So You Want to Go on Camino?

You've heard all about the Camino Santiago and now you've decided you want to go walk across Spain. You need to plan. But where do you start? You start by asking yourself some questions: 

WHY are you walking?

How many days do you have to walk? 

How much can you afford to spend? 

Where will you begin your walk? 

Where will you fly FROM?

Will you walk alone? 

Will you require private lodging or are you happy to stay in albergues? 

Will you picnic or will you eat in restaurants? 

What equipment do you already have and what will you need? 

What time of year will you walk?

Is it important that you walk every step or are you open to alternative transportation when necessary?

 

Let's look at some of these questions in depth.

WHY ARE YOU WALKING?

Originally, the Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage. If a person walks the last 100 kilometers into Santiago de Compostela, they could get a certificate from the Church called a Compostela. It was a way of gaining forgiveness of sins and proving they had made the pilgrimage. 

Today, people walk for many reasons. Some walk for forgiveness of sins. Some walk to pray for others. For some it is a religious or spiritual journey. For others, a test of endurance.  Some want to experience the culture and food of Spain. And others just want to put it on their checklist of "things I did."

It is important for you to know WHY you are walking. If the Compostela is important to you, you must register your walk as "religious" or "spiritual" instead of secular, plus you must walk every step of the last 100 kilometers into Santiago de Compostela. If it is NOT important for you to have the Compostela, you can get a very beautiful Walking Certificate at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago. If the Compostela is not important to you, it's also fine to bus or taxi portions of the last 100 kilometers.

Why do YOU want to walk?

WHICH ROUTE WILL YOU WALK?

Do you want to walk the original Camino Frances? Or would you rather walk a quieter route like the Northern, the Aragones, the Madrid, or even from Lourdes? There is also the route from Malaga, the route from Montserrat, the route from Amsterdam, and many other routes from pretty much anyone's front door!

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE?

To walk the entire Camino Frances will take you somewhere between 30 and 45 days, depending on how fast you walk. Brierley lists 33 stages in his guidebook. But some of those can be too long for many walkers. You may want to add on extra days for illness, or for simply touristing in the larger cities. Personally, I think 6 weeks makes a nice comfortable Camino.

WHERE WILL YOU BEGIN?    

Of course, your Camino begins the minute you walk out of your front door. But once you arrive in Europe, where will you begin? Will you start in Lourdes, France? Will you start in St. Jean Pied de Port? In Roncesvalles? In Pamplona? In Sevilla if you are walking the Via de la Plata? 

By knowing where you will begin your Camino, you can then decide where to fly into. If you are beginning your walk in St. Jean Pied de Port, you can either fly into Madrid (my personal favorite) or you can fly into Paris and take a train to SJPP. 

WILL YOU WALK ALONE?

Do you need some alone time? Or do you prefer to walk with a group? Do you speak any Spanish? Does it frighten you to be in a country where you do not know the language or are you up for the challenge?

HOW ABOUT LODGING?

Do you snore? Are you a light sleeper? You may want to book private rooms. Are you on a tight budget? Albergues may be your choice, though many still do not take reservations. Can you be flexible? Or are you more comfortable with a set schedule?

WILL YOU PICNIC?

Are you willing to picnic to save cash? Or will you be eating in restaurants? This can mean a wide range in your budget. 

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU ALREADY HAVE?

WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO BUY?

In my opinion, your two most important items are your SHOES and your BACKPACK.  Those will make or break your Camino. I will talk about both in other posts. You MUST have shoes that have a deep, wide toebox and a narrow heel or you will get blisters. I'm not fond of boots, but if you've walked/hiked in them for years, they may work for you. A well-fitting backpack is essential, no matter what time of year you are going. We will also discuss packs in a different post. ARE  However, except for these two items, you honestly can go with whatever you already have in your closet. There is absolutely no need at all to purchase special "gear" for the Camino. If you have good shoes and a good backpack, the rest is easy.

WHAT TIME OF YEAR WILL YOU WALK?

A Summer Camino means less weight to carry but it also means big crowds. A Winter Camino means fewer people, but more planning and heavier gear. Both Spring and Autumn will have a mixture of rain and sunshine. 

In addition to these questions, there are others. Do you have Travel Insurance? What will happen if you get sick on the Camino. What would happen if, God forbid, you DIED on the Camino? How would your family get your remains home? What if you broke a leg or arm? 

All of these questions are necessary to really think through before you begin your physical planning. So I advise you to take some time and figure out the answers before you buy a ticket.

See you on the trail!

Annie