Bag Transfer on the Camino: A Step-by-Step Guide
Walking the Camino de Santiago is a life-changing journey, but carrying a 10 to 12 kg pack over hundreds of kilometers takes a heavy physical toll on your knees, feet, and back. Lots of pilgrims love carrying their pack but fortunately, you do not have to carry every piece of clothing and gear on your shoulders to experience the magic of the trail.
Thanks to an efficient network of luggage transfer services, sending your main bag ahead to your next night’s stay is simple, safe, and surprisingly affordable. Here is everything you need to know about how backpack, bag and luggage transport works on the Camino de Santiago, step by step.
Luggage transport relies on daily pickup routes operated by local transport providers, courier services, and host networks. The entire process follows five basic steps:
The 5-Step Process
- Choose Your Transfer Operator: Select a provider operating on your route, such as Correos (Paq Mochila), Jacotrans, or Xacotrans. You can book your entire route online in advance or set up transfers day-by-day.
- Tag Your Luggage Clearly: Attach a designated tag or cash envelope to your bag. Clearly write your full name, phone number, current location, and the precise name and address of your destination accommodation.
- Leave Your Bag at Reception by 8:00 AM: Place your tagged bag in the designated drop-off area at your lodging before starting your walk. Drivers collect bags early each morning.
- Walk Light with a Daypack: Carry only trail essentials in a small daypack: water, snacks, pilgrim credential, passport, cash, rain jacket, and basic first-aid supplies.
- Retrieve Your Bag Upon Arrival: Drivers deliver your pack while you walk. When you arrive at your next pre-booked stay (usually between 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM), your bag will be waiting for you in the lobby or holding room.
Important Rules & Tips
- Private vs. Public Albergues: Transport services deliver smoothly to private albergues, pensiones, and hotels. Public/municipal albergues do not accept advance room reservations or bag drop-offs. If staying in a municipal shelter, arrange drop-off at a nearby private business or bar.
- Weight Limits: Most services enforce a limit of 15 kg to 20 kg per bag. Extra charges apply if your pack exceeds the limit.
- Keep Valuables with You: Never put money, passports, credentials, medication, or delicate electronics into transferred luggage. Keep critical items in your daypack.
- Cost Expectations: Expect to pay between €6 and €12 per bag, per daily stage, dependant on the Camino route you take. The French Way has the lowest prices whilst the Camino del Norte can cost around €12 a stage.
Which Pilgrims does Baggage Transfer suit ?
- Senior Walkers: Older Pilgrims who just do not want to carry their back[pack everyday and prefer a lighter touch experience.
- Pilgrims recovering from injury: Perfect for pilgrims recovering from a bad injury or have incurred an injury whilst walking the Camino and just want a few easier days to recover.
- Pilgrims with ongoing travel commitments: Lots of Pilgrims come to the Camino from far flung places and are maybe continuing their travel after the Camino so have more luggage than normal.
- Pilgrims that just want a break: Having a break for a few days from carrying your pack is totally ok. Go ahead and transfer forward to get your energy back.
Bag Transfer Constraints
- Bag pick up: You bag has to be ready and in reception for 8am. if your late you could miss pick up.
- Weight Limits: Most services enforce a limit of 15 kg to 20 kg per bag. Keep your bag as light as possible.
Baggage Transfer Companies and Routes
These are some of the backpack, luggage and bag transfer organisations with the routes they cover and prices (as at August 2026)
Camino Fácil
- Website : Camino Fácil
- Camino Frances: St Jean → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Ingles: Ferrol →Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Primitivo: Oviedo → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Portugees: Porto → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Del Norte: Irun → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Finisterre / Muxia: Santiago de Compostela → Finisterre / Muxia
- Camino Sanabres: Ourense → Santiago
Rates depend on length of stage (typically €6 to €12) and Camino Facil can also can store luggage, transport bicycles, provide taxi services as well as baggage transfer.
El Camino con Correos
- Website : El Camino Con Correos
- Camino Frances: Roncesvalles → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Ingles: Ferrol & A Coruna →Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Primitivo: Oviedo → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Portugees (Central): Tui → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Portugees (Coastal): A Guarda → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Del Norte: Irun → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Finisterre / Muxia: Santiago de Compostela → Finisterre / Muxia
- Camino Sanabres: Granja de Moreruela → Santiago
- Camino Invierno: Ponferrada to Santiago
Rates depend on length of stage (typically €6 to €10) and Con Correos can also can store luggage, transport bicycles, provide Taxi services as well as baggage transfer. Their Tips from the Postmen & Women is a very interesting read as well.
Pilbeo
- Website : Pilbeo
- Camino Frances: St Jean Pied de Port → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Ingles: Ferrol & A Coruna →Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Primitivo: Oviedo → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Portugees: Porto → Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Finisterre / Muxia: Santiago de Compostela → Finisterre / Muxia
- Camino Sanabres: Ourense → Santiago
- Camino Invierno: Ponferrada to Santiago
Rates depend on length of stage (typically €5 to €12) and Pilbeo will automatically track your luggage via their smartphone app.
Jacotrans
- Website : Jacotrans
- Camino Frances: Roncesvalles→ Santiago de Compostela
- Camino Finisterre / Muxia: Santiago de Compostela → Finisterre / Muxia
Rates depend on length of stage (typically €5 to €12). Jacotrans are a long established transporter of backpacks and luggage.
Express Bourricot
- Website : Express Bourricot
- Camino Frances: St Jean Pied de Port → Roncesvalles
Rates are roughly €8 to €10. Express Bouricott will also drop bags at Refuge Orisson and then onto Roncesvalles if you break the journey up. they also do transport service from Bayonne to SJPP which I used on my first camino in 2016 and worked a treat. They are very good.
Samenvatting
Backpack, Luggage and bag transfer on the Camino de Santiago offers significant physical relief by removing heavy loads, protecting your knees and feet, and making daily walks far more comfortable for just €6 to €12 per stage. However, it requires booking private accommodation in advance—since municipal albergues do not accept bag deliveries—and locks you into a fixed destination each day, sacrificing the traditional flexibility and self-reliance of carrying your own gear.
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