Route 11:

Full Route Camino

OVERVIEW

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ITINERARY

SEASONS

FAQ's

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ROUTE 11

Full Route Camino

To walk the full Cape Camino route is a bold undertaking. It exists to create space – for walkers to explore their own journey, for communities to share their culture and earn sustainably, and for the route itself to be cared for and celebrated. This is a mighty adventure and a transformational journey. You will be a different person at the end of walking the full route.

42 days excl transfers between routes

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Package Duration Cost
Camino Plus 42 Days R85,000
Camino Lite 30 Days R28,000

Prices are Per Person Sharing
Click the “Book” button to view the Camino Package Options.

PHOTOS

Gallery

DAILY PLANNER

Itinerary

Route 1: Riebeek Valley

Your host is Santa-Mari, a sophisticated woman of the world who loves to travel but loves her beautiful home as much. So much care goes into everything she does and it shows. Meet fellow pilgrims and settle in. Arrive anytime after 4pm and before dark

De Gunst Guest Farm

Flat gentle slope, downhill gravel roads, with a stop at Nuweplaas padstal.

A historic Catholic mission farm dedicated to the wellbeing of rural children. Rich in political and struggle history, it sits at the foothills of the mountain, layered with stories, Cape architecture, and oodles of character. Piet Brand, the manager, is macho and muscled and modest. And goes the extra mile with a smile.

Goededacht

Some gravel road and bush walking. Farmers request a no smoking policy, for obvious reasons. Long pants are essential, there are some steep sections, and amazing views across the valley and mountains.

The Lesch Family run their working farm and have for 4 generations. A strong name in the Riebeek Valley.

Lida, your hostess, welcomes you and makes you feel comfortable on the farm. Her husband, Kobus, is humorous but serious about farming. They have passed their best qualities onto their son, Pieter, who has a heart of gold and goes the extra mile.

Dassenheuwel Farm Stay

From Dassenheuwel is a magnificent walk, on a four wheel drive track. At first, a hill to conquer, and then a constant down hill.
You have two options today. The first is 9km and the second is 16km.

You end the day on the banks of the Berg River in Hermon.
Teressa from Blou Porselein in Hermon is your host. Teressa and her family offer true farm hospitality – fresh eggs, friendly dogs, and cottage accommodation on the banks of the Berg River. She is knowledgeable and always happy to help with all things Camino.

Blou Porcelein

Today is 14kms along flat farm roads. Either pomegranate or plumbs, depending on the time of year. You arrive in Riebeek Kasteel, a charming town where agriculture meets modern flair. We utilise many rest houses in Riebeek Kasteel. They are all nearby local eateries and galleries. Your host is the main ‘ou’ in Riebeek Kasteel. He runs a transport and wine tasting company and finds suitable accommodation and meals for Camino walkers. Need anything? Ask Shawn.
From Riebeek Kasteel the route is all flat, farm roads with very few inclines. On route to is Delico- a delicatessen of note! Stop for coffee, cake, a big fat breakfast or just about anything you fancy. Riebeek Valley Hotel has friendly and warm staff. Felicia is a local, young lady who is as kind and accommodating as the hotel is quirky, filled with antiques and style. A beautiful indoor pool, and or, a garden to relax in.

Riebeek Valley Hotel

Back onto the flat farm roads of the Riebeek Valley to Vlakkerug Farm, hosted by Lisa Du Toit. She grows, grinds, bakes, makes, stores, bottles a larder full of goodness from the farm. The house is set in a traditional werf.

Vlakkerug Farm

Vlakkerug can be included on a limb, or the road can take you back up around the Kasteel. A long slow gentle uphill all the way back to Goedgedaght. A beautiful green valley on your right and the magnificent mountain on your left. Baboon calls, wild flowers and mooing cows.

Route 2: Tulbagh, History & Golden Fields

We suggest starting Route 2 in Tulbagh.

Wittedrift Manor is managed and hosted by Carol- a super foodie who is creative and generous. As is the home where you stay. It is a replica of a Cape Dutch home although it is a modern build. High ceilings, large rooms with wooden floors and extravagant art.

Meet fellow pilgrims and settle in. Arrive anytime after 4pm and before dark.

Wittedrift Manor

Today’s walk is an exploration of the historical town which can take you as long as you like, before setting off on a long gentle incline on a dust road up to Oudekloof Wine Estate. A wine farm nestled below the neck of the Tulbagh valley wall. If you decide to skip the historical part and go straight to Oudekloof the distance is 6km.

Andrew and Celeste from Oudekloof Wine Estate show you a good time! Abundant food, wine and good stories, ladled with humour and love.

Oudekloof Wine Estate

This is one of the longest legs on the route. It follows footpaths up to viewpoints. Then over the saddle, down to the canal, through farmlands, across the Berg River and into Sandvlei School. The track is overgrown in parts and can provide a challenge.

Isobel has converted an old farm school house into Camino accommodation. One room with 6 comfortable beds and a bathroom ablution block. Her food is real boerkos and abundant. You sleep well after supper and the long road from Oudekloof.

Isobel's Farm Stay

Flat farm roads with big skies take you to the van der Westhuizen’s at Nuwefontein. Marina, like Isobel, prepares traditional boerekos and you dine with the family. Unless you request to be on your own. Then Marina will prepare something for you to eat in the animal shelter converted to Camino rooms. Real Camino style accommodation. If you’re lucky you will get roast lamb, veg and pudding. Melvan, her husband likes a good joke and is generous with them.

Marina's

More big skies, more flat farm roads and more farmstays with Karen at Soutkloof. Karen likes to give you your own space, in the guest farm accommodation. A lovely old farm cottage in the farm werf. Its peaceful and comfortable.

Soutkloof Farm

Today’s walk is to Bregda Mostert on a flat road just outside Koringberg. A well-timed stop along the way is Desert Rose Padstal. 8 km from Soutkloof and a perfect place for coffee or lunch. Comfortable seating in a garden with lots of food and drink choices.

Bregda prides herself in her healthy food. She and her husband enjoy gluten and sugar-free meals but not so you would notice. She disguises her restrictions with clever culinary tricks and attention to detail.

The farm is a holiday camp with abundant accommodation. If you’re lucky, Bregda will take you for an evening ride up the hill to see Table Mountain. Cape Town is 120 km from the farm but on a clear day the icon is distinctly visible.

Bregda's

Historically marginalised village

Flat farm roads and Bregda on her 4-wheeler with her dogs, chaperone you to Wittewater. An historically marginalised community but rich in green hills, mountain waterfalls and views.

Paul and his wife accommodate you in their beautiful home and tell of their love story from long ago until today. He remembers the courtship in the finest detail and can recount every feeling and gesture. They are well into their 60’s and 70’s but the feeling of childhood sweethearts is tangible.

Paul's

Historically marginalised village

Hill side walking and then a quiet tar road into the colourful village of Goedverwacht. Just over the hill from Wittewater is Goedverwaght. This hidden gem thrives on its own produce, offering a true sense of self-sufficiency and hospitality.

Lorraine Cornelius is the chairperson of the tourism board designed to raise the capacity of the villagers. Some grand, some humble, but everyone gets a turn to host a tourist. As well as feed them up with local cuisine, mostly locally grown, sourced and prepared.

Lorraine is passionate about Goedverwacht and can tell you anything you want to know about the village. She is always working hard to uplift her community and to remove the oppressive barriers from the past.

Today’s walk is in and around the village and up to the slave burial grounds and Bushmen caves. End Route 2 here.

Route 3: Sandveld

Either Kapteinskloof Guest Farm or Sterkfontein Homestay start this route. Kapteinskloof is only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays because Melanie is fully booked on the weekends for a minimum of a two nights stay. So if you want to start here you need to book in for two nights or a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Melanie prides herself in her attention to detail and looks after you very well. You can request a hot tub in winter or dip in the pool in summer. The guest farm has a beautiful garden full of fruit trees.

Sterkfontein is available any day of the week and you sleep in a self-catering house on the farm next to a big dam. Your hosts Wikus and his wife are used to living the farm life and tend to give pilgrims space. They bring you your dinner and you have the place to yourself.

Arrive after 4pm and before dark.

Kapteinskloof Guest Farm or Sterkfontein Homestay

Both accommodations follow the same route to Aurora – it is a foot path along the base of the Picketburg mountains and a Chaperones is essential to know where to walk on the neighbours farms. In spring the wildflowers are abundant in between the agricultural fields.

Aurora is bright orange in spring time. A very quaint town with a magnificent NG church designed by William Henry Ford from Australia in 1909. Your hosts are two sisters who live in one of the handful of streets in Aurora. You spend the night in their home. They give you space to unwind and reflect.

A local chaperone, Marina, will walk you up the hill to Klein Tafelberg, so named because of its flat topped shape. A solid uphill. Not steep but a climb, nevertheless, on a gravel road. Klein Tafelberg is a camp and is wild and beautiful. Elize is busy running the camp and raising kids but you can be sure she will provide you with what you need. It is another quiet and wild experience, perfect for plugging in, to emptiness.

Eliza's Camp

And then it’s back onto the long uphill gravel road to Redelinghys. A town of artists. So many of them that their paintings spill out onto the outsides of the buildings, and you can conduct your own art tour by walking around the town. Janet is gentle and hospitable and allows guests into their very elegant home. A manor! She will feed you abundantly, and offer up their guest rooms while her husband is busy being an artist.

Janet's Home

A sandy walk to Wild West the next day, marks the end of Route 3. Another wild and open camp with night skies, owl cries and crazy red and orange sunsets. Your hosts give you space to be you. And to wonder why, what, where and when. Or not.

Route 4: Wild West Coast

And we hit the shoreline! So check your tides.

Elands Bay is the start of this route. You will stay at the Elands Bay Guesthouse with Paul and Audrey. Arrive after 4pm and before dark. 

Elands Bay Guesthouse

Paul and Audrey Jones send you off from Elands Bay. Paul is a passionate surfer and local builder. He makes sure you know where you’re going, what your capacity is and looks out for you along the way, incase you find the long pristine beach stretch too tiring. There is very little access so wild life is more prevalent. Turtle tracks have even been spotted as these great migrating beasts climb up the beach to rest. Birds, seals, dolphins and even whales can be spotted along this stretch. Draaihoek is a European owned guest farm run by local South Africans – the family come to the beach over Christmas and the guest farm is reserved for the family and their friends and is not available to the public for a month. They have created Camino style accommodation for Cape Camino walkers – simple, clean and safe and the food is great.

Draaihoek Guest farm

The next day you need to walk some distance off the beach and into the dunes, a tough sandy trek, to reach Arend Louw and his pet bull, Fillet. It is a warm and wonderful experience and you won’t want to leave. Arend is a well-known artist in the area.

Arend Louw's

Today the beach sand becomes harder and the houses become a settlement as you walk into Dwarskersbos. Meloney comes up from Cape Town to host pilgrims in their beach house. A testimony to the type of commitment Cape Camino hosts have towards making it as comfortable as possible for those on their journeys.

Meloney's Beach House

Back to the beach, which is now hard and shelly. Holiday homes take you all the way into Laaiplek. Ammie and Debbie fold you up and treat you to great food in their open and comfortable home, and you instantly become friends. They love the Camino concept and it shows.

Amy & Debbie's

Today Ammie shows you around the harbour and walks you to the famous Bokkom Laan for coffee on the riverside where Route 4 ends. A perfect pick up point for luggage and a lift home.
Bokkom Laan is an historical street, famous for bokkoms- a traditional West Coast delicacy made from salted, air-dried mullet. It is one of the oldest streets in Velddrift and has long been central to the local fishing and bokkom-drying trade.

The Berg River was once called Santiago, linked to the area by early Portuguese explorers.

Route 5: West Coast Villages

We are still on the seaside, but the wild beach section has been replaced by a string of villages, perfect distances apart to host a Camino.
Nicky and Martin from Sunset Lodge welcome you. Together they make a perfect team of valuable information and thoughtfulness.

Arrive after 4pm and before dark.

Sunset Lodge

This coastal route follows footpaths and sandy tracks along the quiet St Helena Bay coastline, an area famous for fishing, both local and commercial. Madoda Duli, a quiet and handsome local chaperone, will help you experience the land through local eyes. Maggie from Rimplewit Airbnb in Lampiesbaai likes to do it all herself and manages with ease: accommodating, cooking, entertaining, chaperoning and ensuring every i is dotted and every t is crossed. She is artistic, and paints maps and flags in Cape Camino colours and goes out of her way to be a super host.

Rimplewit Airbnb

Beach walking to Paternoster with Maggie as your chaperone. If you’d like to go ahead feel free, just keep the sea on your right. It’s always a good idea to chat to your host about this. Paternoster is a collaboration of service providers. Carisma at the Paternoster Hotel, who lives up to her name. Sea Shack Eco-Cabins, a rustic experience, literally on the sea shore, but not always available. James, who provides charming young men from the rehab centre to chaperone you over a tricky stretch to the next host.

Paternoster Hotel or Sea Shack Eco-Cabins

Some sections are tough, with loose stones and uneven paths, sturdy shoes are essential. James’s chaperones walk with you. Tides and terrain shift often, so stay alert and open to the unexpected. To stay with Alta at Afsaal we leave the shoreline and walk a few kilometres up the hill. Slow, long uphill stretch on a gravel road. But it’s worth it. Alta expresses love with food. From the moment guests arrive, she treats you to her goodies starting with a homemade cheese platter. The Nels have a cow, and every day, before her husband sets off to his medical practice in Vredenburg, he milks the cow and presents Alta with approximately 10 litres of milk in a bucket which she turns into a variety of cheeses; hard and soft. If you want to stay for a cheese course- ask us how, and we will organise that for you. Camino accommodation is a converted loft, or cottage living, in the veld. It all depends on numbers and sleeping arrangements.

Alta's Farmstay

Armed with a big packed breakfast, back to the coast and walk along the beach into Jacob’s Bay. This is a private holiday resort and there is very little public accommodation apart from a friendly and rustic backpackers with a labyrinth and Pixieland to explore. Hester will organise everything you need. Her friend provides home cooked meals, and Hester fetches the chaperone in the morning and delivers the luggage to your final stop- Saldanha Bay.
In the wildflower season, the area bursts into colour- fields and road edges alive with blooming daisies, succulents, and fynbos.

Today your chaperone is Leandre who is compulsory for the last day, walking through a village outside Saldanha Bay. He is a local and steers you clear of any mischief. The final night is on the beach at Jane’s Guest house. Relaxed, comfortable and a perfect place to wake up and eat breakfast, in-house before getting your lift home.

Jane's Guesthouse

Leave after breakfast

Route 6: Cape Peninsula

Arrive at your guesthouse after 4pm and before dark.
This section includes walking on clear footpaths through Newlands Forest, with stretches of steady incline. You’ll pass through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, home to a wide range of indigenous plant life, and follow the contour paths of Table Mountain, offering direct views of the city and surrounding landscape. The route is well-used and accessible, but still requires a good level of fitness.
This Leg begins at the Schoenstatt Shrine, where pilgrims can light a candle and set a personal intention. From there, the route passes through Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate, then continues past the historic Kramats in Constantia. Pilgrims follow greenbelts and suburban paths before ascending to Elephant’s Eye cave, a sacred space with wide views over False Bay. Some find this climb difficult, please discuss with your chaperone. Rest houses are BnB’s.
From Tokai, the route passes Pollsmoor Prison and West Lake. You then walk along the famous Boyes drive and into the bohemian town of Muizenberg. Here, pilgrims can watch surfers ride the waves, walk the beachfront, and take in the everyday rhythm of local life. Rest houses are BnB’s.
The route follows the sidewalk through Kalk Bay. It’s a day of hustle and bustle, shops, cafes, harbours, train lines and being caught between sea and mountain. It continues into Simon’s Town, a naval base with a long and layered history.
From Simon’s Town we head towards Cape Point. Smitswinkel Bay is a remote and scenic spot along the route. Your rest house, The Scone Shack, is set on a well-known farm and café, with accommodation in converted vans. It’s not available on weekends, so make sure your dates fall in the week. Today’s route is mostly along tar.

The Scone Shack

The route passes through Scarborough, a conservation village with an incredible beach. Continuing along the Soetwater Nature Reserve, ask your chaperone about the Khoi history of this stretch. Pilgrims will make their way to the small village of Kommetjie, known for its quiet charm and coastal beauty.
This section follows a beach stretch that includes a visible shipwreck along the way. The route ends in Noordhoek, a coastal town known for horse riding and wide open sands.

Today’s walk is more demanding, climbing over Chapman’s Peak via a steep and rocky path. The effort is matched by sweeping views over the Atlantic coastline and surrounding mountains. You walk to Hout Bay and stay in the town. End your Camino here.

Additional day for changes in itinerary or if the previous day is too challenging. Own transport required to travel Chapman’s Peak.

Karbonkelberg Seal Island (8km)

This is an adventurous day on foot, walking Karbonkelberg with local chaperone Brent. The route includes rugged paths and leads to Seal Island, offering a closer look at the landscape and local community of Hout Bay.

SEASONAL NOTES

When To Go

Open from March-November

Temperatures too high during late December, January and February

July can be cold and rainy

ask away

FAQ's

Walking the full route is powerful because transformation happens over time. Over weeks of consistent walking, something shifts — physically, emotionally, and mentally. The repetition of footsteps, the changing landscapes, the quiet rural spaces, and the daily rhythm of moving from one stop to the next create space for reflection that simply does not happen on shorter walks. The full journey allows the countryside, the solitude, and the effort to truly work on you.

Cape Camino is not the same as the Camino de Santiago or other pilgrimage routes. It does not have centuries-old infrastructure, cafés every few kilometres, or uniform pilgrim hostels. It is a rural South African pilgrimage that moves through working farms, small towns, and wild spaces. Services are more spread out, distances can feel longer, and the experience is quieter and less commercial. It is essential not to arrive with European Camino expectations, but rather to embrace the uniqueness of this landscape and special South African flavour.

No, services are not uniform along the entire route. Each region is different. Some stops are more developed, while others are deeply rural. Accommodation varies in style and character. This diversity is part of the experience. Pilgrims must carefully follow their individual itinerary and understand exactly what they have booked at each stop.
Yes, you must take a rest day whenever you feel it is necessary. However, you are responsible for arranging transport to your next booked stop if you choose not to walk a particular section. Rest days can be wise and restorative, especially on a long route. Listening to your body is part of the journey.
Pacing yourself is essential. This is not a race. Walking too fast in the early days often leads to fatigue or injury later on. Start conservatively, take regular breaks, hydrate properly, and allow your body to adapt. The full route rewards steady consistency more than speed.
Solitude badges are a simple way to communicate your intention for the day. If you are wearing a solitude badge, it signals to others that you are not in the mood for conversation and would prefer to walk quietly. This helps create a respectful culture where personal space and reflection are honoured without awkwardness.
Pilgrims are responsible for their own readiness and decision-making. If you need to stop early or adjust your plans, you will need to arrange transport and any alternative accommodation required. The route requires preparation, resilience, and flexibility.
The refund and cancellation policy is extremely important because accommodation and services along the route are booked in advance with small, rural hosts who rely on confirmed reservations. Late cancellations affect multiple stakeholders. Before booking, you must read and understand the cancellation and rescheduling terms carefully so that you are fully aware of your financial responsibility.
Come with flexibility, humility, and openness. Cape Camino is rawer and less predictable than established European routes. It is deeply local, deeply rural, and shaped by the realities of South Africa. If you release comparison and walk it for what it is, the experience can be profoundly rewarding.

Deb walked the full 40 days of Winelands, Farmlands, Community, Sandveld and Strand, West Coast and Peninsula sections.

She started in August and ended in October of 2022 and was joined by small groups of pilgrims along the way.

Read her Journal

Pilgrim Voices

Reviews

Amazing fellow pilgrims, beautiful landscapes, sometimes in challenging terrain, so have the right gear and act responsibly. The hosts are terrific, interesting and gasvry - you will be spoiled rotten and enjoy wonderful food and hilarious dinner conversations. Don't expect to lose weight - chances are you won't. I felt as if I had been invited to attend a special dinner party every night. It was wonderful.
Philna Smith
We had such an amazing time, it was truly an incredible experience. As I mentioned we were a group of girls that had known each other for 15yrs. However, this trip brought us even closer and each of us since being back home has had some ups and downs and one of the things that has kept us going is our friendship. It is a trip we will remember forever and we speak of it so often! I really hope to do it again one day soon with my family as I feel bit would add so much our already tight bond. Anyway, I hope u are well, and I just also wanted to say thank U for all your assistance asking the way that made it a reality!! Also Rea was just absolutely phenomenal and he made our trip truly special! Pls send him all our regards
Lisa Honey
For me it was a wonderful experience, I am still rezoning and getting benefits still on a daily basis as it really forced me to focus and tap into myself and consciously become aware of the environment, the diversity and my own body. “It always seems impossible until it is done!
Susan Potgieter

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