Prepare to Camino!

1. Choose the right shoes

“The most important thing you can do is buy a pair of shoes now and start wearing them in. Walk for an hour a day, then have a glass of wine – that’s the Spanish way!”. This was great advice from my friend, Shelly, who had completed the Camino a few years prior to me. But what shoes should you buy? And can you go if you don't have time to wear in your shoes? Read more

2. Grab your Pilgrim's Guide

In this day and age, carrying a Guide Book with you on a walk might seem superflous, after all, we have apps for that! However, I quite often couldn’t get reception along the path, so having a tangible resource was a godsend. Find out why I have a love-dislike relationship with the guide book ‘A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago‘ (by John Brierley). Read more

3. Decide WHEN to go

Travelling in the different seasons can result in very different camino experiences. The time of the year is important because Northern Spain has very distinct seasons. If trudging through mud or snow, or battling other pilgrims for a bed doesn't excite you, get some tips on the best time to camino.

4. Decide your length of time

In a perfect world, we won’t have any other commitments to attend to and can start and finish walking the Camino whenever we’d like. But, for most, it’s not a perfect world. With life’s commitments competing for our attention, you’ll most likely need to determine your start and finish dates before you go. Read more

5. Choose YOUR starting point

You may hear that the “starting point” for the Camino is St Jean Pied de Port, just over the French border. Although this is a very popular starting point, the reality is you can start and stop anywhere. You can mix it up a bit, or a lot, to meet your needs. What should you consider when determining your starting point?

6. Book essential transport