5 Useful tips before you start your own Camino

These are possibly my 5 most useful tips if you are going to start you own Camino. I’ve created 5 basic tips that will help you plan before you arrive to Santiago de Compostela. I like to start with training. This is possibly the most popular question. How much to train. And the answer is it depends. I personally like to start training a couple of months before starting my Camino de Santiago. Make sure to use the gear you will be using while walking in Spain. Get comfortable shoes, try different type of socks. Walk as much as possible and learn about how to treat those blisters that most of us will definitely get! Make sure to write a list of items to can not loose like passport, credential, credit card, etc.. and have a designated area that you can check every day. Perhaps in your pocket, inside your jacket, or in your backpack. It is easy to misplace an important item when you are often on the move… Don’t be afraid to book a private room every few days at an private albergue or hotel. Sharing spaces with other pilgrims can be exhausting sometimes and sometime having a private room will give you the chance to have a good night sleep and recharge. Remember that in Spain most stores are closed during lunch time, and also during special holidays. I usually bring extra snacks or sandwiches the night before my first etapa, and I also bring extra snacks on the first day. It usually takes a day or two to build a routine, and it can be annoying not to have enough food to eat after a long day on El Camino. The Camino de Santiago is well maintained and there are plenty of signs that will show you the way to Santiago. Cell phone coverage can be spotty sometimes, so purchasing a cell phone plan and a disposable European phone can be really helpful if you plan on walking for several weeks. Spain is very safe and people are very friendly and eager to help. So have fun and Buen Camino.