Walking the Camino de Santiago is much more than a hike: it is a cultural, spiritual, and personal experience that attracts thousands of people from all over the world every year. However, to fully enjoy it, it is advisable to plan every detail well. From choosing the route to foot care, these tips for doing the Camino de Santiago will help you prepare and live the adventure safely and with satisfaction.
Choosing the Right Route from the Start
One of the first steps is to decide which path to take. The most popular is the French Way, but there are alternatives such as the Portuguese Way, the Northern Way, or the Primitive Way. Each offers different landscapes, elevations, and levels of crowds.
If it’s your first time, a well-marked route with abundant services will make the experience easier. The important thing is that the journey adapts to your physical fitness, available time, and what you are looking for: tranquility, a sporting challenge, or socializing.
Planning Realistic Stages
One of the most common mistakes is wanting to cover too many kilometers a day. For most pilgrims, between 20 and 25 kilometers daily is a reasonable distance. Listening to your body is key: the Camino de Santiago is not a race, but a progressive journey.
Plan the stages in advance, but maintain some flexibility to adapt to the weather, fatigue, or new walking companions.
The Backpack: Less is More
A classic and still relevant piece of advice is to carry only the essentials. The backpack should not exceed 10% of your body weight. Technical clothing, a couple of changes of clothes, a raincoat, a basic first aid kit, and hygiene items are usually enough.
Excess weight can cause overloads, blisters, and injuries that ruin the experience. Remember that in almost all stages you will find shops and services.
Footwear Makes the Difference
Investing in good hiking shoes or boots, already broken in previously, is fundamental. Never wear new footwear for the first time on the Camino. Accompany them with technical socks and change socks if your feet are wet.
Caring for your feet is caring for the trip: air them out, hydrate them, and treat any discomfort in time to avoid major problems.
Constant Nutrition and Hydration
During the Camino de Santiago, energy expenditure is high. Eat regularly, prioritizing foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Fruit, nuts, and energy bars are practical allies.
Drink water frequently, even if you are not thirsty, especially in summer. Dehydration is a common cause of exhaustion.
Respect for the Rhythm and Spirit of the Camino
Each pilgrim lives the Camino differently. Some seek silence and reflection; others, socializing. Respecting others’ rhythms and the environment is an essential part of the experience.
Greeting, sharing a table, or helping those in need is part of the traditional spirit of the Camino and enriches the trip beyond the physical.
Sleeping and Resting Well
Public and private hostels are an affordable and social option, but it is advisable to arrive early during high season. A good rest is as important as walking.
Do not underestimate the importance of stretching at the end of each stage and sleeping the necessary hours to recover.
Arriving in Santiago: The Perfect Closure
Upon reaching the finish line in Santiago de Compostela, many pilgrims agree that the most valuable thing is not the destination, but the path traveled. Enjoy the arrival, visit the cathedral, and take a moment to reflect on what you have learned.
The Camino de Santiago leaves a mark, and with good preparation, that mark will be positive, lasting, and transformative.
With these tips for doing the Camino de Santiago, you will be better prepared to face one of Europe’s most emblematic routes. Planning, respect for your body, and openness to the experience are the keys for the Camino to become an unforgettable memory.