LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

---

26 THINGS TO DO TO GET READY FOR YOUR FIRST CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.

---

Planning your first Camino can feel overwhelming.

There’s a lot of advice out there, and it’s not always easy to know where to start. But, you don’t need to have absolutely everything figured out before you go.

This list is based on my experience of walking multiple Caminos and lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s designed to walk you through the preparation process step by step – from the very first decision all the way to buckling up your bag.

Remember – thousands of people walk the Camino every year with no prior experience. You can do this.

---

1/ Choose a route

This is the first and most important decision – and also one that new pilgrims often find the most daunting.

The good news is that there’s no wrong answer. The most well-known route is the Camino Francés, which starts in St Jean Pied de Port in France and covers around 800km to Santiago. It’s popular for good reason: well-marked, well-serviced, and full of fellow pilgrims. But it’s far from the only option.

If you’re looking for a longer route, the Camino del Norte or Via de la Plata are great options, that take 4-6 weeks.

If you don’t have a full month, the Camino Portuguese is a good choice – it takes between 10-14 days.

Many choose to walk the last 100km into Santiago – in particular, the last stretch of the Camino Frances from Sarria is very popular. But there are alternative sections that you can walk in under a week that are more scenic, varied and less crowded.

Think about how much time you have, what kind of scenery appeals to you, and how much company you want on the road.

You can find an overview of each route here and individual pages for the routes here.

2/ Book a flight

Once you’ve chosen your route, you’ll have a clearer idea of where you need to fly to. For the Camino Francés, most people fly into Biarritz, Pamplona, or Bilbao and make their way to St Jean Pied de Port. For the Norte, Biarritz is also the best connection.

Whilst, Porto or Lisbon will be the airports for the Portuguese route. And it’s best to fly into Sevilla or Almeria for routes in the south of Spain.

Santiago itself is where most routes end, so you’ll also need to think about your return flight. The airport does offer international flights to the UK and many European cities, but normally travellers from outside Europe will need to pick a larger airport like Madrid.

3/ Start some training walks

It probably won’t surprise you to know that the best way to train for the Camino is to walk. Even building more steps into your daily routine helps – walking to work, taking the stairs, parking further away than you need to. But if you can get out for proper training walks, so much the better.

Try to build up gradually to distances similar to what you expect to cover each day on the Camino. And here’s the tip that makes the biggest difference: walk two days back to back. The Camino’s challenge isn’t just one long day – it’s the accumulation of many long days. Training your body to keep going on tired legs is one of the most useful things you can do before you leave.

You can find our detailed training guide here.

4/ Buy (or borrow) your gear

You don’t need to spend a fortune to walk the Camino, but having the right kit makes a real difference to your comfort. The essentials are: a well-fitting backpack (aim for 30–40 litres), good walking shoes or boots, a sleeping bag liner (a full sleeping bag is often unnecessary as albergues provide blankets but it depends on the season), a microfibre towel, and a few sets of quick-dry clothing.

Before you buy everything new, see what you can borrow from friends or family who hike. Outdoor shops like Decathlon offer solid, affordable options if you need to buy from scratch. The most important thing at this stage is not to overspend on gear you haven’t tested yet – you can always upgrade after your first Camino when you know what you actually need.

Find our detailed packing guides here, which include our tips for gear.

5/ Walk with your backpack

Once you have your backpack, load it with an approximate weight and start testing it on your training walks. This will quickly reveal any problem areas -chafing straps, an awkward fit, pressure points on your back. Better to discover these things at home than on day one.

I’ve learnt the hard way that strapless tops and certain backpack designs do not mix. Small adjustments to how you wear and load your pack can make a huge difference over the course of a long day. Use your training walks to dial this in.

6/ Join Camino forums

The Camino community is one of the friendliest and most helpful you’ll find online. The Camino de Santiago subreddit and The Camino Forum (caminodesantiago.me) are both excellent resources where experienced pilgrims answer questions from beginners every day.

There are also Facebook groups, like Camigas, which allows women to connect with others. This can be a great resource if you want to make a plan to walk with others before you go.

7/ Download a Camino app

The Camino de Santiago routes are very well marked with arrows and shells, as well as way markers. But it is extremely helpful to have an app downloaded to help with planning and navigation.

The most widely recommended is Buen Camino (my personal favourite), which provides GPS tracking, stage information, and albergue listings for most routes. Wise Pilgrim is also popular, depending on your route.

8/ Assess any injuries

If you have any existing niggles – a dodgy knee, a recurring ankle problem, lower back issues – now is the time to address them, not the week before you leave. Book an appointment with a physio if you’re unsure about anything. They can advise on whether the Camino is realistic for you right now, what exercises will help, and whether you need any additional support like a brace or walking poles.

9/ Create a blister prevention plan

Everyone has their own secret hack for preventing blisters. Some swear by lambswool, others by the “double sock” technique – wearing a thin liner sock under a thicker walking sock to reduce friction.

Over the years, I’ve tried different things. On my first Camino, I wore pop socks (like stockings) under my socks and thought it was fairly effective, since I only got a few blisters. Since then, I’ve started smothering my feet in Vaseline before each day’s walking – and now I don’t get any at all.

Everyone’s feet are different, so it’s about finding what works for you. Test a few strategies on your training walks before you commit. And pack plenty of blister plasters just in case – Compeed are widely considered the gold standard and are available in most Spanish pharmacies if you run out.

10/ Do a little strength and mobility training

Walking is excellent preparation for walking of course – but adding some targeted strength and mobility work can make a real difference, particularly for your knees and hips. Simple exercises like squats, lunges, calf raises, and hip flexor stretches go a long way if done consistently in the weeks before you leave.

Yoga and Pilates are also popular with Camino pilgrims for exactly this reason.

You can find our detailed training guide here.

11/ Road test your footwear

On my first Camino, I made the worst mistake possible: I wore a pair of trainers that were marginally too small. I was in serious pain within days – to the point that I actually cut small holes in them to give my toes more space. It was not a highlight.

Since then, I’ve made footwear fitting a non-negotiable priority. Whatever shoes or boots you plan to walk in, wear them on all of your training walks before you leave. They should feel comfortable from day one -there’s a myth that boots need to be “broken in” through pain, but well-fitting shoes shouldn’t hurt.

Get fitted properly in a specialist outdoor shop if you can, and remember that feet swell during long walks, so size up by half a size if you’re in any doubt.

12/ Decide your daily walking distance

It can be really helpful to arrive with a rough sense of how many kilometres you’d like to cover each day. This doesn’t have to be your maximum effort – in fact, it’s better if it isn’t. Think of it as a comfortable target, something achievable on an average day that leaves room to push further if you’re feeling good, or pull back if you’re not.

Most pilgrims cover between 20 and 30km a day. Guidebooks and apps divide routes into suggested stages, which are a useful starting point. Just remember that you don’t have to follow them – splitting or combining stages to suit your pace is completely normal and nothing to feel self-conscious about.

You can find our daily stages guides for most major routes here.

13/ Think about what you actually want to see

I had this idea before I walked the first time, that the Camino was going to be quite desolate. I certainly hadn’t anticipated how many outstanding cities, towns and villages I’d see on route – each with their own character and quirks.

Before you go, have a think about what matters most to you. Are there cathedrals or monasteries you want to visit? A particular stretch of scenery you’ve read about? A town that comes up again and again in other pilgrims’ accounts?

You don’t need a rigid sightseeing itinerary, but having a loose sense of what you’d love to see means you’re less likely to walk straight past it. A bit of background reading on the regions you’ll pass through can also make the experience richer.

You can find our guide to highlights on the Camino Frances here.

14/ Consider building in a rest day

Even if you’re fit and well-prepared, a rest day mid-Camino can be genuinely wonderful. It gives your body time to recover, your feet a chance to breathe, and sometimes it’s just a chance to wash all your dirty laundry!

Many pilgrims who didn’t plan a rest day end up taking one anyway – we did.

Popular stopping points for a rest day on the Francés include Pamplona, Burgos, and León. On other routes, you’ll find your own natural pause points as you go.

You can find our guide to the best places to take a rest day here.

15/ Sketch out your daily stages

There are two types of people on the Camino: those who want to fly by the seat of their pants in the name of spontaneity, and the meticulous planners with spreadsheets. The best approach, in my experience, is somewhere in between.

Before each Camino, I sketch out a rough plan of daily stages – not a rigid timetable, but a framework. This helps with booking accommodation, managing expectations, and making sure you’re not accidentally trying to cover 40km on a day when the next village is miles away.

You can find our daily stages guides for most major routes here.

16/ Book accommodation

Once you have your rough plan, it’s worth thinking about accommodation. This is entirely a personal choice – some pilgrims book nothing and enjoy the freedom of deciding each day where to stop. Others book everything in advance for peace of mind.

My preferred approach is a hybrid. I always book at least the first two or three nights, since arriving exhausted in an unfamiliar place and scrambling for a bed is not a great start. I’ll also book any albergues I particularly want to stay at – Casa Susi on the Francés, for example, was a non-negotiable for us.

Private accommodation on weekends or bank holidays is worth booking ahead too, as it fills quickly. And I always book our accommodation in Santiago in advance to lock in a better rate.

If you’re walking in peak season (summer months, or Easter), or you plan to stay predominantly in private rooms, booking ahead gives you much more security. If you’re happy in municipal albergues and walking in quieter months, you can be more relaxed about it.

Find our guides to accommodation and albergues on the route here. This includes the basics – what is an albergue? Through to info on our favourite ones on route.

17/ Test your rain gear

Oh, I could tell some stories about poor rain gear. There was the time I took a glorified festival cagoule on a Camino -it was not waterproof in any meaningful sense. There was the poncho experiment, which I found completely useless. And then the time I had to pad my backpack with bin liners for extra protection. (I actually still recommend doing this in rainy season – it’s surprisingly effective.)

Do not make rain gear an afterthought. Research your options properly, then take it out in actual rain before you leave. A good waterproof jacket that actually keeps you warm and a dedicated pack cover, is worth the investment.

18/ Think about your “why”

This might sound a bit philosophical for a practical preparation guide, but hear me out. Knowing why you’re walking the Camino – even loosely – can be a real anchor when things get difficult. And at some point, things will get difficult.

In those moments, your “why” is what keeps you moving. It doesn’t need to be profound. It might be that you want to prove something to yourself, or that you’re processing something, or simply that you’ve always wanted to do it. Whatever it is, keep coming back to it.

19/ Get your credential

The Credencial del Peregrino is your pilgrim passport – a folded card that you get stamped at albergues, churches, cafés, and other official points along the way. At the end of your Camino, you present it at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago as proof of your journey, and in exchange you receive the Compostela certificate.

You can get your credential before you leave through your national Confraternity of Saint James (in the UK, this is the Confraternity of Saint James; in the US, the American Pilgrims on the Camino). You can also pick one up at the start of most routes – in St Jean Pied de Port, for example, the Pilgrim Welcome Office issues them on arrival.

Keep in mind that pilgrims offices and cathedrals, which often sell the credentials have restricted opening hours, so plan ahead.

20/ Set your budget

The Camino can be done very affordably, but costs vary depending on how you travel and where you stay. As a rough guide, many pilgrims manage comfortably on €40–70 per day, covering accommodation, food, and incidentals. If you stay in municipal albergues (around €10–15 a night) and eat simply, you can keep costs down lower. Private rooms and restaurant dinners push the budget higher.

It’s worth setting a rough daily budget before you go – just something to guide your decisions. Factor in your flights, any gear you need to buy, and a small buffer for unexpected expenses like a pharmacy visit.

You can find a detailed breakdown of the costs of walking the Camino de Santiago here.

21/ Pack your bag

This is the moment it all becomes real. Lay everything out – every single item you’re planning to take – and look at it honestly. You may also want to consider using packing cubes – they can be really handy for compartmentalising your clothing.

As a general rule, your loaded pack should not exceed 10% of your body weight for comfort over long distances. Most experienced pilgrims aim for 7–8kg maximum. If your bag is heavier than that, something needs to come out.

You can find our detailed packing guides, for men and women, here.

22/ Take out 1 or 2 unnecessary items

Even after many long-distance walks, this is a ritual I return to before every Camino. It’s like that old Coco Chanel adage: before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.

Lay everything out again and be ruthless. Inevitably, there are always one or two items that don’t earn their weight. It might be an extra t-shirt thrown in at the last minute, a hair product, or simply too many blister plasters.

Check out our guide to the items NOT to pack for the Camino de Santiago here.

23/ Get some Euros sorted

The currency in Spain and Portugal is the Euro, so you’ll need a card that works abroad without heavy fees, plus some cash. Most restaurants and bars on Camino routes now accept card payments -but not all, and you can’t rely on it. Municipal and donativo albergues almost always require cash.

A travel card like Wise or Revolut is useful for keeping fees down. Withdraw cash from ATMs as you go rather than carrying large amounts, and keep a small reserve tucked separately from your main wallet just in case.

24/ Sort an eSIM or roaming plan

Check whether your mobile plan includes roaming in Spain before you leave. If not, an eSIM is a convenient and usually affordable solution – you can buy and activate one before you travel without needing a physical SIM card. Airalo is a popular option with good coverage in Spain.

Having data on your phone is useful for maps, translation, messaging home, and looking up accommodation.

25/ Learn a little Spanish (or Portuguese)

Particularly if walking the routes in southern Spain, Knowing a handful of basic phrases makes a real difference. Just being able to say hello, order in a restaurant or book a room – is all super helpful.

26/ Accept now that your plans may change

After ten or more Caminos, I am yet to walk one where my plans stayed intact from start to finish. On our first Camino, we had a rough sketch of stages and barely stuck to it. On the Francés, we’d booked everything ahead and still made plenty of last-minute changes via free cancellation on Booking.com. On the Primitivo, we decided partway through to leave the route entirely at Lugo and join another one.

It’s all part of the experience. Your plans will shift – because of weather, injury, the people you meet, or simply a change of heart.

More Camino resources

If you’ve landed on this page, you may be interested to know that we’ve got oodles of comprehensive guides to the Camino de Santiago on this website. Routes guides for major routes, packing guides, training information and more.

>>FIND OUR CAMINO DE SANTIAGO PAGE HERE<<

Would you like us to plan your walk for you?

Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Lotus Eaters Travel Planning, where we turn your dream of long-distance walking into a meticulously planned reality.

Our passion for exploration, love for diverse cultures, and commitment to providing an unparalleled experience drive us to offer personalized consultation services for some of the world’s most iconic walking trails

Find out more here.

---

Most of our planning is done using other blogs, but you can’t beat a guide book at the bottom of your case.

Find them here on Amazon.

---

Want to read more blog posts about the Camino de Santiago?

---

John and Emma’s hiking gear. These are items we love to use when we go hiking, find them here on Amazon.

---