Essential things a Pilgrim should carry on

Getting the luggage ready is one of the toughest tasks a pilgrim will face. The Camino has taught us several things throughout the years regarding this important matter; we would like to share them with you to make your journey much smoother.



If you pack light, you will go light. Most experts advise not to exceed 10% of your body weight on your backpack. Our experience tells us to go even lighter.

Keep it down to the basics, get rid of unnecessary stuff. Those things you are sure you will need, a lot of things, you will not need any of them. And if you happen to need something, do not worry will find plenty of stores along the way.

Regarding what garments to pack, it will depend on what time of year you are going to do the Camino. The weather and temperatures along the Camino fluctuate depending on the season you walk. You will find temperatures from below 0ºC (32ºF) during the winter time, to more than 40ºC (104ºF) during the summer time, with all the intermediate ranges in between.

In our opinion, with two changes of clothe you will be covered for the Hiking El Camino de Santiago. It should include t-shirts or sweatshirts if you plan on doing the Camino Walk Spain in the winter time, comfortable pants, shorts or a sweat suit. A pair of underwear and two pairs of sport socks are also needed. In addition, you will need two pairs of lightweight boots or shoes, one hat or cap and a raincoat.

To better pack the garments in your backpack, you can use a few transparent plastic bags (Ziplock bags), the ones normally used to store food in the freezer, put each piece of clothe in a plastic bag, you will be able to use these same bags to store your dirty garments.



A small first aid kit will be of great help. Keep in mind that you will not have to take all the medication from your home; you can buy anything you might need in pharmacies in the villages along the Camino de Santiago Walk. Thus, it will be enough to carry on some aspirin or paracetamol, bandages and band aid, tweezers, hypodermic needles, thread, sterilizer such as Betadine, scissors, insect repellent and sunscreen. In the toiletry bag you should pack a hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel and Vaseline for the feet.


If you are not using hotels and are carrying a towel, it is important to get a microfiber one, these are sold in sports and adventure stores. These types of towels dry very quickly and are quite economical. You can also bring flip flops for when you shower and of course do not forget your sleeping bag.
In addition, you can also get one or two hiking sticks, a small flashlight to move at night, a canteen, tissues and of course, some cash and a credit card.

Buen Camino Spain!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are the motivational factors that inspires pilgrims to do the Camino

Image
Just over a third of those who walk the  Camino de Santiago  confess to do so for religious reasons, according to a report by the Institute of Tourism Studies of Galicia. This report highlights that 50.28 percent of pilgrims claim spiritual reasons to make this journey, but only a 38.10 percent confess having true religious motivations. The Camino de Santiago has been walked for centuries by pilgrims, who travel to this holy city where according to a legend, the remains of the Apostle St James have been buried. One out of three pilgrims confesses that their additional target is to reach Finisterre after Santiago de Compostela, that is where pilgrims traditionally leave their boots and burn their clothes before returning home. These studies have also shown that just over half of the pilgrims travelling the Camino are from Spain, and the rest are mainly from other European countries, where the influence of religion has lost weight in the last decades. According to the Inst
Read more

Which route to choose?

Image
In case you have any doubts, we would like to help you choose which route to follow. Particularly if this is the first time you are going to walk the  Camino de Santiago Tours . We would like to give you some tips to help you make your choice. Although ultimately, you should always listen your “inner voice” and let it guide you. The  “French Way”  departing from Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port, in France, is by far the most traveled path of all; eight out of ten pilgrims chose this route to walk the Camino. The infrastructures and available services all along this route make the French Way the most comfortable and easy to follow. We would recommend this path to first time pilgrims, or to those who will do the Camino alone. It is quite easy to meet people along the way to exchange experiences, get help in case of need, and also places to get some food or simply spend the night. The  “Primitive Way”  departs from Oviedo, northern Spain. It is the first known route to Santiago. This path
Read more