Before You Walk the Camino de Santiago | 14 Truths You Need to Hear

You are an excellent presenter! Thank you 😊

Thank you....

We did el Camino 2 years ago from Sarria, and most of your recommendations resonated with us. We did it in September 2024 and, many days were like visiting your local Walmart store on a Saturday afternoon. Regarding the blisters, we read somewhere about a product named "Sport Shield" by 2Toms, available in Amazon, and it was godsend. No blisters at all, and it is very easy to apply. We intend to do it again this year in September, from Vigo to Santiago. Thanks for your video.

Why does she keep saying boundaries ? It’s odd

very helpful thanks!

Point 12 was your best point. It’s bittersweet when you finish but sad in a way. Kind of an anti-climax. At the start you want it to stop but at the end you never want it to end.

I walked an average of 42km per day for 21 days. Highly inadvisable. My feet were an absolute mess. My biggest regret was walking to Zubiri on day one. I still went on to walk another 2 Caminos within the same year. I’ll be the doing the Frances again next month. I’m so excited and these videos are getting me so excited again.

They’re not mistakes. They’re learning points. They’re kind of part of the experience.

Would it be difficult to do this needing to be gluten free? That’s my main worry. I don’t want to make my own meals or survive on Kind bars. Great video!

I enjoyed your reporting of the real experience versus the movie version. Very interesting. Thanks for the work.

The video outlines 14 truths and tips the speaker wishes she knew before walking the Camino de Santiago (0:53):1. It is a highly social experience: The Camino Frances is crowded, especially after Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (1:05).2. There are many road sections: Be prepared to walk on pavement, which can be tough on the feet (2:31).3. It is physically exhausting: The daily distances are long, leading to significant fatigue (3:21).4. Luggage transfer services are available: You can pay to have your bag transported to the next location (5:28).5. Expect crowds after Sarria: The section from Sarria to Santiago is the most crowded part of the walk (6:48).6. Sleep is crucial for recovery: Use good earplugs and eye masks to ensure restful nights (7:22).7. Be mindful of the wine culture: Wine is cheap and abundant, which is a major part of the social scene (8:06).8. Siesta culture is real: Most small businesses and pharmacies close from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (8:49).9. Buy blister supplies at home: Items like Compeed are much cheaper in the US than in Spain (9:19).10. Public transportation is an option: There is no shame in taking a bus if you have physical issues or need a break (9:50).11. Use a guidebook for history: A good guidebook helps you appreciate the culture and history of the towns (10:32).12. Time speeds up: The journey feels slow at first, but passes very quickly toward the end (11:35).13. Research fantastic albergues: Find a list of highly-rated albergues beforehand to enhance your experience (12:13).14. Visit the beaches in Finisterre: Consider extending your trip to the coast for beautiful water and sunsets (13:12).

Thanks for your advice - I am sure it will help many pilgrims. I am wondering when you hiked the Camino. I ask so I can gauge what you mean by crowded versus solitude. My husband and I hiked the last 120 miles to Santiago in May/June of 2024. We plan to do the whole trek starting this May. I would like to compare your description to our experience. Thanks!

If you want solitude walk the North route. I was alone for hours in July. It’s also beautiful. The Atlantic Ocean on the right, the Picos de Europa on the left.

Nothing about the total Costa?

Very interesting Thank you

There are no mistakes when one decides to walk Camino. We’ve walked Frances the first time from Leon. Wonderful. One can walk in more remote places. My wife and I have walked six different ways to get to Santiago. For those who want to be “alone”, try walking Camino Invierno. We walked October 2024. We walked from Ponteferrada. We saw maybe two dozen pilgrims along the 13 days. Not easy. Just waking up everyday, just walking, just praying.

Thanks for your tips!

How much do father last 100miles are roads. When you say crowded what are we talking about?

Thank you for sharing.

My first Camino in 2022, the Portuguese Coastal route, was in September and it was not as busy as I expected until the last 100km. My second, the Frances in 2024 was through mid October till mid November and even the last 100km from Sarria was not busy. I loved the solitude! Planning the next, either Norte or Frances again, in 2027 which will be in March for the same reason. It may still be cold in parts and I expect some snow, but I am confident I won’t be fighting crowds which I know would ruin the experience for me.

I walked the last 100 km in the first week of January 2023. It is definitely NOT a social experience in winter. I was almost the ONLY person on the trail the entire time. It was almost impossible to find any restaurant open the entire time, even inside towns, and it rained all the time. It was still dark every morning when I started out around 8:00 AM. Even planning for luggage transfers was challenging during this season. It was a wonderful experience, but to do this in winter, you really need to be self sufficient and plan your days carefully...

Can you share a link or clarification about the blister pads you mentioned? Thanks for the video! Very informative!

As a Spaniard that lives just near one of its main routes, though I've never walked it, I can give you a few points about some of those:

- It's a social experience, but it is one while walking if you want to. I've seen many groups of people doing it all together but there are also people doing it on their own or a small group of people but they are a few steps away from each other, so much so that maybe they are 4-6 people and there are about 100 meters or so from the first one to the last one. Once you get to your destination for the day it may be a different thing, mainly in small villages/towns, as pilgrims will be the "main attraction" and you'll be together at the albergue. Iin main cities that kind of fades. And yes, you may try and start walking early but, depending on the season, that's something most pilgrims will do as well because albergues don't usually take reservations so the sooner you get there, the most likely you'll get a bed.

- Physical toll: mind the part of the year you're going there and the region. The French way will take you through Castilla y León, which will be hot in summer and rainy and windy in winter, with not those many places to cover if any. Galicia, the final destination, may bring you pretty much any weather condition any time of the year. Plan accordingly and use some good weather apps.

- Crowded after Sarria: it is. Many people begin in France but once they get to around Burgos they decide to take the bus because they think they won't get it or not on the time they have, so they arrive at León or Ponferrada and keep on from there. What's the matter with Sarria? if you are a pilgrim and you're wishing to get your "Compostela" (the document that proves you've done the Camino) you have to at least walk the last 100 kilometers. Guess what's the distance between Santiago and Sarria. You will have this "pilgrim's passport" which should be filled with seals all along the way, mainly in albergues and places like restaurants, shops, gift shops, bakeries, that kind of places. You don't need to get a seal at every single place, but you will have to have a, say, coherent collection so when you arrive at the "pilgrim's office" they can check it out and give you the Compostela. This will happen for whatever route you take, though there are obviously some that are rarely walked anyway or only when the weather is right.

- Wine culture... I mean, it's Spain. Unless you walk some of the very Northern options where they produce less wine if any, you can find wine all along the way. Is it a must? it isn't, Should I recommend it? I do. I mean, I'm a producer myself as well so what am I going to say? If you do a Portuguese route, they do also have many wines and mostly good ones. Tinto de verano? well, that's more of a refreshing beverage than wine culture, it's just some red wine mixed with "gaseosa" (whatever the brand) and "gaseosa" is kind of Sprite/7up, add some ice, maybe some lemon slice and you're good to go. If you walk around La Rioja in September/October you may even smell the grapes in the air as you walk by.

- Siesta Culture... well, that's a more complex subject than it would seem. Although people might take a nap after lunch anywhere in Spain, it's more of a Southern thing as in summer it's way, way too hot to do anything at that time of the day. Anyway, it's true that many places will be closed for lunch, and that can be anywhere between 1 pm to 5 pm. That does not mean they will all be closed all that time, but it's usually at the very least 1,5 hours closed, mainly 2 hours and it's not unusual to be closed for 2,5-3 hours. As mentioned earlier, this will be more of a pain in smaler towns than in tbigger ones. About pharmacies, they may close at lunch, yep, but if in urgent need, pharmacies usually have some paper on their window with a list of the nearest pharmacy that will be open the whole day or the whole night. Mind you, you may have to move to a different location, but...

- You can purchase blister bandaids in France/Spain/Portugal as well, pharmacies know about you pilgrims. They do. But I would also like to tell you to NOT wear new shoes for the Camino. You should break them in before.

- Can you take public transportation? You can, but remember what I said before about achieving your Compostela: you can't do it for the last 100 kms.

- Stay longer to Finisterre: if you are doing other than the Portuguese route, you should. If you're doing the Portuguese route, you should as well. The Camino can be ended at the cathedral but, as mentioned in the video, it's better if you do go to Finisterre (Fisterra in Galician). Depending on who you ask, you should also walk up the coast to Muxía and its sanctuary. Yes, beaches are gorgeous around here, but be careful with those that are "open to the sea" as the currents will drag you out. I would actually suggest renting a car and at the very least drive as near to the coast as possible all the way from Malpica to Santa Uxía de Riveira.

Thanks again for your presentation and information, truly. I too have traveled a good bit around the world and my approach to travel is to not have any expectations beforehand. I just let it happen and take each trip as it is or becomes. That’s just me.

$$$ spent from start to finish...on trail?

I am a hiker who mostly does short day trips alone since this summer but have been doing little hikes growing up. To me hiking is just a way of living but now that I’m living in France for a while I would like to do the Camino at the end of September. I don’t have any free time during the week but does someone have any tips or recommendations to prepare myself for the Camino? The shoes and backpack I already have since I do a lot of backpacking by train

I love this video!!! I am doing my first Camino with my husband when he retires from the Navy. We'll be there Sept 2026! This video will be sooo helpful. THANK YOU! Buen Camino!

Just reflecting on the contrast in attitudes between the modern secular "just so you enjoy the experience" versus the old Catholic "suffer along the way to increase the likelihood that your prayers will be answered". Back in the day, there would have been, maybe not shame, but at least a sense of folly, if someone paid for a service to have their pack sent on ahead instead of carrying it themselves. I suppose different people can do the walk for different reasons, but the idea of it being a holy pilgrimage in honor of a saint seems so unlikely these days.

By the way, in case someone is of the religious sort that believes God really does want us to enjoy the experience, I have a good friend who runs the albergue in Jaca who might delight in that approach!