• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Top tips from Frances veterans?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Time of past OR future Camino
May 2022
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Be a snail; slow but, determined, until your body has found its way.

Whatever your age and fitness do remember that this is not a walk in the park! Just because so many pilgrims have been successful does not guarantee that all will be. Anybody any moment can fall or pull or break anything. The most common injury is the result of trying to walk too far too quickly carrying too much! Easy does it.

Take care and Buen camino!
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Hi Sarah, are you walking alone or with your husband or others? If you are walking with others then understand that there will likely be times when they want to walk by themselves and probably times when you want to walk alone. Often this is so that the person can be contemplative or just alone. Be understanding of this, give them space when they need it and give yourself space from time to time.

At other times, enjoy the company of the people who are around you and talk to strangers. You may be surprised where you find wisdom.
 
Save your dessert! Often with a pilgrim meal you will have a postre choice of ice cream, fruit, or yogurt. I usually chose fruit or yogurt to eat for breakfast or midmorning snack the next day
I have to respectfully disagree. Eat all desserts as soon as they are placed in front of you. And if you pass a Gelateria on the way back to your albergue stop there too.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Walk your own camino. Don't get trapped by a camino "family" that may walk faster or slower than your body tells you to walk or that you keep pushing on when you are sick or injured to keep up. Have earplugs, have communal meals with other pilgrims either if they are offered by the albergue or donativo or if the kitchen is open. Listen, Listen and listen some more to your body. It will tell you to walk, rest, or eat. Walk a little less rather than pushing yourself a little more especially until you are in Camino shape. Zig zag on downhills. Do the Camino you want to do not what you think you are supposed to do. Leave your expectations at the door and just let the camino into your body, mind and spirit.
 
I mentioned this on another thread, but making a point to avoid some of the bottleneck stops that everyone herds into, and stopping at one village before, or after, is a nice little trick. That way you open yourself up to meet new folks instead of running into the same people over and over again at each stage.

Buen camino!
 
Open yourself to conversations with everyone you meet, whether older, younger, or even in a language you don’t speak well. You gain so many insights into how others view the world through this. Laugh, let go of preconceived ideas, be open to everything.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
In the albergues try and get a bottom bunk near a window and away from the door leading to the rest rooms. Ie less noise

Also always walk at your own pace. I’m known a number of pilgrims that have had to rest up a day or so because they have tried to keep up with a group. It’s your camino. Enjoy it

Mark @ www.followtheyellowshell.com
Second that. Very important to keep your own pace.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
My best tips. Good quality Vaseline type foot cream every morning and very thin socks which adhere and stop rubbing. Walking socks over. Secondly don’t do the first day in one. Either stop at Orisson or get transportation back and up again in the morning to restart.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Take a break at least every 1½ hour. Sit down next to the path and take off your shoes / boots and socks so that they and your feet can be "aired" (don't know if it's the correct word to be used in English). Especially at the beginning of your hike, it is good to be very strict about it. Do not rush, but enjoy nature during the breaks.
I got this advice when I was going on my first Camino. And I have avoided blisters on all my Caminos, except for the one day where I "forgot" the advice because I wanted to keep up with another hiker.

Enjoy and Buen Camino :)
 
  1. Expect - dare I say ENCOURAGE - yourself and your husband to walk at different paces, especially in the first week. Nothing will cause you both more grief (IMHO) than one walking faster than is comfortable in order to keep up with the other.
  2. START OUT LIKE AN OLD MAN SO YOU CAN FINISH LIKE A YOUNG MAN!
  3. Take a break after the first 15 minutes of each day. That is when you carefully and honestly assess your feet and your pack - Is there a spot that is rubbing? Is a sock wrinkled? Do you need to adjust a shoulder pad? Are your boots too tight or too loose and need to be retied? Once you have done that assessment in the morning, you should be good for hours.
  4. Your credencial is more valuable than your passport. Your passport can be replaced - although not without some stress. But a well-stamped credencial? Irreplaceable.
Buen Camino

BTW, one CAN comfortably walk from SJPdP to Roncevalles in one day - even an out of shape senior like me.
 
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
Start early some mornings and witness the sun rise and the sky change colours , it will put you in good spirits for the day ahead .
 
If you don't already speak Spanish, learn some as part of your training schedule. It may not be necessary in order to survive on the Camino, but it will be appreciated by the residents of your host country, who will know that you are trying.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
If you are relatively fit and love to hike, don't be afraid to take alternative "complimentario" routes as listed in guidebooks and apps. Although some may be a bit longer, they are typically quieter, more away from roads, and often more scenic. Also, spend the night in Samos and have a late breakfast in Sarria then keep going. This will keep you off-stage for the busy last 100k and the early morning walk out of Samos is just magical. Buen Camino!
 
Don't be resentful or annoyed by the pilgrims who join the trail for the last 100 km. Embrace the new energy that they bring to the Camino. Remember your excitement when you started.
By this point you are now a veteran who can give advice if asked.
Consider this portion of the Camino as the re-entry phase.
 
Stay grateful for everything:

The veteran, the greengo.
The kind, the meek, the boisterous, the shy, the outgoing.
The cafe con leche, the bocadillo, the chocolate, the freshly squeezed OJ, the water font.
The top bunk, the bottom bunk, the last bunk.
The clothes line, the wash tub, the washing machine.
The hot shower, the warm shower, the cold shower.
The wind, the rain, the blaring sun.
The mist, the clouds, the rainbow.
The sunrise, the sunset, the full moon.
The walking sticks, the rain poncho.
The hunger pangs, the supermarket.
The thirst, the bar.
The open church, the extra sello.
The silence, the noise.
The nature, the industrial.
The dirt, the mud, the gravel, the cobblestone, the asphalt, the concrete, the old roman road.
The mountains, the plains.
Your body, your mind, your strength, your determination.
The simplicity, the freedom.
The journey that is Camino.

God Bless and Buen Camino. :)
 
Last edited:
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Share your stuff. Your candy bar, your fruit, your smile, your soap, your simple hello. That's how it all starts.
It is chance to share with some very like minded people your every pains, personal anxieties and stuff you would rather not talk about around the dining room table or local bar. That why I have been there since 2011.
 
My general advice is to plan well but hold your plan in an open palm not a closed fist, ready to change it as the situation suggests. My specific advice or tip in the context of this thread is to take the same approach to all the excellent tips you read above (and will read below). Listen to them. There is a lot of wisdom there. Learn from them. But be ready to cast them aside if you are moved to do so on your Camino.
 
Hi Sarah, are you walking alone or with your husband or others? If you are walking with others then understand that there will likely be times when they want to walk by themselves and probably times when you want to walk alone. Often this is so that the person can be contemplative or just alone. Be understanding of this, give them space when they need it and give yourself space from time to time.

At other times, enjoy the company of the people who are around you and talk to strangers. You may be surprised where you find wisdom.
I’m walking with my much-taller husband. We are in total agreement that we will only walk together when we go at my slow pace. I’m looking forward to the contemplative solo hours and then rejoining him at rest stops where I’m sure he will have made friends while I mosey along.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Open yourself to conversations with everyone you meet, whether older, younger, or even in a language you don’t speak well. You gain so many insights into how others view the world through this. Laugh, let go of preconceived ideas, be open to everything.
Love this. I’m super lucky to speak French pretty well (have to for work) and to make myself perfectly misunderstood in Spanish. And Laughing is my natural state! :)
 
My best tips. Good quality Vaseline type foot cream every morning and very thin socks which adhere and stop rubbing. Walking socks over. Secondly don’t do the first day in one. Either stop at Orisson or get transportation back and up again in the morning to restart.
We’ll stay in orisson Tuesday night. Good tip on the Vaseline and thin socks
 
Take a break at least every 1½ hour. Sit down next to the path and take off your shoes / boots and socks so that they and your feet can be "aired" (don't know if it's the correct word to be used in English). Especially at the beginning of your hike, it is good to be very strict about it. Do not rush, but enjoy nature during the breaks.
I got this advice when I was going on my first Camino. And I have avoided blisters on all my Caminos, except for the one day where I "forgot" the advice because I wanted to keep up with another hiker.

Enjoy and Buen Camino :)
Thank you! I’m planning to do this and to lie down on my rain jacket to elevate my legs each time I stop. This definitely helps with swelling (I also use kt tape for the shin splints and compression sleeves).
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
If you don't already speak Spanish, learn some as part of your training schedule. It may not be necessary in order to survive on the Camino, but it will be appreciated by the residents of your host country, who will know that you are trying.
Gracias!! I’m on a 21 day streak on Duolingo to refresh my intermediate and rusty Spanish. And i am not shy about trying even when I know I’m making grammatical mistakes. But this is a good reminder that it is polite to try to speak in one’s host’s language.
 
If you are relatively fit and love to hike, don't be afraid to take alternative "complimentario" routes as listed in guidebooks and apps. Although some may be a bit longer, they are typically quieter, more away from roads, and often more scenic. Also, spend the night in Samos and have a late breakfast in Sarria then keep going. This will keep you off-stage for the busy last 100k and the early morning walk out of Samos is just magical. Buen Camino!
This is exactly what we are planning- Samos and off-stage for that last bit. My husband suggested this based on his first Camino in 2018.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Lots of great tips here. It's a long way from SJPdP to SdC. Enjoy every minute! If you have time, keep in mind the possibility of continuing on to Muxia/Fisterra, maybe after taking in all that Compostela has to offer. There is something very special about having traversed Spain from East to West. Buen Camino. 🚶‍♂️
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Wired earbuds playing white noise from an app on your phone and a buff to keep the earbuds in and the light out is the key to a good night’s sleep in a crowded albergue. That and a small Anker battery pack to recharge your phone during the day when you’re walking if you weren’t able to plug it in near your bed at night.
 
Leave home behind. Enjoy the freedom to just be. I don’t know how many times, in some of the worst situations, I would look up, burst out laughing, and tell myself “ BUT LOOK WHERE I GET TO BE!” It is a privilege to have the time, the means, and the desire to walk the Camino!
 
  1. Expect - dare I say ENCOURAGE - yourself and your husband to walk at different paces, especially in the first week. Nothing will cause you both more grief (IMHO) than one walking faster than is comfortable in order to keep up with the other.
  2. START OUT LIKE AN OLD MAN SO YOU CAN FINISH LIKE A YOUNG MAN!
  3. Take a break after the first 15 minutes of each day. That is when you carefully and honestly assess your feet and your pack - Is there a spot that is rubbing? Is a sock wrinkled? Do you need to adjust a shoulder pad? Are your boots too tight or too loose and need to be retied? Once you have done that assessment in the morning, you should be good for hours.
  4. Your credencial is more valuable than your passport. Your passport can be replaced - although not without some stress. But a well-stamped credencial? Irreplaceable.
Buen Camino

BTW, one CAN comfortably walk from SJPdP to Roncevalles in one day - even an out of shape senior like me.
Love these recommendations. I’m planning on starting like a snail and graduating to a turtle, if I’m ready. And that stop at 15 minutes in is brilliant. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: KFH
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Leave home behind. Enjoy the freedom to just be. I don’t know how many times, in some of the worst situations, I would look up, burst out laughing, and tell myself “ BUT LOOK WHERE I GET TO BE!” It is a privilege to have the time, the means, and the desire to walk the Camino!
Yes, yes, yes! My work laptop password expires on Saturday and I will not update it. That means I cannot check work email even if I want to (I don’t want to.. but I have never taken more than 2 weeks’ vacation at a time in my entire working life. This 5 week break is the great unknown!). I’m so ready to unplug!
 
Take a break at least every 1½ hour. Sit down next to the path and take off your shoes / boots and socks so that they and your feet can be "aired" (don't know if it's the correct word to be used in English). Especially at the beginning of your hike, it is good to be very strict about it. Do not rush, but enjoy nature during the breaks.
I got this advice when I was going on my first Camino. And I have avoided blisters on all my Caminos, except for the one day where I "forgot" the advice because I wanted to keep up with another hiker.

Enjoy and Buen Camino :)
I am so going to take your advice when I walk on the Camino.
 
Wired earbuds playing white noise from an app on your phone and a buff to keep the earbuds in and the light out is the key to a good night’s sleep in a crowded albergue. That and a small Anker battery pack to recharge your phone during the day when you’re walking if you weren’t able to plug it in near your bed at night.
White noise is a great idea. I became a fan of the “sleep with me” podcast before walking Hadrian’s wall a few years ago. Earbuds, eyemask and breath right strips to be kind to my neighbors (apparently I snore- recent revelation) is my sleep game.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Lots of great tips here. It's a long way from SJPdP to SdC. Enjoy every minute! If you have time, keep in mind the possibility of continuing on to Muxia/Fisterra, maybe after taking in all that Compostela has to offer. There is something very special about having traversed Spain from East to West.
I wish we could continue on, but we both work full time and are taking every minute of our hoarded PTO for this trip. We have to head back to work just after but will surely start planning the Portugues or Norte or one of the French routes to sjpp the minute we sit down after getting our compostelas.
 
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, do the communal meal. I had the privilege of meeting so many neat people because I did this.

And, I’m not sure about Covid restrictions, but plan to make a meal occasionally if the kitchen is open. It is a pleasant change from the pilgrims menu—and if you can go in with several pilgrims, all the better!

Even if you aren’t religious, go to Mass from time to time. Some of the churches have lovely traditions for pilgrims, and it is a highlight from all my Caminos!

Lastly, be patient with yourself and others. We all have bad days, and a little patience can go a long way.

Buen Camino!
 
Let the camino be what it is, now. Expectations and camino myths are just ideas. Open up to it all. The gorgeous and not so gorgeous.

Find your own balance point between saintliness and selfishness: take care of yourself but don't get too sucked into the 'my camino' or 'our camino' bubble. Everybody is walking a camino; we are all in the same boat. And if somebody is caught in that bubble and is being really inconsiderate at 5AM, don't let them spoil your morning. There's often someone.

Be generous at donativos.

And take care of your feet.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Practical tips - mainly learnt the hard way
If your shoes are irreplaceable or in fact anything is not replaceable - take special measures to ensure no-one takes them by accident. (My sandals have a specifically built up sole, and are fitted with specific orthotics) It would completely ruin my Camino if someone took them. Its about an 8-12 week process each time I have to replace them. I tie them together in albergues with cable ties, so that the toe and heel of each one are aligned, making it impossible for a sleepy person to take them. The custom orthotics I remove.
I've become attached to my hiking poles as well, so I tie them with a purple ribbon bow. That has worked so far, I have walked with people who haven't realized for a day or so, that they took the wrong poles.
In private rooms you don't have to surrender your shoes, so they are safer.

Try to charge your phone close to your bed, or keep an eye on it if you have to charge your phone far from your bed/bunk in an albergue. Don't just walk away and leave it there unattended all night. It might not still be there.

If you have some type of plug that needs an EU adapter, don't grab your item, and leave the adapter in the wall. Tape them together with bright tape or something.

If you see a pharmacy that is open, mentally check if you need anything, because the next one you see wont be open.

It's a generalization but on the whole, albergue breakfasts are not worth waiting for. Get on the road, and get breakfast and coffee at the first cafe you get to. If you get really hungry buy something the night before to tide you over.

If you intend to walk early in the morning when its dark -make sure you check the way-out the night before. Saves a lot of walking in the wrong direction.

Double check you have everything with you when you leave. I take everything into the hall, then go back in to double check. Has saved me many times - things I would have left behind - an apple, bra, electrical plug, ear plugs, light cotton sarong/towel, socks left to dry on the bed rail..
 
A simple way to secure your phone is to carry a rechargeable power pack. Recharge the power pack overnight or when you are out to dinner. You can leave it charging while you are not present, something that you wouldn't do with your phone.

Then plug your phone into the power pack as you walk to recharge your phone.

If you forget your power pack or someone walks off with it then that is a little inconvenient but you haven't lost your phone.
 
This is exactly what we are planning- Samos and off-stage for that last bit. My husband suggested this based on his first Camino in 2018.
After 7 Camino’s the walk to Samos still rates as my number one favorite section. There is some kind of magic held in that stretch.
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
After 7 Camino’s the walk to Samos still rates as my number one favorite section. There is some kind of magic held in that stretch.
😂 Maybe it's the fact that St. Benedict's thigh bone is in the monastery there! 😂

BTW, I love it, too!
 
Don't be afraid to walk alone - walking alone can be wonderful!

Don't be afraid to invite yourself to join another group of pilgrims at a table at a bar or restaurant.

If worried about accommodations but you want to wing it - pay attention to the Camino "Grapevine" as you will undoubtedly hear about where lodging is more scarce in the days ahead and that will let you know when to consider booking ahead.

Always carry a couple small snacks in case you find yourself in need of some food to keep you going until you find the next bar.

When you see a grocery store that is actually open AS you pass it - stop in and replenish your small snack supplies! Much easier than trying to hunt down an actual open store once you reach town.

If you plan to leave before most pilgrims are up and about for the day - make sure you pack your bag as much as possible the night before. In the morning you should only need to throw a couple items that you needed during the night into the bag.

And one for really new pilgrims - if you are in a bathroom (yes - I am from the US lol) with multiple toilets and/or multiple showers - PLEASE do not go in there first thing in the morning and lock the main door and take your shower - thus locking everyone else out. Communal bathrooms are to be shared and locking other pilgrims out in the AM when they are getting out of bed and need to pee is just not cool lol (Had this happen in 2 albergues).

Don't forget to exchange information with people you meet as soon as you know you like them and might want to spend more time with them!
 
Hi Sarah,

Hope you have a great trip on the Camino. It is a fantastic experience going for the long haul from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. There is such a variety of scenery and lots of nice places and people to meet along the way.

We walked around the same time of the year in 2019 (April/May) and were thankful to have had very nice weather without much rain, although it did vary. Some mornings were frosty and windy, while other days were much hotter, particularly later in the afternoon.

As others have said, having a good routine for looking after feet and other niggles really helps during the early stages. Our trail stash usually includes talcum powder, Compeed plasters, ibuprofen, and ‘Body Glide’ gel like marathon runners use, which can be surprisingly relieving. Although, after a week or two, the body quickly adapts to its new environment.

If you are travelling from the US, it may be worth getting a local SIM card for more reliable internet and calls in case you need to book somewhere to stay in advance.

Likewise, getting a travel credit/debit card saves on transaction fees. Taking cash out from ATMs can sometimes have double digit markups when exchanging currency into euros if you click ‘convert’ rather than taking your bank’s own rate.

Having a good guidebook is invaluable. On this longer route, it is great fun just deciding the evening beforehand on where to try to walk to the following day, depending on accommodation and how energetic you feel. It will also show any longer sections where you should stock up on water, refreshing Aquarius drinks and snacks.

In Spain, the dinner meal is served quite late at around 7/8pm. Coming from the UK, this is quite late for us, especially when getting up at the crack of dawn to walk all day, so we usually get one of the little premade salads from a supermarket in the afternoon to tide us through.

Buen Camino!
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I think I'd be way to tired after 13h of walking to shower and wash clothes.
Do not pass Go and straight to nap 🤣
Except then you are climbing into bed with your dirty smelly clothes on your dirty smelly body lol. But yes, that immediate nap is tempting! I just made walk/make bed/shower/laundry/nap part of my afternoon routine. Also - washing around 13-15h means your clothes are more likely to be dry by morning.
 
Consider getting shoes a size or two bigger and wear thin socks under that can cling to the foot and slip against a thicker wool type sock - most peoples' feet swell on the walk and this will save you pain and losing toenails.

Use your guide book as a diary and write all over it and include names and contacts - it is a great way to enjoy your trip again after you get home - if you use a Brierley's guide and it is busy on the path, aim to stay in the middle of his stages and leave the rest to go top to bottom of the page.

Start slowly and take your time to build up your fitness - don't rush at the start, give yourself plenty of time for the trip and be flexible. If you need, consider sending your pack forward and have a very light day pack for that.

Buen Camino
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Hi Sarah,

Hope you have a great trip on the Camino. It is a fantastic experience going for the long haul from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. There is such a variety of scenery and lots of nice places and people to meet along the way.

We walked around the same time of the year in 2019 (April/May) and were thankful to have had very nice weather without much rain, although it did vary. Some mornings were frosty and windy, while other days were much hotter, particularly later in the afternoon.

As others have said, having a good routine for looking after feet and other niggles really helps during the early stages. Our trail stash usually includes talcum powder, Compeed plasters, ibuprofen, and ‘Body Glide’ gel like marathon runners use, which can be surprisingly relieving. Although, after a week or two, the body quickly adapts to its new environment.

If you are travelling from the US, it may be worth getting a local SIM card for more reliable internet and calls in case you need to book somewhere to stay in advance.

Likewise, getting a travel credit/debit card saves on transaction fees. Taking cash out from ATMs can sometimes have double digit markups when exchanging currency into euros if you click ‘convert’ rather than taking your bank’s own rate.

Having a good guidebook is invaluable. On this longer route, it is great fun just deciding the evening beforehand on where to try to walk to the following day, depending on accommodation and how energetic you feel. It will also show any longer sections where you should stock up on water, refreshing Aquarius drinks and snacks.

In Spain, the dinner meal is served quite late at around 7/8pm. Coming from the UK, this is quite late for us, especially when getting up at the crack of dawn to walk all day, so we usually get one of the little premade salads from a supermarket in the afternoon to tide us through.

Buen Camino!
In Spain, normally the dinner meal is around 9/10 pm.
Only in restaurants or bares on the Camino is a little before 7/8 pm.
 
Consider getting shoes a size or two bigger and wear thin socks under that can cling to the foot and slip against a thicker wool type sock - most peoples' feet swell on the walk and this will save you pain and losing toenails.

Use your guide book as a diary and write all over it and include names and contacts - it is a great way to enjoy your trip again after you get home - if you use a Brierley's guide and it is busy on the path, aim to stay in the middle of his stages and leave the rest to go top to bottom of the page.

Start slowly and take your time to build up your fitness - don't rush at the start, give yourself plenty of time for the trip and be flexible. If you need, consider sending your pack forward and have a very light day pack for that.

Buen Camino
Thanks! I got some awesome brooks adrenaline sneakers in a clown size to alternate with my half-size-too-big saucony peregrine trail runners that I’ve been training with for a couple of months. I’ve learned the most useful tips here on the forum. Shout out to Ivar the Brilliant for creating it and Camino fairy dust and blessings to all the veterans who have answered my request for tips 💕.
I learned a great tip here on the forum to send a duffle ahead and to wear my properly-fitted backpack (osprey) with just my day’s needs (water, weather gear, meds/passport/money/credential/snacks) instead of a day pack. Such a simple and smart idea!
Please wish me a blister-free Camino ( but know I’m ready for the usual pain and aches of the first 7-10 days). Thank you, amigo/a
 
Except then you are climbing into bed with your dirty smelly clothes on your dirty smelly body lol. But yes, that immediate nap is tempting! I just made walk/make bed/shower/laundry/nap part of my afternoon routine. Also - washing around 13-15h means your clothes are more likely to be dry by morning.
I think the poster meant stop at 1pm, not stop after 13 hours of walking. And I am all in on stopping, showering, taking a siesta, and then exploring whatever town We’ve landed in!!
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Love these recommendations. I’m planning on starting like a snail and graduating to a turtle, if I’m ready. And that stop at 15 minutes in is brilliant. Thanks!
Be a snail; slow but, determined, until your body has found its way.

Whatever your age and fitness do remember that this is not a walk in the park! Just because so many pilgrims have been successful does not guarantee that all will be. Anybody any moment can fall or pull or break anything. The most common injury is the result of trying to walk too far too quickly carrying too much! Easy does it.

Take care and Buen camino!

I Told my husband about the great advice to start slow and he said “yes, that is the plan. we are going to START VERY SLOW AND THEN …WE WILL TAPER OFF”. (Meaning go even slower) (I kinda like this guy 😆🥰).
 
Hi Sarah,


In Spain, the dinner meal is served quite late at around 7/8pm. Coming from the UK, this is quite late for us, especially when getting up at the crack of dawn to walk all day, so we usually get one of the little premade salads from a supermarket in the afternoon to tide us through.

Buen Camino!
This is why I change my routine entirely in Spain. Breakfast, second breakfast, and then main meal at 3-5 pm - a long leisurely drawn out affair. Then a snack later if still hungry.
I always eat my main meal after I've finished walking. Walk - shower - wash clothes - eat.
I know some people eat lunch in the middle of the walk but that doesnt suit me at all.
The only time I have a late dinner is Roncesvalles, and if I stay an extra day in a city.

You'll quickly work out what's best for you.
 
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
Share a smle with everyone you meet.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
This is why I change my routine entirely in Spain. Breakfast, second breakfast, and then main meal at 3-5 pm - a long leisurely drawn out affair. Then a snack later if still hungry.
I always eat my main meal after I've finished walking. Walk - shower - wash clothes - eat.
I know some people eat lunch in the middle of the walk but that doesnt suit me at all.
The only time I have a late dinner is Roncesvalles, and if I stay an extra day in a city.

You'll quickly work out what's best for you.
I do enjoy having the second breakfasts particularly if it is just toast and juice for the first one. On the Frances Camino we usually had a tortilla and coffee after walking 2-3 hours but got a bit sick of them towards the end. They are lovely if they are fresh and a bit gooey but they tend to go stale after they have been on the hotplate for a while. Eggs and bacon is the best for second breakfast in my opinion - yum!
 
In Spain, normally the dinner meal is around 9/10 pm.
Only in restaurants or bares on the Camino is a little before 7/8 pm.
Hi Mikel, yes I noticed that the locals tend to arrive much later for dinner. I was just referring to the earliest times that restaurants/bars typically open for evening meals.
 
Save your dessert! Often with a pilgrim meal you will have a postre choice of ice cream, fruit, or yogurt. I usually chose fruit or yogurt to eat for breakfast or midmorning snack the next day
I would need long term cognative trauma counciling should someone take MY pudding away from me 😂
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I think the poster meant stop at 1pm, not stop after 13 hours of walking. And I am all in on stopping, showering, taking a siesta, and then exploring whatever town We’ve landed in!!
I know what he meant - after walking all morning most people want to shower and put on fresh clothes before jumping into bed for a nap. And if you wash clothes between 1300 and 1500 they are more likely to be dry by bedtime so you can put them away - and if not by bedtime, then definitely by morning. Nothing worse than having to pack damp clothes in your bag because they won't finish drying. Anyhow - at home you find most people shower either when they wake up or before bed. On the Camino - the showers mostly occur upon checking into the albergue. Little hygiene occurs in the morning. And people usually want to explore towns and spend the afternoon/evening in their clean clothes/clean bodies.
 
My no blister strategy?
take extra socks and change them half way through each day. I had an extra pair of socks to wash but never had a blister.
I hope this works for you.
 
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
A long pack-towel can block out he light tucked under the top mattress.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
When you cross the bridge to Portomarin and see that huge staircase ... if you need to go into the town climb the stairs. Otherwise turn left and walk a couple of hundred metres and pick up the trail again.
 
If you ride a bike …

1. Make sure the brakes work. I almost¹ learned to fly when a downhill path suddenly did a 180° hairpin.

2. Don't forget the back brake. On a borrowed bike, the back brake was unhooked, and the front brake flipped the bike, throwing me onto the gravel.

3. Don't let someone work on your bike unless you're certain they know what they're doing. I got lazy and let someone else fix a flat. I had to figure out how to jury-rig the derailleur when I couldn't find a part that fell off in the dark in the middle of nowhere.

¹ Almost, because it was my bike and both brakes worked.
 
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
Carry less than 10% of your body weight. Start slow, very slow, ease into shape. The Camino is not a race, and shouldn’t be. Use hiking poles for balance, to ease the weight on your hips, To take weight off your feet. Have fun!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
When walking up hill reduce the length of your stride you will take longer to get up the hill but your legs will Thankyou for it
 
When walking up hill reduce the length of your stride you will take longer to get up the hill but your legs will Thankyou for it
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
I do not want to be offensive - bring some cheap ladies hygiene pads - take out your inner soles - put the pads on the inner soles with the wings under the inner soles - this will add a little comfort to your feet and absorbs moisture reducing blisters - replace every 3-4 days
 
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
Bring spare tips for your poles and leave your hairdryer at home - also coins are gold on the Camino as many shops don’t have enough change - so small notes and coins are appreciated - also many places do not take credit cards
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
If you have never experienced communal living, do not sweat the small stuff, as they say.
Fellow pilgrims are going to snore and do selfish and inconsiderate things like taking too long in the shower or taking forever to wash their clothes at the laundry sinks. Egocentric behavior does not stop just because they are walking an ancient pilgrim path. You just have to let it go. Water off a duck's back.
There is no shortage of thieves on the Camino. Always has been for centuries. Keep you valuables secure.
 
In the albergues try and get a bottom bunk near a window and away from the door leading to the rest rooms. Ie less noise

Also always walk at your own pace. I’m known a number of pilgrims that have had to rest up a day or so because they have tried to keep up 2with a group. It’s your camino. Enjoy it
S
Mark @ www.followtheyellowshell.com
I myself would not get a bunk near an open window again, i tried it once and almost got eaten alive by a visit of the night tme bugs
 
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17

Take loads of pictures.

Download them or print as soon as possible.

Take as much time as time permits.

Open your heart and mind and spirit to what the Camino provides.

Buen camino.
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
Take loads of pictures.

Download them or print as soon as possible.

Take as much time as time permits.

Open your heart and mind and spirit to what the Camino provides.

Buen camino.
Thank you! A friend just suggested I keep a voice message journal and I thought I could take pictures and record why I took the picture, what it means to me. Thank you for the reminder to take pix. I often forget!
 
Thank you! A friend just suggested I keep a voice message journal and I thought I could take pictures and record why I took the picture, what it means to me. Thank you for the reminder to take pix. I often forget!

I often forgot to take pics.

Then lost most pictures I took.

Your friend’s suggestion sounds wonderful.

Take pics as well.

Buen camino.
 
I often forgot to take pics.

Then lost most pictures I took.

Your friend’s suggestion sounds wonderful.

Take pics as well.

Buen camino.
One thing I I did after my second Camino was to make a book of my favorite pics through snap fish. I think google pictures have something similar. I plan to do the same this coming Camino.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Bring spare tips for your poles and leave your hairdryer at home - also coins are gold on the Camino as many shops don’t have enough change - so small notes and coins are appreciated - also many places do not take credit cards
I bought spare tips for my poles a few weeks ago when I remembered one fell off when I hiked the grand canyons a few years back. (Hairdryer-not something I use anyway!)
If you ride a bike …

1. Make sure the brakes work. I almost¹ learned to fly when a downhill path suddenly did a 180° hairpin.

2. Don't forget the back brake. On a borrowed bike, the back brake was unhooked, and the front brake flipped the bike, throwing me onto the gravel.

3. Don't let someone work on your bike unless you're certain they know what they're doing. I got lazy and let someone else fix a flat. I had to figure out how to jury-rig the derailleur when I couldn't find a part that fell off in the dark in the middle of nowhere.

¹ Almost, because it was my bike and both brakes worked.
thanks for these tips! We plan to walk, but if my shin splints become debilitating, I’ll rest, ice, etc and then, if needed, I’ll bike (slowly).
 
Stop at 13h, shower, wash you clothes and find the best menu del dia in town. Then take nap.
For me, its walk early, slowly, and stop in time to enjoy a good lunch. Don’t rush your meal, dine, savor it. Slow down! Be mindful of what you are eating. Take advantage of the wonderful dishes, and unique tastes, great wines, and especially the seafood and fish in Galicia.

Bring snacks with you and at least every half- hour eat something to continually fuel your body. Drink 16 oz of water, if possible, before you start walking. Stretch before you begin walking daily, and each day, before you go to bed. Breathe in the beauty and gifts that come your way each day. Laugh, everyday, And be thankful for each day!
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
I bought spare tips for my poles a few weeks ago when I remembered one fell off when I hiked the grand canyons a few years back. (Hairdryer-not something I use anyway!)

thanks for these tips! We plan to walk, but if my shin splints become debilitating, I’ll rest, ice, etc and then, if needed, I’ll bike (slowly).
From a veteran pilgrim who thought taking a bike a few year ago would make the Camino less stressful on his legs. Nada, when I was first afflicted by the nerve damage in my feet, I thought what the heck, I have cycled millions of mile and with the right footwear and no cycle clip this should be a piece of cake. I walked from SJPdP to Pamplona and picked up a bike I rented from Cycling Rentals. (All I can do is give is Kudos+ to this company and how they handle their rental program.) So after starting a painless ride out Pamplona shortly thereafter I was walking the bike up to Alto Perdon. Hey, the downhills are merry on paved street but then trying to navigate on the walking path is not fun with the iffy terrain and pilgrims clogging up the path. I got as far as Najera and called it quits.
 
Oh. And don’t forget this very important tip! Be sure to completely ignore each and every person who tries to speak to you on the Camino. Don’t make eye contact and don’t even turn your head. Make them wish they never set foot on the Camino.
It sounds either like you’re being ironic or have had a painful experience. I grew up with a sibling on the autism spectrum so if someone doesn’t make eye contact or respond to facial and body gestures, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt and let them be.
 
From a veteran pilgrim who thought taking a bike a few year ago would make the Camino less stressful on his legs. Nada, when I was first afflicted by the nerve damage in my feet, I thought what the heck, I have cycled millions of mile and with the right footwear and no cycle clip this should be a piece of cake. I walked from SJPdP to Pamplona and picked up a bike I rented from Cycling Rentals. (All I can do is give is Kudos+ to this company and how they handle their rental program.) So after starting a painless ride out Pamplona shortly thereafter I was walking the bike up to Alto Perdon. Hey, the downhills are merry on paved street but then trying to navigate on the walking path is not fun with the iffy terrain and pilgrims clogging up the path. I got as far as Najera and called it quits.
I’ll keep that in mind!
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Bonjour/Hola! For veterans of the Frances, I’d love to know your top 1-2 less-common tips. I’ve read the forum, made reservations for the first few nights, planned my pack/shoe/sock/pole game to manage my mild chronic shin splints and listened to my husband’s stories of his first Camino (sjpp) 4 years ago. I’m filled with joyful anticipation and love to hear nuggets of wisdom from you lovely, generous veterans.
Starting sjpp May 17
My wife had shin splint issues before we started our first Camino and thanks to a doctor along the way, she was told to not lace her high top boots all the way to the top, if that’s what you are wearing. The last two Camino’s we have done she did in low cut footwear.

Cheers,
Bill
 
Hi Sarah, are you walking alone or with your husband or others? If you are walking with others then understand that there will likely be times when they want to walk by themselves and probably times when you want to walk alone. Often this is so that the person can be contemplative or just alone. Be understanding of this, give them space when they need it and give yourself space from time to time.

At other times, enjoy the company of the people who are around you and talk to strangers. You may be surprised where you find wisdom.
Likewise don't be afraid to tell people you want to walk by yourself (whether you've just met them or they've been hanging on for days). No-one will be offended. It's your camino.

An expression I learned (in relationships rather than this situation but it all works the same: Be the star of your own movie, not the co-star in someone else's".
 
Perhaps you’ve had an over abundance of advice by now! My two points…

1) Channel your inner child! For me, this involved lapping up everything I saw, filming much of it, recording notes to myself as I went, and regularly being the one standing in the path, staring at the sky, declaring ‘griffon vultures!’… for the fiftieth time. For me, this was a big part of the magic. I found it very hard to adjust when I came home because it had been so utterly immersive.

2) If you stop overnight in Nàjera and want to catch the sunrise hitting the red rocks and making them glow (a stunning sight), then don’t do what I did! I woke early, waited, waited some more, and then concluded ‘It’s quite light now so the sun must already be up. Maybe because it’s a humid, overcast day, there’s been no brilliant sunrise’. I then set off up the hill… only to reach the top, turn around, and see the sun rising in the distance. I will some day return!
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
FWIW, my 2 pieces of advice would be:

1) Enjoy it, warts and all. It may not always be pleasurable, beautiful or without pain or problem, but take it in your stride, don't fret, and "go with the flow".

2) However you decide to do your pilgrimage, do not be made to feel "less of a pilgrim" if you decide to book ahead, ignore albergues, choose nice accommodation and avoid communal rooms or use bag transfers. It's YOUR pilgrimage, do it your way.
 
Although a slightly cynical view of the Camino, Maxwell4334 does raise an important point in that the Frances is probably the world's busiest footpath, and particularly so this year with increased interest in pilgrimages, pent up demand from the global pandemic and Holy Year as well.

Just don't be lulled into thinking it is a wilderness walk of unalloyed beauty - it's busy, can be boring, features lots of walking on tarmac and is pretty ugly in places.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: KFH
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Hi moderator! Would you mind closing this thread? I received a bunch of great less-common tips that were very helpful. I’m in transit now and won’t be reading any more. I’d like to let another newbie start a fresher post. Thank you to all!
Buen Camino.........
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top