The Camino de Santiago is, as we all know, a way to meet people, connect with nature and meditate. However, you also have to be well prepared. We tell you how.
Stages
If you want to do the Camino de Santiago you will have to know that there are as many stages as you can imagine. The French way and the English way are just some of the best known, but there are hundreds.
Each stage is 25-30 kilometres long, although everyone can do as many kilometres as they want, of course.
We recommend in this case to have a good transport and accommodation to be able to rest if you want to do these stages, although you can also hire a package in a travel agency and forget about the headache of organising the trip.
It is also important to do this route with friends or your partner, as it is much more fun and exciting. Besides, you have stories and anecdotes to tell.
Throughout the journey you will find yellow arrows all along the way that will guide you along the route, so don’t be afraid of getting lost, just follow the arrows and you will reach your final destination. Moreover, it has become one of the symbols par excellence of the route. If you have ever seen a yellow arrow somewhere in your province, it means that one of the routes passes through that specific place.
Preparing for the Camino de Santiago
It is always advisable, whether you are a sporty person or not, to take short walks for a while beforehand, but if you don’t feel like doing sport beforehand, it is absolutely fine, many people do it. The trails are really prepared for any type of person, and any of these routes have many bars and cafes around and you will also pass through villages where you can rest.
- Footwear: Normally it is recommended to wear hiking boots so that your feet do not suffer, but if you do the Camino de Santiago in summer or even do not feel like buying hiking boots to do it, nothing happens, you can wear the sneakers you normally use, but try not to wear brand new shoes because they are many hours walking and you can create chafing and make you enjoy less the experience. If you are going to buy them, try to buy shoes that are one size higher than yours, as with the heat and the hours on your feet, your feet can swell and it will be uncomfortable, and it is much better if they are breathable shoes.
- Backpack: It is important to carry one as you will need to carry water, a towel in case you sweat, hats, money, among other things. It is recommended that the backpack is between 40 and 50 litres, and full should not exceed 10% of the weight of the person who is going to carry it in order to have more freedom and not be too uncomfortable. It is practical if it has outside pockets so that you can keep things close at hand and not have to take it off to get the things you need. There are some backpacks that come with a mackintosh that are practical in case you get caught in the rain one day.
We recommend that you take some walking sticks with you. Also, if you get tired you can always lean on them to make walking easier.