Camino de Santiago Compostela - Mapping the Pilgrim’s Way

Who we are:

We are caminosantiagocompostela.com, the comprehensive digital hub for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago. Our mission is to provide modern, accurate, and free tools to support every step of this ancient pilgrimage.

Our OpenStreetMap Mission:

We don’t just use OpenStreetMap—we are active contributors and passionate advocates. We believe OSM is the perfect platform for mapping the Camino because it mirrors the pilgrimage itself: community-driven, collaborative, and built by people for the benefit of all.

Our primary goal is to enhance and maintain the OpenStreetMap data for the entire network of Camino de Santiago routes. We focus on creating a rich, navigable, and safe experience for pilgrims by ensuring:

• Path Accuracy: Verifying and refining the precise alignment of trails, ensuring they match the physical ground truth.
• Pilgrim Amenities: Meticulously tagging albergues (pilgrim hostels), water fountains, fuentes, pharmacies, supermarkets, and restaurants.
• Surface & Difficulty: Detailing trail surfaces (paved, unpaved, gravel) and incline data to help pilgrims prepare.
• Route Variations: Mapping official alternative paths, detours, and connecting routes.

How You Can Help:

The Camino is constantly evolving. You can help us keep the map alive and accurate! Here’s how you can contribute:

1. Map Missing Amenities: While walking, note new or missing services (a new cafe, a closed albergue, a vital water source) and add them to OSM.
2. Ground-Truth the Paths: Use your GPS tracks to align the digital path with the real-world trail, especially in areas where the path has been re-routed.
3. Tag for the Pilgrim: Use (or create) tags that are crucial for walkers, such as https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:amenity=albergue, https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:tourism=wilderness_hut, https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:amenity=drinking_water, and https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:highway=path.

Our Tools & Data Usage:

We leverage this collaboratively built OSM data to power our free suite of pilgrim tools: * Interactive Camino Planner * GPX Route Builder & Download Hub * Detailed, printable maps and packing lists

All our tools are open and free to use, reflecting the open-data spirit of OpenStreetMap.

Let’s Collaborate!

We see ourselves as a bridge between the global OSM community and the worldwide family of pilgrims. By working together, we can create the most reliable digital companion for one of the world’s most famous walks.

• Got questions about mapping the Camino? Reach out to us!
• Are you a pilgrim who wants to learn to map? We can help you get started.

Buen Camino and Happy Mapping!

— The Team at caminosantiagocompostela.com