What do pilgrims carry on the Camino de Santiago?

The things of the road

What you carry

• la concha the scallop shell, hung from every backpack
• la credencial the pilgrim's passport, stamped at hostels, churches and post offices
• la mochila the backpack

What you follow

• la flecha amarilla the yellow arrow that marks the way
• la etapa a day's stage, twenty to thirty kilometres

Where you sleep

• el albergue the pilgrims' hostel: a few euros, many bunks

What you say and get

• ¡Buen camino! the greeting of the road
• la Compostela the certificate given at the end
• la ampolla the blister

• Yellow arrows mark the way; pilgrims carry a scallop shell, the symbol of the Camino, and sleep in albergues for a few euros with many other people.
• Everybody greets each other with the same words: ¡Buen camino!
• The credential and its stamps can be obtained at pilgrim hostels, parish churches and post offices; walking only the minimum distance, you must stamp it at the start and end of each stage.

Unas flechas amarillas marcan el camino.

Yellow arrows mark the way.

Los peregrinos llevan una concha, el símbolo del Camino.

Pilgrims carry a shell, the symbol of the Camino.

Duermen en albergues, por pocos euros, con muchas otras personas.

They sleep in hostels, for a few euros, with many other people.

Todos se saludan con las mismas palabras: "¡Buen camino!"

Everybody greets each other with the same words: "Buen camino!"