Along the way, take time to speak with other pilgrims, take in the historic sites and enjoy delicious tapas along the Camino routes. Whether you want to escape from routine, take some time to reflect on your goals, or simply enjoy the Northern Spanish culture, the Camino de Santiago is for everyone.
People choose to walk the Camino for many different reasons, such as spiritual reasons or for adventure or meeting like-minded people. Often pilgrims will choose to finish their Camino de Santiago by walking the Camino Finisterre, which is the only route that begins in Santiago and takes you towards the Galician coast at Cape Finisterre, also known as the ‘end of the world’. The other routes that lead you to the historic centre of Santiago include the Camino Ingles, the Camino del Norte, the Camino Primitivo, and the Via de la Plata. It is described as a heart-centered companionship tour where nourishment is nature-based. Duration is 15 days/ 14 nights covering 200 miles through mountains and meadows of Northern Spain. This route also finishes in Santiago where you can claim your pilgrim certificate. Camino de Santiago: Camino Primitivo this is a not so light tour but lighter compared to the self-guided tours. The Camino Portugues has increased in popularity over time.
This is the version of the route you may have seen in the Hollywood movie ‘The Way’ or the more recent BBC documentary called ‘The Pilgrimage’. The Camino Frances is the most popular of the Camino de Santiago routes. Camino Ways Official – Camino de Santiago.Additionally, it is recommended that you are up-to-date on your routine vaccines, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, MMR, diphtheria, Tdap, and influenza. It is advisable to have an up-to-date anti-tetanus and rabies vaccines before you travel to Spain and Portugal. You can decant liquids such as Arnica oil from their heavy glass bottles into smaller, plastic bottles (they will remain stable for the short time you are walking on the Camino).
Your body has learned to fight local conditions but you will be in a new country with different dust and pollens and these could cause problems.īuild up your reserves of Magnesium and Calcium before you go (Dolomite is a good source). Take pills and the other solid medicines out of the boxes and pack them into plastic, zip-lock money bags. Non-drowsy for the day and drowsy for night. If you have ever had asthma - even if you haven't had an attack for 10 years - take something with you. If you are, or ever have been, allergic to anything - whether it be flora or food - carry anithistamines. Take any prescribed medication with you and only small quantities of other things as you can top up along the way. The pharmacists along the Camino are accustomed to most of the aches, pains and ills of peregrinos and will be able to help you with most maladies. Remember then that you will be in Spain, a country where there are many pharmacies. Sewing kit with strings (against blisters).The minimal first aid kit for the Camino has to include: If you do so, also remember that your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your period of stay. If you are, however, planning on extending your trip for more than three months, you must secure one. Since 2013, the Camino de Santiago has attracted more than 200,000 pilgrims each year, with an annual growth rate of more than 10 percent. Since the longest of the major treks in the Camino de Santiago network is just over a month, you won’t have to obtain a visa to complete your hike if you’re from any of these countries. In 1987, the Camino de Santiago, which encompasses several routes in Spain, France and Portugal, was declared the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. In fact, US citizens, Australians and Canadian may stay in the country for up to three months or 90 days, to be exact, without a visa. This means that you need not obtain a permit to start your journey, even the month-long ones.ĭo not need a visa to travel to Spain. Additionally, none of its trails requires mountaineering skills or experience to warrant a permit, unlike Kilimanjaro or Everest. This is because while some of its routes may have challenging bits, they’re not incredibly tough that hikers require trekking gear, vigorous training, or as we mentioned before, a guide.
Hiking the Camino de Santiago is more of a casual affair.