The Camino is doable for just about anyone; it all depends on your fitness level and the route you are taking. Some Camino routes are suitable for shorter walking days as they have less challenging terrain and are a little easier on the feet.
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Aim to pack as light as possible for the Camino de Santiago, bringing only essential items. A suggested guide is to plan to carry no more than 10% of your body weight (so if you weight 150 lb, plan to carry no more than 15 lb).
Stick To A ScheduleWe recommend starting your Camino training at least three months in advance, with the aim of walking three 1 hour sessions a week. A month before your trip, even earlier if you can, put a day walk in each weekend into the mix to build the endurance you'll need for your walk.
I think more people would lose weight than gain it whilst walking a camino. You are using so many calories each day that it is difficult to replace them all with food. Most years I have started my camino several kilos over weight and generally lose around 6-8 kilos.
The time of year that you choose to walk the Camino de Santiago may influence your decision as to whether you pack a sleeping bag or not. If you are walking in off-season, any time before March or after September, then you may wish to carry a lightweight sleeping bag rather than sleep sheet.
Daily distances on the Camino de Santiago are between 20 km and 25 km. The average walking speed of an adult is 5 km/3 mi per hour. If you walk at that pace it'll take you 4 to 5 hours of walking per day.
Training for walking the Camino is an absolute must, even for those who consider it on the easier side of hiking. Between 5 and 10% of people walking the Camino drop out and injuries account for by far the most frequent reasons.
In general, the best time to do one of the Camino de Santiago is between April and October. The months of July and August can be very hot and most Spaniards are on holiday so it's a period that is usually busy. But it can also be very attractive.
Public bathrooms are not frequent on the Camino de Santiago. But, cafes, restaurants and bars are frequent, you may find one or two during the day, and these all have bathrooms that customers can use.
These blood-sucking critters are probably annoyance numero 1 on the Camino. Not by frequency though. It is not that common as you think to be confronted with them. However, IF these critters find you, you're in for a treat…
Generally, most people believe that the Camino del Norte is the most beautiful in terms of landscape. This is because you walk along Northern Spain and at times have the option to walk on a direct coastal path overlooking the ocean.
The Camino Inglés, or the English Way, is the shortest Camino walk. Its name stems from the medieval English pilgrims who would arrive by boat at the northern Spanish ports before making their way to Santiago de Compostela.
The difficulty of your first day will largely depend on where you start. For example, the French Way (Camino Francés) begins in the Pyrenees at St. Jean Pied de Port, presenting a challenging uphill climb on the first day. On the other hand, the Portuguese Way (Camino Portugués) starts with a gentler, flatter terrain.