The Compostela

If you fulfil the minimum requirements for the Pilgrimage, your efforts are acknowledged with the issue of a certificate of completion, the Compostela. For walkers that means at least 100 km walked, and for bike riders at least 200 km ridden. On request, the pilgrim office will also issue you with a certificate of distance travelled.

My Compostela - issued on completion of the Camino

To prove that you've followed the Camino, and have walked or ridden the necessary distance, Pilgrims carry a credencial, or passport, which you get stamped at every place you stop along the way. Generally that means the albergue (hostel) you stay at overnight, but most cafés and bars along the route have their own stamp, and so it's not uncommon to collect more than one stamp per day, showing the route you took (and where you stopped for your daily café con leche fix).

My Credencial showing the places I stopped at along the way. 

My Cotolaya

 I discovered after leaving Santiago (the only place entitled to issue the Compostela, hence its full name, Santiago de Compostela) that it happened that the Franciscan church was celebrating its 800th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, they were also issuing their own version of a 'Compostela', although they call it the Cotolaya. As it happened, on my return to Santiago on the way home I was able to visit the Franciscan church and have my Cotolaya issued. And as a bonus, there was essentially no waiting to get it, unlike the Compostela, where I had to wait in line almost two hours before making it to the group of volunteers issuing the compostelas.

I just happened upon another blog, Annie's Simple Life, where you can find a little background on the Cotolaya (as well as a bunch of general information about the Camino - typically you find this stuff after the fact, although often it's more interesting to discover things for yourself rather than start with preconceived ideas from someone else.)


Finally, also discovered en-route by talking with others on the way, in Finisterre they also issue a certificate of completion, for those who have followed the way from Santiago through Muxia and on to Finisterre. To be eligible for this one you have to have your credencial stamped at Lires, about halfway between Muxia and Finisterre. Apparently too many 'pilgrims' were catching a taxi from Muxia to Finisterre to save themselves a day's walk, gaming the system. In case you're thinking of walking the other way around (i.e. from Finisterre to Muxia) apparently Muxia also issues their version of the certificate, so you won't miss out if you prefer to end your Camino at Muxia.

The reward for making it to Finisterre