How do I choose a Camino?

Camino Cheat Sheet: A Quick Guide to Choosing your Camino
  1. Can I experience the meditative nature of the walking? ...
  2. Are there food pilgrim routes? ...
  3. I'm short on time, are the flexible options available? ...
  4. I'm more of a highlights kind of person, what's a good option? ...
  5. I don't want to miss a thing, what do you recommend?




People Also Ask

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.

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The Camino Ingles is the least travelled at an average of only 4% of all pilgrims taking this route. There are no major cities along the route, just tiny villages where locals often speak Galician over Spanish.

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It may be comforting for you to know that the locals have been supporting pilgrims on the Camino for 1,000 years. As I learned during my journey, they are very happy and proud to welcome walkers and keep them safe along the way. And there is another important fact to know: crimes along the Camino are extremely rare.

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People of all ages walk the Camino de Santiago! The average age of walkers is probably closer to 60 than it is to 20! If you are in good overall health and able to walk on uneven surfaces, you will most likely be able to walk the Camino, or at least certain sections.

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Camino Portugués Also known as the Portuguese Way, this northbound route is the flattest—therefore, easiest—choice and the sole departure from Portugal. In entirety, this stretch is 383 miles and requires 25-27 days if hikers commence in Lisbon.

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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.

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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.

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Total Trip Costs Most pilgrim budgets fall in the $30-60 (€25-50) per day range, meaning a 30-day walk would cost $900-1800 (€750-1500). If you don't already have hiking gear, new gear could easily cost $300-600 (€250-500) if you need to get new footwear, backpack and sleeping bag.

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The best approach, especially at the beginning, is to get out and start walking (or cycling if you plan to cycle the Camino). If you are walking the Camino, you're going to want to build up to being able to walk 20km a day comfortably.

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On the North coast of Galicia, the city of Ferrol is the favoured starting point for pilgrims on the Camino Ingles.

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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.

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Biking the Camino allows you to cover more ground over the same number of days, and you're able to bike at a relaxed pace. Walking from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela takes around 28 days, whereas you can bike from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in about 15 days.

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How far do you walk on the Camino each day? In general, pilgrims on the Camino walk an average of 20 to 25kms, roughly 12 to 15 miles per day.

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If you're asking yourself: Am I too old to walk the Camino?, you should consider that many pilgrims who walk the Camino are 65 years old and older, even in their 70's and 80's. It's said that the oldest person to ever walk the Camino de Santiago was 93 years young (she walked it with her 60 year old daughter!).

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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.

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It is advisable to carry some cash with you when you walk the Camino de Santiago. The main reasons you will need some cash are to pay for accommodation and to pay your bill in some cafes. On the Camino de Santiago, some albergues will accept card, but this tends to be the private ones that are bookable via Booking.com.

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Accommodations are available on the Camino at a variety of budgets, from affordable dormitory beds to posh 5-star hotels. Pilgrim Albergues are the most convenient and economic choice, but bring your earplugs! Pensiones, Hostales, Casas Rurales and Hotels offer more privacy in a variety of prices ranges.

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