15 TIPS FOR WALKING THE CAMINO IN SUMMER.
Walking the Camino de Santiago in summer is a wonderful experience. There’s nothing quite like the long days, hazy heat and sense of freedom in the summer.
But when the days are hot and the nights are balmy, there are some special considerations. This blog post sets out our 15 top tips for walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Not sure what time of year you want to walk the Camino? You can find our guide here.
1/ Wear a hat
Even if you wouldn’t normally wear a hat for walking, or you don’t consider yourself a “hat person”, we would recommend wearing one on the Camino in the summer.
Without a hat, sunstroke is a real risk. Plus, it will keep the sun off your face and help to prevent sun damage.
Find our guide to the best hats for the Camino de Santiago here.
2/ Take sun protection seriously
If you are walking the Camino in the summer, I’d recommend taking sun care very seriously. If you intend to walk for 6 to 8 hours per day, that’s a huge amount of time that your skin could be exposed to the sun.
There are a few options – you could wear sun protection layers that cover your skin. Alternatively, ensure you have a good factor 50 SPF, something waterproof – let’s face it, you’ll be sweating!
I also like to pack either a sunscreen stick or a zinc based sun block to cover my nose and cheeks. Basically, the bits that are prone to burning. Keeping a small sun block in my backpack hip pocket means I can access it easily.
You can find my recommendations for sunblock on the Camino here.
3/ Chill your water
Ensuring that you have lots of water when walking the Camino de Santiago is a given, especially in the summer. Remember that it is not always possible to use a water fountain to fill up bottles that regularly and therefore you may need enough to last half or a full day of walking.
One tip we have for walking the Camino de Santiago in the summer is to keep your water chilled if you can. Tepid or warm drinking water on a summer’s day is not that refreshing.
We would recommend chilling your water bottle overnight in your albergue fridge if you can. Alternatively, invest in a water bottle that will keep your water cool.
Personally, in the summer I quite like using a water bladder which fits into my backpack – I find that water bottles left in my backpack pockets instead tend to become warmer.
4/ Pack a swimming costume or bikini
I know that packing a swimming costume or bikini might seem like extra weight to carry, but in the summer on the Camino it can come in really handy.
Whether you want to make the most of time on the beach on the Camino Portuguese or Camino Norte, or dip in a river on the Camino Frances – having access to a swimsuit means you can do so on a whim. Even during the walking day if you see somewhere nice.
5/ Pack sandals
After a long day of walking, giving your feet a break from your hiking shoes is a a feeling like no other.
Pack a pair of lightweight sandals to let your feet breathe in the evenings. They can also be handy for walking around towns or visiting the beach.
Find our best recommendations for what to wear in the evening here.
6/ Always prepare for rain
Even in the height of summer in Portugal and Spain, rain can come out of nowhere.
This is particularly the case in Galicia (I don’t think I’ve ever visited and not experienced some rain!) The coastal route, Camino del Norte is also prone to rain. In fact, on our second day walking the Norte in early July we got so soaked by rain that we had to spend an hour blasting our shoes with hair driers.
Nowadays, we are much more prepared! Pack a poncho or rain coat and at least a rain cover for your bag. Find out more about walking the Camino in the rain here.
7/ Sleep sheet not sleeping bag
In the summer, carrying a heavy sleeping bag isn’t necessary. Instead, pack a lightweight sleep sheet. It will provide enough warmth in albergues, which are often hot through the night, and save you from carrying extra weight.
Find our recommendations for the best sleep sheets for the Camino here.
8/ Warm layer for the evening
Despite the hot days, evenings can sometimes get chilly, especially in the mountains or on the coast. A lightweight, warm layer like a sweater or a rain jacket will keep you comfortable.
That said, if you are carrying your own backpack, try to stick to one extra layer and not multiple options.
9/ Pack shorts
Make sure to pack a pair or two of comfortable walking shorts. They are perfect for the hot summer days and provide better ventilation than trousers.
You can find our recommendations for men and women here.
10/ Choose walking tops carefully
There are some obvious considerations when it comes to choosing walking tops for the Camino.
Opt for moisture-wicking, breathable tops that dry quickly. Avoid cotton as it holds sweat and takes longer to dry. Synthetic or merino wool tops are great choices.
There are some less obvious things that you may not have considered – especially for women. Thin spaghetti strap tops and low cut tops can be risky in the summer as you’ll be exposed to sun. Personally, I like to pick tops that cover my shoulders and chest, but avoid anything with tight or restrictive sleeves too.
You can find my top picks for hiking clothing for women here.
11/ Avoid Gortex shoes
Yes, it is possible that it will rain in the summer on the Camino and I can see why it may seem sensible to wear waterproof walking shoes or boots. But in all likelihood you’ll be dealing with more heat than rain.
Gortex shoes tend to trap heat, making your feet sweat more and increasing the chance of blisters. Choose breathable trail runners or hiking shoes instead.
Find our guide to shoes for the Camino here.
12/ Pack insect repellent
There are mosquitos in Spain and Portugal in the summer. This is particularly a problem on coastal routes. If you a prone to getting bitten, we would recommend taking insect repellent to wear in the evening.
Remember, windows in albergues may be open and with other people in the room to consider you can’t just shut them to keep out mosquitos.
Want to know more about albergue etiquette? You can find our guide here.
13/ Walk early in the morning
In the summer on the Camino, it’s very likely that it will be hot for at least some, if not all of your journey. The upside of walking in the summer is that you have plenty of day light hours – so use them.
Leave early in the morning with the sunrise or slightly before and try to arrive before the peak heat of the day. In Spain, this tends to be around 14:00 to 17:00. Try to be resting somewhere cool by this time.
14/ Check the weather forecast
One top tip we have for walking the Camino de Santiago in summer is to check the weather forecast regularly. It is easy to forget to do this in the summer when all you can see is blue sky and sunshine.
The reason we recommend keeping tabs on the weather is that heatwaves can take you by surprise and make walking difficult and even dangerous. If there’s a heatwave coming, you may want to adjust your walking stages, carry more water or even take a rest day if it’s too much.
15/ Pick albergues with outdoor space and even swimming pools
When it’s hot, the last thing you are going to want to do at the end of a walking day on the Camino is be stuck inside your albergue sweating on your bunk. In the summer, choose albergues that have outdoor space where you can.
Rural albergues with places to relax in the shade of a garden are ideal. Even better, find an albergue with a swimming pool!
You can find our guides to the best albergues on the Frances, Norte and Portuguese here.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
Looking for Camino souvenirs?
We wanted to create Camino merchandise that we would actually wear ourselves. On the trails, out and about or at home. Keep it classy.
You can find all our items in our Etsy store – Camino Nostalgia.
Santiago coordinates t-shirt – multiple colours.
Camino Class of ’24 & ’25 sweater – multiple colours.
Ladies Camino Class of ’24 Tee – multiple colours
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