Advice and rules

Your first Camino is always exciting and full of surprises

Everyone walks their own Camino, at their own pace and with their own goal. There is plenty of information on the web, but I would still like to pass on a few useful tips.

Which Camino should I walk first?

If you have two or three weeks, the Caminho Português da Costa is perfect. You can walk it in two weeks. If you have three weeks, you can add the extra detour via the Variante Espiritual. The stages are not particularly hard, and it is a beautiful route along the coast. There are enough albergues along the way.

You can also walk part of the Camino Francés, for example by starting in Pamplona and seeing how far you get. Later, you can pick up again where you left off.

What should I take with me?

Buy a good rucksack of 30 to 40 litres, no bigger. The bigger the rucksack, the more you'll pack. The golden rule is about 10% of your body weight. I would keep the maximum at 10 kilos. A rucksack with a built-in rain cover is very practical. You can of course buy a rain cover separately, but if a shower catches you by surprise, you want to be able to find the cover quickly.

What should I wear?

Clothing and footwear

Sturdy walking shoes for the day, and flip-flops or sandals for the evening
3 pairs of well-fitting, seamless walking socks. The quality of your socks has a big effect on how comfortable you are when walking. Smartwool socks work very well
3 sets of underwear
2 short-sleeved merino wool T-shirts (Icebreaker or similar)
2 pairs of trousers, one of which is a lightweight walking pair (a model with zip-off legs is handy), plus waterproof trousers
1 long-sleeved shirt
Fleece jacket or windproof jacket
Rain jacket with a hood or rucksack poncho
Pyjamas or a T-shirt to sleep in, or thermal underwear. The latter is handy when it's cold and fits under your clothes
Choose the lightest, quick-drying clothing you can find

Personal care

Sunglasses, sun cream, lip balm
Toiletries: as few as possible. A toothbrush and toothpaste, and SPF 50 day cream
On the Camino, it's about what's inside; how you look on the outside is of secondary importance
First aid kit with plasters, paracetamol and your own medication (blister plasters and tape are recommended)
Extra insoles for your shoes (handy if your other pair isn't dry yet)

Rucksack and miscellaneous

Lightweight sleeping bag and/or sleeping bag liner. In summer a liner is enough; in cold weather a sleeping bag gives extra warmth
Walking poles. Please note: you can't take these on the plane as hand luggage, so check them in with your hold luggage
Lightweight towel
Cap or other hat to protect you from the sun
Small diary with a pen or pencil
Mobile phone and a light power bank (this belongs in your hand luggage on your flight). You can save weight here too
An adapter with two USB ports
A few plastic zip bags
Earplugs, if you like. You'll often sleep in dormitories in albergues; if you're a light sleeper, these are an absolute must
Pilgrim credential, available from tourist offices, albergues and some churches
ID card or passport
European Health Insurance Card and travel/cancellation insurance (important abroad)
Carabiner, for example to hang your lunch from your rucksack
Rechargeable head torch, preferably with a red light, for the morning in the albergue

Unwritten rules

Always greet people with Buen Camino.
If someone doesn't respond straight away, respect that. Some pilgrims walk in silence and don't want contact. You'll be doing them a favour by simply walking on.
Quiet in the albergue: lights out and silence usually from 22:00, and people start getting up from about 6:00. Pack your things in the evening, and avoid rustling plastic bags. In the morning, carry on with a head torch (red light) or outside the dormitory.
Shoes and poles go in the designated room or rack, not in the dormitory.
"Reserving" a bed for someone else with a rucksack or shoes is simply not done. First come, first served.
Respect the hospitaleros (often volunteers) and follow the rules of the albergue. At donativo albergues, give a fair contribution.
Don't judge how others walk: with luggage transport, with a taxi for part of the way or in short stages. Everyone has their own Camino.
Feel free to share (food, plasters, tips) and help someone who is struggling, for example with blisters or an injury.
Don't leave any litter and take your rubbish with you. Also don't leave piles of stones or clothing at crosses and monuments.
Listen to music with headphones, not through a speaker, so that others can enjoy the silence.
Be alert to cyclists: step aside when they ring their bell, and don't walk three abreast on narrow paths.
Be respectful in churches and villages: keep your voice down, don't wear shorts or go bare-chested in a church during a service, and don't urinate along the route in villages.
Give yourself and others time: the Camino is not a race, and certainly not a competition for the first bed.

Staying safe on the way, including as a woman alone

The Camino is generally a safe journey, including for women walking alone. Even so, it's reassuring to be prepared.

Want to feel safer on the Camino in Spain? Then install AlertCops on your Android smartphone or iPhone. With this free app from the Spanish national police and the Guardia Civil, you can share your location in an emergency, contact the emergency services directly and report crimes. Useful features for pilgrims:

SOS button: press it five times in quick succession, and the app sends a short audio recording and your location to your emergency contacts.
Guardian Camino de Santiago: your position is sent regularly during your walk, so you can be found quickly if you're in trouble.
Share your location with up to five people at home whom you trust.
Chat with the police, with translation into more than 100 languages.
Rescue: even without mobile coverage, you can send your location to the emergency services via wifi.

Read more about it here. In an emergency in Spain or Portugal, always call 112.