With the Camino de Santiago coming off a record year and 2027 set to be a Holy Year, the Galicia-based agency is gearing up its team and encouraging travelers to plan early and consider less crowded routes.
VIGO, Spain, Nov. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Galiwonders, a travel agency based in Galicia, Spain, is preparing for the 2027 Holy Year on the Camino de Santiago, with bookings for 2027 running about 30% higher than the previous year, according to company data. The agency is encouraging travelers to plan early and to consider quieter routes to Santiago de Compostela.
A Holy Year, known in Galicia as a Xacobeo, takes place when July 25, the feast day of St. James, falls on a Sunday. Pilgrim numbers traditionally rise in these years on the network of historic routes that end at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino is already coming off a record: in 2025, the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago de Compostela registered 530,844 pilgrims, the first time the annual total passed half a million.
"We expect 2027 to be a great year, one where people discover not just the route but the chance to live a thousand stories in Galicia," said Sabela Gippini Ruiz, CEO and founder of Galiwonders. "There will be more life in the streets. Places are limited, but we're excited to welcome so many new pilgrims from around the world."
According to the agency, travelers are planning further ahead to secure rooms at the most sought-after accommodations, and new inquiries arrive daily by phone and social media. International clients typically begin planning about four months before departure, and most bookings are made between January and July. The company is also developing new, less crowded routes, with details to be announced.
"Our team is ready, with clear roles and deep knowledge of the Camino," Gippini Ruiz said. "People want to plan ahead and secure a place at the best accommodations."
For travelers considering a Holy Year pilgrimage, Galiwonders offers three recommendations:
- Book early. Availability on the most popular stages is expected to tighten as the year approaches.
- Look beyond the busiest routes. The final 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the French Way, the minimum distance needed to earn the Compostela, the certificate given to pilgrims who complete the journey on foot, draw the largest crowds. Alternatives such as the Camino de A Orixe, the Camino de Muros y Noia or the Lighthouse Way (Camiño dos Faros) along the Costa da Morte offer a quieter experience.
- Stay flexible on dates. Galicia's mild Atlantic climate means that most months offer pleasant walking conditions.
"Walk the Camino," Gippini Ruiz said. "Starting with the French Way is fine, but the best option is an alternative route: less crowded and more authentic. And book now, to make sure there's availability."
The agency's focus on alternative routes is part of its sustainability approach. Since February 2025, Galiwonders has been Travelife Certified, a status that requires an external audit of more than 200 criteria, from environmental impact to support for local communities, and is renewed every two years. Spreading walkers across more routes helps distribute the benefits of tourism among more villages in the region.
About Galiwonders:
Founded in Galicia in 2016 by Sabela Gippini Ruiz, Galiwonders is a travel agency that designs walking trips on the Camino de Santiago and hiking routes across northern Spain. Its trips combine hotel stays, daily luggage transfer and round-the-clock local support. The agency holds Travelife Certified status, Spain's Q for Tourism Quality seal and a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award, and has earned more than 800 Google reviews and 600 Tripadvisor reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. Learn more at https://galiwonders.com/en/
Media Contact
Sabela Gippini Ruiz, Galiwonders, 1 2312936786, [email protected], https://galiwonders.com/en/
SOURCE Galiwonders
Share this article