My trip is october 5th 2006- and my main questions are...

[hobbesforyou]

Is Leon a good starting point for El Camino? and is it at least the 100km that are required to get the certificate. Im coming from Los Angeles, California USA and I want to make sure when I land in Madrid to go to the right place to start my pilgrimage. Also any recmendations on shoes please?

 

[frescotours]

Leon is 310KM's from Santiago, so you will definitely qualify for the Compostelana. How much time do you have? If you plan on starting from Leon, allow yourself about 2 weeks.

As for shoes - that's a personal choice, but I say go with comfortable, well broken in light hiking boots. Gortex is worth every penny!

Good luck and buen Camino!

 

[William Marques]

Leon is a great place to start your Camino, There is so much to see in Leon and so much to see between there and Sarria which is the town just before the 100km marker.

Buen Camino
William

 

[romanoe]

starting from Leon

I too am starting my cammino in Leon. I will be leaving 26 Sept so if you are a fast walker our paths may cross as I will be taking it slow.

Nola

 

[jgray4613]

Leon is 320 km from Santiago. It's a great starting place. Plan to spend at least a day there sightseeing before you start. The cathedral alone is spectacular! And between Leon and Santiago there is quite a bit of diverse scenery and camino history along with 2 mountain ranges and the hills and valleys of Galicia.

How much time do you have? it's at least 12 days walking and more like 16 averaging 20 km a day. Get a good pair of light hiking boots, they don't need to be heavy but they should provide good support through the ankles. After blisters, tendonitis was fairly common. The Gortex recommendation is a good one. It never rained while we were hiking, but I injured my leg and spent 4 days resting in Sarria while la tormenta raged outside.

 

[Whalleyranger]

I started my first Camino in Leon. The first day and a half walking will be nice and flat for you too so you can be broken in gently before Monte Irago looms after Astorga.

Enjoy!