On the Camino de Santiago there are written pages and pages on how to equip yourself. The idea in these lines is to explain everything in a simple and practical way. From what to carry, how to load the backpack, which route to choose and how to face this challenge.
The Camino de Santiago can be seen from a religious point of view or a simply tourist or sports point of view. When the goal is reached, at the Pilgrim’s Office they will ask us for the motivation and they will give us a certificate according to it.
Religious or not, it is interesting to know something about these routes. The goal of every pilgrim is to reach the tomb of the apostle Santiago, who according to tradition is buried in the Galician capital. The many paths that run through Spain to this city are the routes that the pilgrims took centuries ago. Some are still very faithful to the original layouts, many have undergone changes due to new infrastructures, others have emerged more recently.
The goal is clear and the recognition received by the pilgrim who reaches it is the Compostela (if it is said that it is for religious belief). To obtain it, you don’t have to go all the way, if you go on foot or on horseback, with the last 100 kilometers they grant it; if you go by bicycle, you need to cover 200 km.
The person who decides to face the Camino de Santiago must take into account that there are some easier routes than others. You don’t have to be an athlete either, but you should prepare and equip yourself correctly, in addition to planning everything some time in advance. Here are several tips:
BEFORE THE ROAD
1. Time and route selection
It seems obvious, but the first thing is to decide when, how long and where.
As a general rule, fully completing the roads within Spanish territory implies spending at least 30 days on them. If less is available, it is convenient to complete sections or calculate the starting point based on how many days there are until Santiago.
Planned that, you have to see which route to choose and at what time.For example, August is a month with many people and spring is ideal for doing the Via de la Plata. Also, it is possible that in winter, in low season, there are some shelters that close or some snowy trails.
There are quite simple paths with good signage and smooth profiles , such as the English or even the Portuguese from Tuy; others more demanding such as the Primitivo or the first stages of the North, with hard ups and downs. It is also necessary to take into account the services that each one of them presents: the Frances deploys vending machines, hostels and bars with great frequency, but for example the Via de la Plata or the Portugues, especially between Lisbon and Porto, they are very lonely .
The stage finishesThey mark a lot the difficulty of the routes. There are paths in which there is a lot of possibility to choose alternative endings, but in others there is not. The Camino Frances passes through many towns and almost all of them have shelters, so we can avoid stopping in a crowded place and go a few more kilometers to avoid crowds. In others, this is different: if on the Via de la Plata we decide to skip Merida, we must bear in mind that the next stop with services for pilgrims is more than 16 kilometers away, in Aljucen. It may be a distance that not many are willing to take.
It is always advisable to look at the different guides available, whether they are printed (everything Anton Pombo signs is life insurance), websites (Gronze or Eroski are two of the most prominent) or in apps (Buen Camino de Santiago, Cno. Santiago or Camino de Santiago in Galicia are recommended among the hundreds that there are). The guides always help to plan, see what we have ahead, avoid getting lost or even what each municipality offers us. We may trust that we will find a bar in the next village or a supermarket and be disappointed when we arrive.
Also be careful with the water : in the northern areas there will be no big problems, but there are other routes that do not provide so many facilities. We must be very farsighted and assess when to load with more water. Staying without it can take its toll on us, especially if it’s hot.
It is interesting to ask the hospitaleros where we slept one night about the next stage. Most love to share what they know. It is possible that they recommend us to bring food or a water supplement, they can also inform us of incidents on the route (if there is any deviation) or even give us useful advice about accommodation in the following days.
2. Training
Depending on who is asked, they will say that the Way is hard or easy. It should be clear that it is not running a marathon, but it is not a walk in the park either. What really wears out from this experience is the accumulated: 15 days in a row walking an average of 20 kilometers can take a physical toll if you are not used to walking or you are not well equipped. Fortunately, there are few high mountain stages, but that does not mean that you have to cross mountains and that some profiles are complicated.
It is therefore advisable to do some filming before leaving: walk around your town several weeks beforehand to get used to the body. Likewise, if we can go out with some weight in a backpack, the better.
It is essential to train with the same footwear that we are going to wear.Most of the pilgrims’ problems come from shoes that are too new and poorly adapted to the foot. In the end they will cause blisters, poor support and the dreaded tendonitis or worse injury.
3. Documentation
To carry out the Camino de Santiago, you must carry your DNI and health card , as identification elements and to be attended in case of medical need.
It is convenient to go to an association of Friends of the Camino to buy a Credential , which is the document that indicates that we are pilgrims and that will allow us to access the hostels. They are usually worth about 3 euros. In any case, if we do not achieve it before leaving, we can always obtain it on the same Path. Many tourist offices, churches or even hostels can offer them.
In these times of pandemic, it would not be bad to carry a Covid passport that shows that we are vaccinated or that we even have recent negative PCR.
4. Equipment
This is very personal. The most basic is indicated here:
Clothing: Of course, you should wear sports or comfortable clothing: a couple of breathable shirts (short or long sleeves), a sweatshirt and one or two shorts or detachable pants. If the forecast is for cool weather, thermal shirts are very useful and, of course, more warm, like jackets.
Footwear: It is advisable to wear trekking shoes as they help a lot to support the foot and protect it in case of tripping. It is also a shoe that greatly cushions the tread. Many are made of materials that protect against rain and puddles.
There are people who go with sports shoes of another type. It is possible, as long as the profile of the stage allows it. It is not recommended to wear soles without grip if you are going to go over difficult terrain.
As for the socks, it is recommended to use several technical or seamless pairs. A normal sock can cause blisters from rubbing.
Backpack: It must be a hiking backpack with a capacity of at least 40 liters. These backpacks help protect your back and support weight with less problems. Many incorporate a waterproof cover. If you don’t have one, you should buy one.
Sleeping bag:It is advisable to wear a thin one if it is summer or a warm one if it is winter. It is good to use them in hostels because they will isolate and protect you, especially for those who hate touching the mattresses of the bunk beds (not everywhere they give disposable covers).
First aid kit: Many people say that you should bring one, but you have to keep in mind that in almost all the places where you are going to spend the night there are pharmacies. Unless you have a previous treatment, it is not advisable to overload yourself with medical material and buy it if necessary. The only thing that is worth taking is a bottle of Cristalmina, a sewing needle and thread. They will serve to cure the dreaded blisters in case any come out.
Anti-Covid kit:In times of pandemic, it is convenient to carry a mask for the interiors, a bottle with hydrogel and a sprayer to disinfect and disinfect ourselves.
Extras: You must bring a poncho or waterproof clothing; some sandals for the shower and rest your feet after the journeys; a hat and sunscreen. It’s also good to have a flashlight, a utility knife, and your own eating utensils. The canteen is essential.
The two poles help a lot to distribute the weight on ups and downs as well as providing security on complicated sections. With only one it is worth, although in this case it is advisable to change hands from time to time.
5. Tips for preparing the backpack
There are many types of backpack and it would be absurd to say how to distribute the load in detail. However, there are several important rules:
The total weight must not exceed 10% of the weight of its carrier . The recommended limit is 8 kilos. You can carry more, but you already risk a back injury.
The compressed and balanced content , that is, that one side is not overloaded. It could make us walk bent over.
The most logical thing is to put in the background what we are going to need the least . This is important in case you have to look for something during the journey and not have to take everything out.
The backpack must fit perfectly on the backto avoid wobbling. The weight should always fall on the hips, on the pelvic girdle. The rest of the straps must be adjusted so that they are close to the body.
ON THE ROAD
1. Before starting the march
, always spend time observing the route that we are going to follow on the day. As indicated above, there are many printed guides, apps and websites with a large amount of information about the routes, profiles, etc.
It is important to take reference points on the maps, that is, to know how many towns we are going to pass through to get an idea of ​​our position and how much we lack. It is advisable to review the information on what services each locality offers: pharmacies, hostels, clinics, supermarkets, bars, etc. If we observe that there is little civilization on our route, we must assess whether it is convenient to bring extra food and drink to the usual.
It is not advisable to go overloaded with provisions, except in cases of long stages without intermediate services. If it is good to take with us at least a liter of water (recharging it whenever we can) and something to eat (some fruit, nuts… sugar cannot be missing).
Plan departure timeIt’s very important. If the stage is very long or it is very hot, you may want to leave early.
Finally, touch the physical preparation. Stretching helps a lot to tone the muscles. It is not bad to spend some time on this before the march. Another trick for the feet is to put Vaseline on them before putting on our socks: you will hydrate them and help the blisters take longer to come out.
2. During the march
El Camino is not a competition . You don’t have to run, but enjoy it as much as possible. As a general rule we are going to be walking for several days in a row and it is convenient to dose the forces. If we start very strong and fast, it is possible that in the end, if the stage is hard or long, it will take its toll on us.
the perfect rhythmof walking of each one is the one that allows you to walk while talking without suffocating. Going more forced can cause more fatigue, but going slower can also harm us.
That said, it will be normal to find the typical pilgrims who think more about getting to the hostel as soon as possible to ensure a bed than about enjoying every moment (they abound in Galicia, especially in Ano Xacobeo). The routes usually go through places with very nice details that can go unnoticed if we go fast or enclaves of great charm in which it is often worth stopping or even slightly deviating if necessary. Talk to the people of the villages if they talk to us, listen to the birds, admire the cruise ships, enter the churches and hermitages, enjoy the silence… there is much to do along the route and it is almost always worth it. The road is what fills the journey of the pilgrim. If it is done in another way, you can end up being aware that most of the day we are in a shelter dozing.
Apart from enjoying, the key is not to get lost and for that the yellow arrows and the scallops will be our friends.. We will find them on milestones, on tiles, painted on signs, on rocks, we will see drawings made of stone indicating the way… In theory it is easy, you have to go looking for them to move forward. The problem is that they are so long routes that sometimes they can have signaling problems. The usual thing is to always follow the most logical path. For example, if we are going along a straight path and we find a crossroads and we do not see any indication, the normal thing is to continue straight ahead. On the other hand, if we haven’t seen a brand for too long, we should start to worry and ask the people we see or consult a guide. The need to always look for these visual orientations means that it is not recommended to go out at night, since the less light, the greater the probability of not seeing a small arrow in a corner.
The stops of about 15 minutes every two hours of walking help us recover and make the excursion more bearable. We must sit down sometime so that our feet can rest. There are those who even take the opportunity to eat if they catch him at a good time. That if, do not let the body cool.
The end of the stage is always indicative . It is not an obligation. Many times they coincide with the localities that offer shelters and more services, others with the places of greatest interest. Each one makes his way and it is possible to alter these conclusions.
the credential, in addition to accrediting us as a pilgrim, also collects our route throughout the journey. It’s our walking record. It consists of some boxes in which we can put some stamps that have the places we are going through: a hostel, a bar, a hermitage… In principle, it is only worth one each day, but there are those who collect and it is that there are some with very interesting designs. When we are 100 kilometers from Santiago, we will have to put two stamps a day (for example, one where we have breakfast and another in the hostel where we stop).
3. After the walk
We have completed the daily objective. We have reached our goal. It’s time to look for accommodationwhere we can rest and wash up. Almost all the stage finishes usually have public hostels (cheaper) and other private accommodation options (private hostels or hostels). Sometimes there may not be municipal ones and we have to look for other more expensive alternatives. For this reason, it is advisable to review the information in the guides.
The first thing the hospitalero will ask for will be our Credential and DNI. If we do not have the card that accredits us as a pilgrim, it can deny us passage.
Access to the shelters is on a first-come, first-served basis, with those on foot taking precedence over those on bicycles. Likewise, people with disabilities also go before, although it is possible that there are reserved beds.
The pilgrim must rest after the day of excursion. Again, stretching helps on arrival.
You have to take care of your feet, checking if we have blisters (and treating them if they have come out) and try to ventilate them with comfortable and fresh shoes.
As for the legs, if we have them very loaded, it is advisable to relax them by placing the feet up. Rosemary oil helps a lot too.
Finally, we must rehydrate, especially if we have suffered a lot of heat along the way.
As a general rule, hostels tend to have quite strict closing hours : around 10:00 p.m. everyone is asked to be in bed, the lights are turned off and silence is requested. Respect is fundamental in these places.
If you are one of those who have a hard time with night noises (read snoring): do not forget some earplugs.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ROAD
We finally reached Santiago. The entrance is not usually very pleasant, arrivals to the cities are almost always very heavy. Streets and avenues until entering the center. Already in the historic center of Compostela things change. The first objective is to find the Plaza del Obradoiro and admire the spectacular exterior of the Cathedral . It seems as if the surrounding buildings themselves embrace the pilgrim. It is a place of emotions and even reunions with our fellow adventurers.
After this, it is best to go to the Pilgrim’s Office(Rua das Carretas, 33). The procedure to request the Compostela is the last torture that awaits us. In recent years, the number of pilgrims arriving is huge and there were always long queues at the office. The solution they have given is to grant limited appointments. If you arrive early you can get a number for that same day; If you arrive late or there are many people, you will have to ask for another day. It goes without saying that this bores many and it is not uncommon for pilgrims to give up.
If you make the appointment, at the office they will ask for your Credential and verify that you have traveled the last 100 kilometers. After asking your motivations, they will give you the Compostela (religious) or a paper that says that you have done the Camino (others). Likewise, the Credential receives the last seal, that of the Cathedral of Santiago.
Once the bureaucracy is over, the tradition is to visit the saint in the Cathedral and give him a hug.
There are those who settle and stay here. Although there are also some who decide to go to Finisterre and Muxia, another three days on foot, to complete the arrival at the end of the world. Two other certificates can be obtained in these towns: the Fisterrana and the Muxiana
