Country Stays Along the Santiago Trail
Cafes along the Camino de Santiago
People come from all over the globe to hike Spain’s Santiago Trail, which if walked in its entirety, takes about a month to do. The trail starts out pretty remote and rugged, and then gets more civilized as the days pass. Unlike a lot of other trails I have hiked, the Santiago Trail offers hikers cafes, restaurants, and accommodations along the way. Pilgrims or walkers, can choose from sleeping in a tent or sleeping in a 4-star hotel. There are also hostels, B&Bs, and mid-range hotels along the way.
When I walked the trail I mostly stayed in the Pilgrim hostels and then mixed it up sometimes with a stay in a hotel. One that I thought was especially beautiful (though I did not stay there) was Mercadoiro. Both hotel and hostel, one of the 24 beds at Mercadoiro go for 9 euros a night. They also have two private rooms available. As you can tell, this is a small place and I imagine that it fills up fast during the summer when the Trail is at its peek.
Hostels and Hotels along the Camino, Spain
Mercadoiro also has a lovely restaurant with an outdoor terrace surrounded by potted plants and the sound of birdsong. They offer a daily special at the restaurant for about 8 Euros and can also arrange massages for hikers with sore feet. Of all the hostels I saw along the trail, this was one of the most welcoming. In two words: ‘Good Vibrations’.
See more on this sweet hostel and hotel online: http://mercadoiro.com/