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Travel documents
Upon receipt of your registration we will immediately send you a booking confirmation. If you have booked an individual trip with several lodging points, we generally need between six and ten days to send off a binding booking confirmation. In addition to your confirmation and invoice, we will also send you first travel information with useful hints and tips.

Upon receipt of your remainder on our account (until 2 weeks before the trip begins) you will finally receive the remaining travel documents (as e.g. tickets and hotel-voucher, or information package if booked an individual trip) by mail.

When in Spain, do as the Spanish do
Spain's diverse history shaped by the immigration of people from different cultures created various customs and traditions. You will surely like Spain's friendly and polite people, its typical festivals and traditional cuisine. However, you will also be confronted with customs and attitudes that might be difficult to understand from our point of view, among these, e.g. the different diurnal rhythm of the Spanish preferring to eat late and have a long break “siesta” for about three hours in the afternoon (2pm – 5pm). We adapt ourselves to these habits, trying to provide you an insight into “customs and culture”!

Breakfast and Dinner
There are different types of breakfasts: most of the time, you will get a typical Spanish standard breakfast. Unlike breakfasts in English-speaking countries, the Spanish -just like other southern Europeans- have just a small, light breakfast in the mornings generally consisting of a cup of coffee/tea with Spanish muffins (“magdalenas”) and a few slices of toasted bread with butter and jam. Cereals, ham&eggs, cheese, or cold cuts are usually not included in a Spanish standard breakfast.
A continental breakfast, however, may offer a breakfast with a bigger variety or portions, or even a breakfast buffet depending on the hotel. We tried to book “continental breakfasts” where possible, but all in all be prepared to receive just a Spanish standard breakfast. Dinner usually consists of a three-course choice meal. Generally, water and a glass of wine are also part of the dinner.

Climate and travel weather
We basically scheduled our trips according to the climate in each region and made sure you're traveling within the most enjoyable seasons of the year. Rain gear, however, should be your companion on all trips to protect yourself from short rain showers mainly falling in spring.
On your way to Santiago you may pass three different climate zones. The first climate zone extends from the edge of the Pyrenees to past Logroño. Here, the climate is basically Mediterranean featuring dry and hot summers and mild winters. Most precipitations falls during autumn and spring months.
However, Castile's high plateaus (from Santo Domino de la Calzada to past León) are characterized by a continental climate, which means: comparatively cold winters and sunny summers. Due to its altitude a cooling down in the evenings is quite noticeable even in summer time. All in all, the region does not accumulate a lot of precipitation, but if it rains, it pours and the wind might hit you with enormous power.
Galicia is dominated by a maritime climate, i.e. a comparatively balanced, but also wet climate, which is very similar to the climate in Ireland. Warm, humid winters and moderately warm summers characterize the climate of Spain's most northwestern region.
For the weather forecast or current weather conditions, please check the local newspapers or log on the internet (e.g. at www.caminodesantiagotiempo.com).

Outfit for hikers
For hiking trips, we basically recommend fast drying outdoor clothing and good hiking boots. Also pack in some rain gear! When traveling during the summer months, you should bring along a headgear and sunscreen. (Depending on the sensitiveness of your skin we recommend a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 25.)
Other useful equipment: first-aid kit (for example dear tallow as a remedy against blisters, Aspirin, earplugs, personal medication), penknife (for the picnic), spare glasses, hiking pole, windproof jacket, umbrella, pullover, camera, travel literature.

Outfit for cyclists
For cycling trips, we basically recommend fast drying outdoor clothing. Also pack in some rain gear! Bicycle helmets are required as soon as you leave the city limits. So, please bring along your own helmet! Most of the time, however, the police does not enforce the law, but due to insurance policy restrictions we call your attention to it. In case of violation we will refuse any liability.
When traveling during the summer months, you should bring along a headgear and sunscreen. (Depending on the sensitiveness of your skin we recommend a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 25.)
You should also carry important spares and tools for your bike (for example spare spokes, spoke spanner, freewheel remover, spare tubes, repair kit, repair tool, chain tool), so you will be able to repair the bike yourself in case of a breakdown.
Other useful equipment: first-aid kit (for example dear tallow as a remedy against blisters, Aspirin, earplugs, personal medication), penknife (for the picnic), spare glasses, windproof jacket, umbrella, pullover, biking gloves, biking shorts, your own saddle (optional), water bottle (material has to be plastic), overshoes, biking glasses, camera, travel literature.
If you want to cycle on the original hiking trail, you will have to cross several creeks. Therefore we also recommend adequate outfit, like sandals and a towel.

Our rental bikes and equipment
VUELTA does provide rental bikes, but only on our accompanied cycling trip. We offer you good trekking bikes (men's bikes and women's bikes) in different sizes, and several mountain bikes (with suspension fork). All bikes are equipped with 21 or 24 dérailleur gears (without backpedaling brakes), Cantilever brakes, mudguards, lights, and luggage racks. Handle bar bags with bike map pockets, panniers for the rack, elastic luggage straps and bike repair kit are part of our standard equipment. For hygienic reasons we recommend to bring along your own plastic water bottle.

For cycling trips on the St. James' Way, we recommend to bring along your own bike (at least 21 dérailleur gears), as these routes often require good bikes with a high level of personal cycling comfort. However, we also suggest to bring along your own saddle if riding our rental bikes.

Flight arrangements to Spain
Reading our travel descriptions you might have noticed that our prices for the trips do not include flight arrangements to Spain. We chose this concept to be able to respond to your wishes with utmost flexibility. We will be happy to make you non-binding offers for flights with renowned charter airlines, scheduled airlines, or so-called low cost airlines (e.g. Ryanair, TUIfly, Air Berlin,...). Usually you have to book your own flight via the internet, but if you don't have internet access, we will be pleased to book the flight for you charging a small fee. We also will be happy to give you further advice on your travel plans.

Languages
Spanish (“castellano”) is one of four official languages in Spain and the most-spread language of the country. You will hardly find anyone who does not speak, or at least understand “castellano”. In the corner's of the Spanish motherland, however, you will also hear Basque, Catalan, and Galician, which are also official languages, spoken by quite some people in these particular regions.

Therefore, if you have booked an individual trip, you should know how to get around in a foreign speaking country. It might also be a good idea to have a little travel dictionary in your pocket! Your travel documents, which you will receive together with your travel confirmation, will give you useful hints and tips for your trip.

Level of difficulty, indicated distance and altitude
We marked all our active travels with a certain level of difficulty stating daily distances (in kilometers) and ascents (in meters) to the next accommodation. Of course these indications are always based on approximate calculations. Depending on your physical fitness you will need more, or less time to finish the daily stages. Usually, you will reach the next accommodation in the afternoon.

We calculated the daily distances measuring the direct way from hotel to hotel. Altitude indications list ascents only. However, you might be confronted with different local condition because Spain's huge projects concerning road constructions might have changed the trail's course, and/or might have caused temporary detours. Also the climate might have an impact on the trail's course, e.g. if rivers overflow their banks after heavy rain showers.

You are not sure if a trip you would like to do is the right one for you? Please, don't hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to tell you more about the trip's character, trail conditions, and our service!