental preparation: reflect on why you're walking, and stay open to conversation, shared meals and slowing down. Macs Adventure takes care of the rest.
Why walk the Camino in a Holy Year?
You get a unique spiritual atmosphere in Santiago, the opening of the Holy Door, a vibrant international community of pilgrims, and a Camino buzzing with celebration. On a Macs Adventure trip you walk at your own pace and meet like-minded pilgrims naturally - walk together, share a meal, or continue solo.

Camino de Santiago Holy Year