The summer holidays, that time of year so long awaited by everyone. Moments to relax, disconnect, enjoy the good weather with your family and finally make that trip that you have been waiting for so many months.

As is the case with most tourist destinations in our country, the Camino de Santiago also increases considerably in the summer months. In spite of this, it is still a perfect trip for your holidays, a perfect alternative to the stress of those crowded beaches, hotels with exorbitant prices and restaurants where it is difficult to find a table.

As lovers of the Camino de Santiago, we would like to tell you that the best time to do the Camino de Santiago is when you take the first step and dare to do it. We assure you that whatever time of year it is, you will have a wonderful experience.

If you are looking for a different kind of holiday, one that will leave its mark on the rest of your life, you are in the right place. In this article we tell you the advantages and disadvantages of doing the Camino de Santiago in the hottest months of the year.

Advantages in summer

The days are longer

Unlike in winter, in summer you will have many more hours of light to walk through so you can start your stages very early without having to go out walking at night. You can even go on much longer stages without worrying about being caught in the middle of the night.

You will walk more calmly

Having more hours of light you can walk without hurry, resting and making all the stops you want, enjoying every step.

Sign of a pilgrim shell

More services

It is true that in high season you will find more pilgrims, but also more services. Unlike the low season, all the establishments remain open, the bars and restaurants take their terraces and tables out into the street and every few kilometres you can stop to rest and recover your strength.

You will meet many people

As we have said many times, the socialising power of the Camino de Santiago is incredibly magical. Throughout the stages you will meet many people and we are sure that you will find like-minded people with whom you can share paths, conversations, stories, hugs and emotions. You will make friends for life!

Local parties

As is the case in a large part of Spain, talking about summer is talking about festivals, local fiestas, gastronomy, culture… we are sure that you will take away some joy after finishing a stage and finding a whole village in festivities.

Municipal swimming pools

Almost all the villages on the Camino de Santiago have a municipal swimming pool which is open from July to September, so don’t forget your swimming costume!

A pool and a Bridge

The weight of the rucksack

By going with lighter clothes, your backpack will obviously weigh much less and your back will appreciate it.

Less chance of rain

Summer is also the time when it is least likely to rain. This will make us do the Camino more comfortably as we are not so exposed to storms, rain or wind.

Inconveniences in summer

As we all know every face has its cross, and doing the Camino de Santiago in summer also has its disadvantages.

Massification

This is its main disadvantage. As we have said before, in summer all tourist destinations become crowded, including the Camino de Santiago. The paths become crowded and the accommodation can be one hundred percent occupied.

Plan ahead

If you decide to do the Camino de Santiago at this time of year, you should plan ahead and make your reservations to avoid reaching the end of the stage and having no place to sleep.

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The heat

High temperatures can sometimes play a nasty trick on you, so we recommend that you moisturise and care for your skin with sunscreen.

Tips for the way in summer

Physical preparation

With high temperatures the body is more affected and it is more difficult to make physical efforts. We recommend that you start training at least one month before your trip. If you are not used to walking long distances you can start with short training sessions and gradually increase the difficulty. Always use the shoes you are going to use on the Camino and get your body used to the weight of the backpack.

Hydrate yourself

Continuous hydration is very important during each stage. We recommend that you always carry a bottle or water bottle with you at each stage. On the Camino you will find numerous fountains to fill up as well as bars and restaurants.

Minimize the weight of your backpack

As a general rule it should not exceed 10% of our weight. In summer we recommend you to prepare your backpack thoroughly, as in the heat it can be more difficult for us to carry it for so many kilometres. You can also hire the luggage transport service which will take your backpack stage by stage.

Two pilgrims walking on a path

Cap, sunscreen and glasses

You will avoid skin burns, sunburn and any other problem that heat and sunshine can cause.

Take care of your feet

They will be the most important part of your body on this journey, so you will have to pamper them especially. Wear comfortable, breathable shoes and always hydrate them with cream or Vaseline before and after each stage.

Book your accommodation

We advise you to organise and book the accommodation for each stage so that you don’t get scared and run out of room or even have to spend more than you expected. You can also choose to hire the services of a travel agency.

Enjoy the summer!

We recommend you to take it easy, thinking that you are on holiday and have the rest of the year to get stressed out, but don’t let this stop you from enjoying the experience!

All the trips of the Camino de Santiago by bike
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