FAQs

The Camino involves both physical and mental effort, but anybody with some prior preparation and determination, can do it! If you are not doing any exercise at the moment, we recommend walking 3 – 4 times a week or doing some other form of regular exercise before your Camino.

Build your walking distance up slowly with short walks mid week (start at 30mins) and one long walk at the weekend (start at 1 hour). Extend you walking time on a weekly basis and walk on a mix of surfaces (tarmac and trail) and on both flat and hills/mountains. 

Your training duration depends what distance you plan to walk. If you plan to walk 100km, 6-8 weeks pre-training is ideal. If you plan to walk for 30 days continuous, 4 – 6 months pre-training is recommended. Don’t forget to stretch before and after training; this will help minimise cramps and muscle pain.

We recommend trail runners as they are light, breathable and have extra grip for walking up and down hills. You can wear hiking boots if you prefer but it is not absolutely necessary. Comfortable and proper fitting footwear is very important to reduce the risk of injuries and blisters. It is important to train in new footwear so they are ‘worn in’ for your Camino. It is recommended to replace trail runners every 800km as the cushioning and support will be exhausted at that point.   

The choice of socks is also fundamental. 

We recommend either anti blister socks or breathable and padded socks. Unfortunately there is no infallible remedy for preventing blisters but we recommend applying a generous amount of Vaseline on your feet and between toes every morning before walking to prevent skin rubbing and sores developing. 

It’s a personal decision. Some people love them, some not. 

They are helpful when walking up and down hills and they provide grip and balance on slippery or muddy surfaces. 

However some people find them an annoyance as you don’t have free hands when walking meaning it takes a little longer to do tasks such as to read maps and drink your water.

If you have them, we advise to walk with them for a few days before you decide if they are for you or not. If they are uncomfortable after a few days, then you might be better off without them.

When buying poles, make sure you have the correct poles for the terrain you plan to walk and the correct length for your height. Please seek specialist advice in an outdoor retail shop when purchasing your walking poles.

If you plan to fly with poles, check the luggage guidelines with your airline as you may need to check them in or you may be charged for bringing them. You can buy your walking poles in outdoor shops in Saint Jean Pied de Port and Sarria.

If you are carrying your backpack, it is important to ensure that your backpack is properly fitted to your body and has adjustable shoulder pads, shoulder straps and a hip belt. Please seek specialist advice in an outdoor retail shop when purchasing your backpack.

When wearing it, ensure it is close to your body. Hip belts are worn tight on the hips and not loose around your bum. Shoulder straps need to be pulled tight. This will keep the weight off your shoulders and adjust the load evenly. Make sure you understand how to use all the straps correctly. Regarding the size, typical bags are 50 litres in volume. You will also need a rain cover for your backpack.

If you plan to carry it every day, your bag should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight i.e if a person weighs 80kgs, the backpack should not weigh more than 8kg.

You do not need to carry your bag each day, you can take a suitcase weighing up to 20kg and we will send it forward daily for you. Remember to take a small day bag to carry basics needed for when you are walking.

The Pilgrim’s Passport (or Credencial del Peregrino in Spanish) originated in the Middle Ages and has two goals; you will be accredited as a pilgrim and therefore have access to pilgrims’ hostels (Albergues). Secondly, stamp it along the way as proof that you have walked in order to receive your Compostela (certificate of completion) when you arrive in Santiago.

To receive your Compostela, you need a minimum of 2 stamps per day on the final 100km section of the French Way, Northern Way, Portuguese Way and English Way. On all other sections of the different Camino routes, you only need a minimum of 1 stamp per day as evidence that you have walked the Camino. You can get your Pilgrims Passport stamped in hotels, churches, tourist offices, post offices, cafes, restaurants and bars along all Camino routes. The final stamp is given at the Pilgrims’ Office in Santiago.

This Pilgrim’s passport ends up being a treasured possession as it is a special reminder of all the places you stopped or stayed during your walk. If you are not ending in Santiago, you can keep this passport for future Camino walks as it does not expire.

There are cash machines in all main towns along the Camino.

A useful website for weather information specific to the different regions in Spain is: Weather Link.

There are launderettes in all towns along the Camino.

Of course you can! Lots of pilgrims walk on their own, however you are never alone as there are always other pilgrims along the way.

The best thing about walking the Camino alone is that you have the freedom to choose your start time, your pace, when to have breaks and whether to walk alone or with other pilgrims you meet along the way.

Pilgrims Office, No. 33, Rúa das Carretas, Santiago de Compostela.

Tourist Office, Praza da Constitucion, Finisterre.

The Cathedral is open every day to pilgrims and the public from 07:00 – 21:00. Pilgrim Masses are held in the Cathedral daily at 07:30, 09:30, 12:00 and 19.30.