Tips for Walking the Camino de Santiago for First-Timers

Make Sure You Read this Before Walking the Camino for the First Time

Walking el Camino de Santiago in Spain is a bucket list item for many. Though its roots lie in being an act of Christian pilgrimage, it has become a pilgrimage of spirituality and inner reflection for a range of faiths, or no faith at all. Young and old walk the Camino throughout the year, across all routes. The only thing they have in common is that they are headed for Santiago de Compostela, the end point of the pilgrimage.

Emma and I walked the Camino in September 2022. We took the French route of the Camino de Santiago, stretching from the traditional start point of Saint Jean Pied-de-Port in southwest France, across the Basque region, the Rioja region, Castille y León and into Galicia. It was our first time so we learned a lot on the route, not just about ourselves, but about the different regions as well as the technicalities of walking the Camino de Santiago! Every route is different, and it can be a tricky trip to plan.

We’ve compiled this collection of top tips for those embarking on their first Camino de Santiago to ensure an enjoyable experience. Whether you are planning to walk 100km or a full route, these tips will help you get the most out of your first Camino. Continue on for our top tips for walking the Camino de Santiago.

Note: Albergues are hostels which can be found on Camino de Santiago routes. Only pilgrims walking the Camino can stay. You must prove this by showing your Camino Passport, a booklet you can pick up from any municipal albergue or camino information office.

Bring tape, not just plasters

Your feet will be stretched beyond what you believed to be possible. Everyone will tell you to stock up on blister plasters. They are correct in some senses. However, sometimes these plasters will slip off! While walking the Camino de Santiago, prevention is key! What I found to be the most useful was basic medical tape. I would tape my problem areas – usually around my big toe, the back of my heel, and the metatarsal area. This reduced the probability of the skin rubbing with the socks, and therefore reduced the possibility of blisters.

If you do get blisters, we found tape to be the most painless solution for them as well. Pop the blister with the tip of a sterile pin or needle, drain and dry it, and tape it. A Dutch lady (or angel should we say!) showed Úna this trick on the road one day, and she never looked back.

Tape is also much cheaper to buy than blister plasters. In this case, you are focusing on prevention over cure. If you do get a blister, apply the blister plaster on the affected area and secure it with tape so that it doesn’t catch on your sock as you walk. Which leads us to our next top tip for walking the Camino de Santiago.

Invest in good socks

Continuing with footwork, this was something we did not do during the Camino and we paid the price! A proper walking or running sock will keep sweat away from your feet. This will reduce the chance of developing blisters. They are expensive to buy but even two or three pairs will suffice for your journey. You can wash them every night in a bucket of warm water and soap to make sure you have a clean pair at all times.

Check out this post from Runner’s world for tips on which running socks to go for! We buy ours from Decathalon, which seem to work very well and are affordable, check those out here.

Runners over boots

Wearing runners over hiking boots had to be one of our top tips for walking the Camino de Santiago. This one surprises people. We spotted a lot of people walking in big, chunky, heavy hiking boots. Those people also had feet that were, well, worse for wear a few days into the Camino. Boots are heavy and you are going to be walking long distances daily, sometimes up to 35 km. Dragging a hefty boot across this distance is far from ideal. A pair of runners, particularly trail runners, are designed to be worn on long-distances. They provide structure and suspension for your foot. They are lighter and comfier.

The main downside is that if it does rain heavily, it is likely that your feet will get wet. Therefore, I would caveat this tip with a note on weather. If you’re walking during a particularly wet season, or wet climate, then perhaps reconsider the non-waterproof runners. Emma wore Brook’s running shoes, and got one blister the entire trip, you can check them out here. If you can get yourself to a running store, get them to have a look at your feet and arch and give you the appropriate shoes

Send on your bags

If you don’t have accommodation for the next day organised you can ask for your baggage to be sent to the municipal albergue of that town/village.

Bring protein-heavy snacks

The camino is physically challenging and some of the food options available in these tiny rural villages may not suit your dietary requirements. As you venture further into your pilgrimage you will realise that you’re not fuelling yourself for the amount of physical movement you’re putting in every day. Emma and I quickly realised this. Emma is a vegetarian and walking the Camino without a consistent source of protein was leading to a lack of energy.

Luckily, we brought a lot of protein bars from Ireland on our trek. It may be possible to stock up on these types of snacks in larger towns and cities but it is good to keep a supply on you at all times. Some sections of the Camino can be very desolate, with no sign of life for miles. Keep energy-fueling food like protein bars or nuts in your day bag so you can make those last 5 – 10 km at the end of a long, arduous day.

Prepare for all weather

Our Camino experience had a temperature range of 0 degrees celsius to 36 degrees celsius! We had to buy woolly hats and gloves halfway through because we were up at a high altitude in the mountains with not even a pair of trousers between us!

At other points it was so hot we could not bear to go on and would have to wait in the shade. There were also days where we rained so heavily we were soaked through to our underwear. Pack lightly but do consider a range of temperatures and climates depending on where and when you are walking.

Book your accommodation in advance

If you are planning to walk at a busy time of year such as April, May or September, it can be a good idea to book your accommodation even one day in advance! We would call or email the albergues we wanted to stay in the day one or two days. We found our accommodation by searching ‘albergue’ on Google Maps and reading the recent reviews.

A special mention to Albergue Leo in Villafranca del Bierzo, which was the best albergue experience we had on our whole trip. It was only €8 for a bed for the night. The family was so welcoming and generous. They gave us Barry’s Tea teabags to take with us and even offered us complimentary beers and crisps. There was a massive hot stove by the bedrooms ensuring a warm and restful sleep.

Take a sleeping bag or silk liner

Most albergues do not provide a duvet. It is up to the pilgrim to bring their own comfort, whether that be in the form of a sleeping bag or a liner. Most albergues will have wool blankets that you can take for extra warmth. You can cover these with your liner if you want to travel light.

Use a fitness watch for your alarm

Chances are that you’ll be sharing a room with multiple others when staying in albergues. Some people wake as early as 4am to start walking. I am not of this persuasion (Emma and I were often the last people out of the dorms every morning around 7 or 7:30am). Generally you must have departed for the albergues at 8am.

Be considerate and do not play your alarm at 4:30 am. I used my Apple Watch to wake me up. It would vibrate on my wrist instead of playing a sound meaning I was awoken and no-one else was disturbed.