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Aches and pains are a daily talking point between pilgrims on the Portuguese Camino. But did you know that some of these discomforts can be avoided by choosing a luggage transfer service?

Using a variety of services, you can forward your from accommodation to accommodation OR forward part of your luggage all the way to Santiago de Compostela.

The Portuguese Camino is one of many pilgrimages that lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Pilgrims amenities are rich, and you have a lot of different services that you can choose from to make your time on The Way more accessible and comfortable.

I’ll share options and recommendations below and walk you through the signs that baggage transport may be right for you.

Save it for later! ↓

Have a question? Leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll reply right away 🙂

How do luggage transfer services work on the Camino Portugués?

A luggage transfer service works by couriering the bulk of one’s luggage from one accommodation (hotel, albergue, etc.) to the next destination while you’re out walking for the day. You leave your luggage behind at reception in the morning and it’s waiting for you when you arrive at your accommodation in the afternoon.

Get all your planning tips answered in my step-by-step planning guide: 2025 Camino Planning Guide.

Step 1: Book Your Service

Where should the luggage transport service pick up and drop off your bag for the day? You’ll have to share this information the day before (or sooner). You can book for your whole trip OR day by day.

Note that the price is per single bag or suitcase, so you’ll need to multiply this if you have more luggage.

Here are some services that are recommended by past customers:

1. Top Santiago: Allows you to make a next-day reservation as late as 8 pm which provides great planning flexibility. Maximum bag weight is 39 pounds/18 kilograms. Per an email inquiry with the company, they said that the typical price is €7.00 per bag.
2. Pilbeo: Includes a phone app where you can track your bag’s movement. Maximum bag weight is 44 pounds/20 kilograms. Per an email inquiry with the company, they said that the price is typically €7.00 per bag.
3. Caminofácil: Requires at least 48 hours to book your bag pick up, but it also has a taxi service that can shuttle you anywhere along the walk if necessary (or pick you up from the airport). Maximum bag weight is 39 pounds/18 kilograms. Per the company’s website, the price ranges from €4.50-15.00.

Important note: The typical Camino season runs from March 1st to October 31st. Using a luggage transfer in winter costs €25 per day, and is only available through Top Santiago.

Learn more about the Camino in winter in my guide: Camino Winter Guide.

You can contact all of these companies easily on their websites to ask specific questions about your specific transfer.

Step 3: Take Daily Items In A Small Backpack

Pack a small backpack with only the items you need for walking each day, such as:

• Blister supplies
• Rain gear
• Snacks
• Wallet
• Water

Step 4: Get Luggage When You Arrive

While you’re out on your journey, the luggage transfer service will be moving your bag from point A to point B. Your bags will be left with reception when they arrive — you don’t need to be there to physically receive them yourself. Some services even have tracking and you’ll get notified when the bag arrives.

How much does a luggage transfer service on the Camino Portugués cost?

When comparing costs between three popular companies (listed above in “book your service”), the average cost is €7.00 per bag per day, which equates to €98.00 for 14 days on the Camino.

Why use a luggage transfer service on the Camino Portugués?

There are a few common motives for using luggage transport on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago.

Accessibility And Safety

Safety is a top concern of all walkers, especially those who are perhaps recovering from an injury, have a disability, or are older. Luggage transport can help make the Camino physically accessible to more walkers, which is a wonderful thing.

On the Camino Francés trail (or online forums), there are sometimes discussions about what makes a “real pilgrim,” and I think those conversations should be completely ignored.

Do what’s right for your Camino. If carrying less weight helps you avoid injuries, then consider the luggage transfer service.

Unusual Packing Requirements

While there are endless ultra-light Camino de Santiago packing lists online, not every pilgrim will be able to adhere to those. Some pilgrims will have special packing requirements that add extra weight, for example needing to bring a CPAP machine or a laptop for work.

I’ve carried my laptop on 2,000+ kilometers (1,200+ miles) of pilgrimage walks. It’s not impossible, but I do carry the maximum weight my body can handle. At the beginning of a walk, it comes with daily shoulder and neck pain.

Use The Luggage You Already Own

Even though using a luggage transfer service adds an additional cost to your Camino de Santiago, it’s actually the most economical choice in some cases. Hiking backpacks can cost a pretty penny if you need to go buy one brand new for this pilgrimage.

If you already own a suitcase, however, it may be cheaper for you to just use what you have and send your luggage ahead each day.

Onward Travel (Or Prior Travel)

If the Portuguese Way isn’t your only stop in Southwestern Europe, then you may be packing more items for additional travel before or after your walk. You have the option of doing a daily luggage transfer or sending your extra bags all the way to Santiago de Compostela (more on this in a minute).

Relaxation

There’s an undeniable ease to having your bags waiting for you each day instead of having to lug it yourself like a turtle with your home on your back.

Some walkers will choose a luggage transfer service just because they want to fully enjoy the trip and make it as laid back as possible, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Make Hard Stages Easier

Did you know that you DON’T need to commit to a luggage transfer service for the entire Camino? It’s not essential to book your entire itinerary with a luggage service; you can decide day-by-day and order a transfer last minute (as late as 8 pm for Top Santiago).

Some people even alternate to take days “off” from carrying their backpacks for a single stage.

For example, if you arrive in Vigo in the afternoon and your body needs a rest but you don’t want to take an entire rest day, you can order luggage transport for just the next day.

This was the exact situation of some pilgrims I met at a cafe outside of Vigo (picture below of the stunning view!). They looked light as air and told us how much more they were savoring the walk thanks to the break from their backpacks.

Do most pilgrims use baggage transportation?

Using baggage transport is extremely common on the Portuguese Way. While I don’t know specific statistics, I would say that in a cluster of walkers, at least one of them had sent their bags ahead and was only carrying a small backpack for the day.

Other Luggage Solutions

If a luggage transfer isn’t right for you but you still don’t want to carry all of your luggage while walking, there are two other solutions you can consider.

Store Your Luggage At Starting Point

Rather than sending your luggage to the next hotel daily, you can also store extra bags where your Camino begins. The most popular starting point for the Camino Portugués is Porto, but many walkers also start in Tui, Vigo or Valença. Here are companies that offer luggage storage:

• Stasher: Available in Porto and Tui. Pay per bag per day. Storing one bag for two weeks costs €101.
• Radical Storage: Available in Porto (airport storage possible) and Vigo. Storing one bag for two weeks costs € 77.
• Your hotel: Some hotels will store luggage for free if you have a reservation at the beginning and end of your trip. You’ll have to ask your specific hotel if they offer this service.

Mail Luggage To Santiago de Compostela

One final luggage option is to mail your extra items ahead to Santiago de Compostela. Here are some options that have come recommended by past customers:

• Casa Ivar: Located only a 4-minute walk from Saint James’ Cathedral, you can pick up your extra baggage here when arriving in Santiago. Ivar gives very specific instructions on his website for mailing your things, so be sure to follow them carefully. Shipping costs start at €110 and go up depending on luggage size. The storage price is €35 for up to 90 days.
• Correos (post office): You may read online that you can mail your backpack to the post office in Santiago de Compostela and they’ll store it for you, but it’s important to note that this only works if you ship from within Spain (Tui or Vigo will work). The prices on this vary more on weight and storage length — you can get specific prices on their website.

Speaking of arriving in Santiago — I share 9 arrival tips here.

FAQs Recapped

Here’s a quick recap of the big points of using a luggage transfer service in Portugal and Spain on your Camino de Santiago.

Buen Camino!

Arriving at an albergue or hotel with your bag already delivered is a pilgrimage luxury. Is it one you’ll be trying? Carrying a backpack all day adds a level of physicality to the Camino that would deter some walkers from joining or take away from their enjoyment. This is a great amenity that helps make pilgrimage accessible to more people.

As you’ll hear many pilgrims say along the way, “everyone has their own Camino.” Enjoy yours, whatever form it takes! Buen Camino.