The Camino trail is relatively easy to follow — the route is very well sign-posted, so you just follow the yellow arrows and shell signs along the way. However, after you book your Camino de Santiago Trek we can also provide you with the GPS coordinates, which you can download to your smartphone. We have files for the Camino French Way and the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route.
This is a great tool in case you find yourself off the track, mislaid your walking notes, or missed a Camino marker along the way. It is also fun to follow along!
There are many tools that you can use to import and view the GPS waypoints. This will show you how to use it with a phone app called “Ride with GPS.” This is a bicycling app, but can be used for hiking. This tool can be used to download to iPhone, Android, Garmin Edge, Wahoo, and other tools.
STEP #1 – Download the GPX file
We will send you the .gpx file for your route — either via email or DropBox. Download this file to your computer. Contact us for the file.
STEP #2 – Create account with Ride with GPS
Go to the Ride with GPS website, and create a free account.
STEP #3 – Download Ride with GPS app onto your phone
Download from the app store to your phone. Log in using your account information.
This is a free app, but if you want to view maps offline, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan. There are 5 different subscription offers available, the cheapest being the 1 week Basic Pass for $3.99 or the monthly basic subscription for $5.99. After your Camino, you can unsubscribe to the service on your device if you do not wish to continue to use.
STEP #4 – Upload GPX file
- On the Ride with GPS website, click on the option on the left side for “Upload”.
- Under “Upload files”, click on “Select files”.
- Select the GPX file that you downloaded to your computer.
- Once uploaded, select “View route”.
- On the left side, select “Send to Device”.
- Select your device, then Next.
- If you have the Ride with GPS app installed on your phone, select “Yes”.
- Click Next and then “Return to Route”. This will show you the full route on a map and the elevation profile. Feel free to browse around!
STEP #5 – View Route on Phone
Over on your phone, you should get a notification that the route was received. Click on the notification, which will open the app. It will ask if you want to Download Route to view and navigate offline. If you paid for the upgrade, click Download.
You will be able to view the route on your phone whenever you have an internet connection. You will be able to see your location in relation to your Camino route, zoom in and out for a more detailed view, and change between different map types.
You should have access to Wi-Fi each night at your hotel during the trip, so we recommend looking at the route for the following day. If you wish to access the maps offline the next day, go through your entire route each night on your device at different zoom levels. This will store your route in the device cache and can be accessed easily the next day offline free of charge.
STEP #6 – Practice and Upgrade before your trip
Familiarize yourself with the workings of the App before you leave, so that in the unlikely situation that you do feel lost, your location is only a few finger movements away.
If you wish to download and access the maps and route at any time (without an internet connection), we recommend that you upgrade your account to access this useful feature.
Contact us for more information!
I would like to purchase a book regarding the Camino de Santiago…What would you suggest….? I would like to know more about this trek and what you have to offer. My hope is to do the entire route. I would love to be able to do this without having to carry a backpack but doubt that this is possible. I would prefer to do this without having to join a group since I may take a bit longer time to make the trek (now 73 y/o)
Thank you,
Jim
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