Walking the Camino de Santiago in 2027: What to Expect During the Holy Year
If you’re dreaming of walking the legendary Camino de Santiago, 2027 is one of the most meaningful years to do it. As a designated “Holy Year,” 2027 offers travelers a rare and spiritually enriched experience on the world’s most iconic pilgrimage paths to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Whether you’re walking the Camino in 2027 for adventure, reflection, faith, or fitness, knowing what to expect during a Compostela Holy Year and how to make the most of it will shape your journey in unforgettable ways.
What Is a Santiago de Compostela Holy Year?
A Holy Year on the Camino (also known as a Jacobean Year, or “Ano Xacobeo”) occurs when July 25—the feast day of Saint James—falls on a Sunday. During this alignment, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela Holy Door, or “Puerta Santa,” is opened for the year, granting pilgrims special indulgences and welcoming a higher-than-usual number of walkers from all over the world.
The previous Holy Year was in 2021, which the pope extended to 2022 because of the pandemic. The next Holy Years will be 2032 and 2038. Below are some reasons why 2027 is expected to be one of the most vibrant and energetic years on the Camino, along with what you can expect during this year of higher traveler volume.
What Is the Santiago de Compostela Holy Door?
The Holy Door, or “Porta Santa,” is a door to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela located on the Praza da Quintana that’s opened only on Jacobean Years, and for the duration of the whole year. It’s customary to enter through this door when visiting the cathedral on a Holy Year. Since the door is open for the entirety of 2027, consider planning your Camino walk outside the peak month of July.
Why Walk El Camino During a Jacobean Year?
For many, a Santiago de Compostela Holy Year adds a rich spiritual dimension to the pilgrimage and allows participation in a meaningful aspect of Camino de Santiago history. Even if you’re not walking for religious reasons, the energy along the route can be palpable.
You can expect more cultural events in towns and cities along the way—WT plans in advance to ensure our travelers experience some of the best during the Pilgrim’s Way: El Camino de Santiago adventure—along with the opportunity to walk through the Santiago de Compostela Holy Door.
During the Holy Year, Catholic pilgrims also have the chance for a plenary indulgence, a rare opportunity which forgives all sins after pilgrims fulfill a handful of requirements. These conditions include visiting the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, attending Mass, receiving penance (going to confession), and praying for the intentions of the pope.
What to Expect Walking El Camino During Holy Year 2027
Walking the Camino during Holy Year means more excitement, more cultural experiences, and more infrastructure to support the bigger crowds. Here’s what you can expect on El Camino de Santiago in 2027:
Tips for Walking the Camino During Holy Year
To ensure an unforgettable pilgrimage in 2027, be sure to begin training early and pack the appropriate gear, including comfortable and sturdy walking shoes.
If you’re planning a trip on your own, remember to reserve accommodations and optional transfer services or tours to cathedrals and museums well in advance, especially if you’re traveling in July 2027, as these book up many months in advance.
If you want to make the most of your pilgrimage, consider joining a guided group trip like Pilgrim’s Way: El Camino de Santiago, where all the logistics are taken care of. All you need to do is show up and enjoy the experience.
Wilderness Travel’s Guided Camino de Santiago Tour
For those looking for a curated, meaningful, and immersive Camino experience in 2027, the best group tour is Wilderness Travel’s Pilgrim’s Way: El Camino de Santiago adventure. This nine-day itinerary has been honed to perfection over decades and brings you to the best parts along the Camino Frances, skipping the portions along highways and developed areas.
Our trips have support vans so you can shorten or skip a day’s hike, and you’ll stay in charming accommodations. Our expert Trip Leaders have local connections in many towns and cities, and they time hikes when there are few other travelers on the Camino. And the WT journey doesn’t stop at Santiago de Compostela—it ends in Finisterre, the mythical Kilometer 0 of the pilgrim trail.
One of the many reasons to book your Camino tour with Wilderness Travel is the superb accommodations, including the Parador de Santiago de Compostela, perfectly situated within steps from the cathedral of St. James. This grants us wonderful access to experience special concerts and blessings that take place in the square throughout the day and night, ensuring you’ll never miss a moment when you’re in this special place.
A guided experience is especially valuable during a Holy Year, when crowds, events, and accommodations can make independent planning more challenging and often require booking many months in advance. Whether or not you choose to walk the Camino in 2027’s Holy Year with a guided group or on your own, you’ll be in for an incredibly profound travel experience that will stay with you for years to come. Buen Camino!
Frequently Asked Questions
In 2027 the Feast of Saint James (a.k.a. Santiago), which takes place yearly on July 25, falls on a Sunday, making 2027 a Holy Year. You can expect more pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela throughout the year in 2027, especially in late July.
Santiago de Compostela is a city in the Spanish region of Galicia that’s home to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This cathedral is famously the ending point of El Camino de Santiago, the world’s most famous pilgrimage path that runs throughout countries like Spain, Portugal, and France.
Saint James the Great, one of Jesus’s Twelve Apostles, is believed to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Also known as Ano Xacobeo, a Jacobean Year is a Holy Year for the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It marks a year when July 25, the Feast of Saint James, falls on a Sunday. This makes it a particularly popular year to visit the famed pilgrimage site. During these years, which occur about 14 times per century, the cathedral’s Holy Door is open all year and Catholic pilgrims can participate in plenary indulgence, which forgives all sins.
April through June and September through October are the best months to walk the Camino. They offer milder weather than the winter months and see fewer travelers than the bustling summer months. While it’s common to visit Santiago de Compostela on July 25 during a Holy Year, you’ll find special festivities throughout the entire calendar year, so we recommend walking the Camino during one of the shoulder months.
