Lightweight guides

[Andrewere]

In my search for lightweight guides for a recent Camino I found a few things that fit the bill perfectly. The first 2 are from websites that have a variety of downloadable/printable media:

http://www.caminoguide.net
This has a user friendly written navigation guide and has info on the history and other points of interest. I downloaded their Kindle app for my iphone though there is a free pdf guide which can be printed on A4 paper.

Eroski guide:
http://www.caminodesantiago.consumer.es
This has good maps and elevation profiles plus detailed info on accommodation.The iphone app is excellent. I've only found it in Spanish but it's still very helpful.

Once the above are downloaded to the iphone they don't require any phone/wifi signal though the Eroski guide seems to download new data if the phone/wifi is switched on.

The third item was given to me when I got my credential in the Pilgrim's Office in St. Jean Pied de Port. On 2 sides of a single A4 sheet were diagrams of all the relevent distances, height elevations and main towns/villages. This was kept in a waterproof A5 ziplok and proved a geat help.
I found the document on the compostelle.fr website, here:

http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/userfile ... s_voir.pdf

Andrew.

 

[dougfitz]

Andrew, I would recommend taking a printed guide as well. I carried a smartphone in 2010, but was not able to get it charged on several occasions, and would not wanted to have relied on it if it was going to be used regularly.

I used the Camino Frances guide by John Brierley. It is about 300gm (cf 500gm or more for some other guides), printed on good paper and bound properly. If you wanted something even lighter, you could just carry a map set without any of the interesting details!

Regards,

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Walking on the Camino Frances last week I used the PDF from here: http://www.caminoguide.net/ and added information on accommodation which a member helpfully posted on this forum recently I then uploaded it to my Kindle and I had more than enough info - particularly when the route is so well waymarked. I think we will see more and more "homemade" guides appearing which is all to the good.

 

[CaminoGen]

Walking on the Camino Frances last week I used the PDF from here: http://www.caminoguide.net/ and added information on accommodation which a member helpfully posted on this forum recently I then uploaded it to my Kindle and I had more than enough info - particularly when the route is so well waymarked. I think we will see more and more "homemade" guides appearing which is all to the good.

I loved that guide 'book"; it's clear and up-to-date. Last May, I printed it on 6 pages and threw them out when I didn't need them anymore. It has all the practical information you need.

 

[mmm042]

Or do what I do and travel without any maps or guides. You'll be fine most of the time, and it's a bit of an adventure when you do get lost. (It also makes for a good story that night, along with points for bravery, especially when you're a sola peregrina!)

Melanie