Perhaps you’ve considered walking the Camino de Santiago at some point, an experience that everyone should live through at least once in their lifetime. However, it’s normal for doubts or fears to creep in. You might feel a certain unease when thinking about the many kilometers, whether you’ll be able to do it, or if you’ll get injured… First and foremost, stay calm and don’t panic! In this article, we’ll analyze the preparation needed for the Camino de Santiago so that you can determine if you’re ready to embark on this journey. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to venture out and become a true pilgrim.
Physical and Emotional Preparation
First of all, you need to know that both physical and mental preparation are essential. The moment you decide to embark on a pilgrimage route, you’re already mentally preparing yourself and considering everything this adventure will give you… and demand from you. This is when doubts and concerns may arise, but if you’ve made the decision, it’s because you have a clear answer to why you’re doing the Camino de Santiago.
Physical preparation for the Camino de Santiago should be accompanied by mental preparation
For good mental and emotional preparation, we need to plan and have everything clear: the route, the stages, where to sleep, and even where to eat. It’s like preparing a script that motivates us: you’ll have more peace of mind and security, and you’ll be able to prevent the most common mistakes when walking the Camino.
Once you have everything planned out, remember: you shouldn’t obsess over covering stages or arriving within a set time. The Camino isn’t a competition, and it’s meant to be enjoyed and savored with each step. So, no records, no rushing, and no stress: the Camino is meant to break away from the daily grind, have inner dialogues, and reflect. That’s what you should keep in mind when traversing a Jacobean trail.
Do I Really Need Training to Walk the Camino?
As we mentioned, the Camino de Santiago isn’t a competition, and you don’t need to be a high-level athlete to enjoy it. It’s not an activity that doesn’t involve a huge physical effort, and even if you don’t do much sports, there are many Jacobean routes for you. But beware! We shouldn’t deceive ourselves, regular exercise will help.
Pilgrims prepared to walk the Camino de Santiago
We all know that the Camino de Santiago involves kilometers and kilometers of walks through paths, plains, mountains, etc… Additionally, there are other factors like weather conditions or gradients, which can make some sections tougher, whether due to challenging climbs or intense descents.
However, the Camino can adapt to you, as there are many varied routes that lead us to the Cathedral of Santiago. If you don’t want to risk having a bad experience and prefer to go more relaxed, you can choose one of the easier and more beautiful routes.
In conclusion: whether you do sports or not, in addition to logistical and mental preparation, you need to prepare your body and take care of your health (pun intended!).
What’s the Best Preparation for Walking the Camino de Santiago?
You don’t need specific training before walking the Camino de Santiago. However, it’s true that you’ll need to progressively adapt our body to what you’ll face. You’ll adjust it little by little, as not everyone has the same sports habits and there are completely sedentary people.
Pilgrims walking along the French Way in Carrión de los Condes
We need moderate physical preparation, to acclimate our body, which we’ll start a few months before heading to Santiago. Ideally, go for a walk at least three or four days a week, gradually increasing the distance and difficulty of the terrain.
We increase the distance, the time, and walk on terrains with various irregularities, but about 30 days before starting, we recommend adding a supplement. The backpack is something that will be part of us throughout the Camino and will be a factor to consider. We must bear its weight, which will require an increase in effort. In this preparation, we advise you to keep walking, but with the backpack loaded with some weight to simulate the weight you’ll carry. However, remember not to carry excessive weight and not to exceed 10% of your body weight.
Footwear is very important, and we need to give it a prior test run. We should use the shoes we’ll wear on the Camino as we risk getting blisters if we use new footwear.
You must be very careful in choosing footwear suitable for your feet
Don’t forget that it’s very important to know our limitations, as we don’t want this beautiful journey to turn into a bad memory. Good mental and physical preparation are very important, as well as taking care of health before and during the Camino.
I’m ready: Which Camino to Choose?
If you haven’t chosen your route yet, or if you’re undecided, you have many options to choose from. If you’re a novice and will walk the Camino for the first time, we advise you to start with a short route of one week. In seven days, you’ll be able to experience the pilgrimage for the first time and walk about 100 km, a distance that will allow you to obtain the Compostela.
Thus, the last 100 km of the French Way from Sarria, or the last 100 km of the Portuguese Way from Tui are very good options. They are two historic routes, with a lot of pilgrim atmosphere, beautiful landscapes and heritage, well signposted, and with all services.
If you’re very well prepared, you’re conscious, and you have more time, perhaps you’ll consider doing longer routes, of two weeks or more. Doing a whole route, or maybe walking the Camino in stages, will allow you to have a more intense pilgrim experience.
The Cathedral of Santiago, the goal of every pilgrim
Also, consider if you’ll walk alone, by bicycle, with your pet, with friends, or with your family, including even children and grandparents. Depending on this, you may need to adapt the route not only for yourself but also for your companions.
As you can see, the Camino is accessible to everyone. In addition to your preparation and what was mentioned earlier, also consider the time of year when you’ll experience this journey. There’s a route and an ideal time for everyone, since thanks to its flexibility, the Camino can adapt to each pilgrim. Follow our advice, start your preparation for the Camino de Santiago, and dare to live the experience that will transform your life!
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