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CAMINO DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA
If you've ever wanted an adventure of the spirit and soul, this is it!

CAMINO FRANCES ROUTE
PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR PILGRIMS

The advice that you are going to find here is from our own first hand experience and that of
other pilgrim friends.  We hope it helps you along your journey.

Getting Prepared:   Walking 500 miles/800 kilometres in 32 days will take some physical
preparation regardless of your fitness level.  Even if you are a marathon runner, you will need
to prepare for the Camino as walking that many miles takes its toll on even the fittest athlete.  If
you're used to a more sedentary lifestyle, you may be wise to start preparing for your journey at
least a few months out - short  road walks, hiking in the hills and preferably wearing the
footwear and clothes that you intend to use on the journey itself.  Make sure that before you
leave that you are comfortable walking or hiking the entire day with your backpack on, fully
loaded with all that you intend to carry with you on this trip.  Your body will take about five days
to adjust to the continuous exercise as you walk the Camino and the going will get much
easier throughout the journey.


Footwear:  No matter how fit you are your feet are going to take a beating, so it is essential to
wear suitable footwear and make sure they are well worn in beforehand.  We suggest a hiking
boot that is lightweight, waterproof, has a sturdy sole and ankle support.  Many of the ancient
roman roads are very rough and uneven and therefore tough on the feet and ankles.  Socks
are also very important, and we suggest taking three pairs of hiking socks.  Some pilgrims
recommend a liner under their hiking socks, while others will cover their feet with Vaseline and
then a pair of knee-high stockings under their hiking socks to help reduce the chance of
blisters.


Clothing:  ONE SET TO WASH AND ONE SET TO WEAR.  That is the general rule of the serious
pilgrim who doesn't want to carry anything more than absolutely necessary.  You need to
consider the time of year that you will be making your journey, but regardless it is best to have
clothing made of materials that wick away moisture and dry quickly.  Even in the height of the
summer when the temperatures are extremely hot, it can be difficult to get clothes to dry due to
the humidity levels.  Essential clothing would be:

  • 2 microfibre T-shirts
  • 2 pairs of zip-off pants
  • 1 polar-fleece jacket
  • 1 long-sleeve microfibre shirt
  • 3 pairs of hiking socks
  • 3 pairs of underwear
  • 1 wide brimmed hat to protect you from the sun
  • rain jacket and pants or rain poncho (which can also be used as a ground cloth)
  • hiking boots
  • shower sandals (optional)
  • lightweight footwear to put on in the evening and give your feet a rest from your hiking
    boots


Packing:  ONLY TAKE WHAT YOU REALLY NEED.  No matter how light your bag is, after a few
miles any load will become a burden and you will either be tossing out clothing and other
items as you walk, or your body will be getting very sore and tired.  The best rule of thumb is to
carry no more than 10% of body weight.  So, a good tip in finding the right size backpack is to
put together the items you will require for your journey and then use a backpack that fits the
items - not the other way around, as then there is too much temptation to put more in the
backpack or carry a pack that is too big and then you're carrying a couple of extra pounds of
bag that you don't need.  Other items you will need room for in your backpack are:

  • lightweight/compact sleeping bag
  • quick dry camping towel
  • flashlight or headlight
  • first aid kit
  • bathroom kit
  • camera (digital would be preferable so as not to carry endless rolls of film) & extra
    battery
  • water bottle - minimum 1 litre capacity (recommend a bottle waist band holder on your
    pack for easy access to fill at water fountains rather than a camel back)
  • guidebook (recommend the Confraternity of Saint James' Camino Frances guide)
  • 8 safety pins for laundry
  • sulu or sarong has many uses - cover pillow (if you encounter one), use as extra
    clothing, towel or sheet
  • Swiss Army knife (with corkscrew for opening wine bottles)
  • 2 Carabiner clips
  • pen and journal
  • travel sewing kit (works great as part of first aid kit for sewing blisters)
  • Bandana
  • laundry detergent - you can buy a small tube of liquid detergent or carry your own in a
    small bottle
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