Starting the Compostella de Santiago

This is a very general question, and one thing that really needs to be taken into account is which of the many different Ways or Caminos you plan to follow. It "normally" starts in the French Basque Country and ends in Santiago de Compostela, through a variety of routes (Primitive or French way is normally the first choice to take). You need to do much more research on your side and then start making questions. Starting by having the correct name of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

Rick has a TV show about the Camino. Look under ‘Watch, Read, Listen’ to the left, then click on TV shows, the open Spain.
We’re looking to do a portion of the walk September 2024 and are using SantiagoWays.com to plan our trip. We will be a group of 20 people.

This forum really isn't a good place to research these pilgrimages. I suggest you study the site: caminodesantiago.me. That forum is full of information. Also, YouTube is full of information on the camino, gear, routes, etc. Also, if you are in the US, join your local Americans on the Camino group. Study John Brierly's books (now just recently deceased) when you know which path you'd like to walk. I also liked the village to village books. You can start walking wherever you want on the Camino Frances, which is the one I believe you are referring to above (or any path for that matter).

Yes--there are many good resources for learning about the Camino de Santiago outside of the RS site. I think you mean the Camino de Santiago? The compostela usually refers to the certificate you receive upon completing your journey. There are many different Caminos that end in Santiago--you would need to choose the one that is right for you, as far as distance, services, and landscape. The most popular is the Camino Frances, which you referred to, that "starts" (you can really choose where you want to start) in St Jean Pied de Port at the base of the Pyrenees in France, goes up and over, and then across Spain to Santiago. It is close to 800K (about 500 M). You are right--most people take somewhere between 30-40 days for the Frances, but it depends on how many miles you want to put in every day, how many days you take a rest, where you decide to spend more or less time, who you might meet that you want to hang out with, etc. People choose to do the Frances at different times depending on weather. Spring and Fall are considered good windows, but the majority do it during the summer, though you may have to deal with heat. You should look into packing (it's not wilderness--it's a town/city/countryside long walk), what kind of accommodations you want to stay in along the way, the community of the Camino and its ethos/norms/traditions. For many, it is a very personal, magical, and transformative experience, for whatever reason they have chosen to do it. And many get bit by the Camino bug and find they can't stop at walking just one.

And take also into account that the "famous" one is the Camino de Santiago, but there are many other "ways" in Spain. A good one is the Camino Ignaciano (few people know that the Jesuit order was founded by Iñigo de Loyola (Ignatius later when he "latinized" his name), being Loyola a neighborhood of Azpeitia in the Basque Country. Beautiful basilica, really impressive both outside and inside, and from there you can walk the Camino Ignaciano ending in Manresa in the Mediterranean.

I just finished walking the Camino Frances on 30 May, but spent 47 days walking from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago di Compestela. It is around 800km. You can spend as many days as you like walking this and start where ever you like. Many people begin in Pamplona as it is easier to get to and you don't have to walk over the Pyrenees. Others like walking different routes, like the Primitivo, the Norte, the Ingles, etc. There are many, many routes, all ending in Santiago and many routes that go all through Europe.

I have walked the last 2 years starting mid April and it has been perfect. Have walked 2 other times beginning in Sept. and I much prefer the spring. It is glorious with all of the green, the flowers and the weather is better. I book all of my own accomodations and bag transfers. I do not see why I should pay someone extra money for this. It is so easy to do on your own. If you have a big group, that is something else, but I do this solo. As far a distance each day, that is up to you and the terrain, but for me at age 67, walking 15-20km per day is enough. I have trip reports about my Camino here on the forum. There are tons of FB pages and the already mentioned Camino forum and the American Pilgrims. All are good sources of information. Feel free to message me.