How to organise the Camino de Santiago

Once you have decided to make the pilgrimage to Compostela, you should spend some time planning your trip. Below, you can read how to organise the Camino de Santiago considering the following aspects.

What is your motivation for doing the Camino de Santiago?

The motives that inspire pilgrims to walking the Camino de Santiago are very varied. There are religious, spiritual, cultural, sporting, touristic, social and many more.

Every pilgrim has his or her own, but in any case, identifying the reason for the pilgrimage will help you to organising the Way of Saint James according to your expectations.

This has a bearing on the route you decide to take and the time you want to spend on it. For example, if your motive is religious, you will obviously want to finish the route at the tomb of the saint. But, if what you want is to be with yourself, it is not advisable to opt for the French Way, this will be the ideal route if your interest is to socialize and make new friends.

Many do the Camino de Santiago as a sporting challenge or to enjoy contact with nature. Others do it to try to find a new way of travelling and sightseeing.

How you want to live this adventure

There are also many ways that are available to to do the Camino de Santiago. It can be done alone, with your family, with friends, as a couple or with your dog. Whichever company you choose to take, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

You will also need to decide whether to the Way of St. James you will do it on foot, by bike, on horseback, or by kayak. The minimum kilometres to be awarded the Compostela vary depending on how you do the route.

What physical effort you can do

You must consider that for each person, the physical effort required when walking the Camino de Santiago will be different. Age, physical condition, the existence of injuries or ailments, even the motivation that leads you to make the pilgrimage will determine the physical effort you are willing to make.

There are paths such as the Camino Primitivo or the Camino del Norte that are very demanding. They are not recommended for people who are not in good physical condition.

You also have to be aware that in hostels you share a room with a lot of pilgrims. Many people do not sleep well because of the constant noise in this type of accommodation. If you are a light sleeper you have to take this into consideration.

Which route are you going to do

At the planning stage of your trip, you need to have decided what is the best way to plan your trip. the Way of St. James you want to do. To do this, take into account what you want to experience, the physical effort you can make and the time you have available.

The time required to walk each route depends on its distance. There are complete routes that can be done in a few days, such as the English Way.

Planning the stages of the Way of Saint James

It is essential to plan the stages that you are going to carry out in the Way of St. James. If you are preparing the trip on your own, you should consult a guidebook that allows you to divide the stages. The number of kilometres you can do in a day varies depending on how you do the route.

How to get to the start of your Jacobean route

Depending on the Jacobean route you have chosen to follow, getting to the starting point will be easier or more complicated. Some of these routes of the Way of St. James start in cities. These can be reached by plane from anywhere in Spain or abroad.

However, in other cases, the arrival at the starting point of your Camino de Santiago will require more planning. You must travel by train, bus or plane, from your home to the start of your journey.

The best time to do the Camino de Santiago

It is not the same to do the Camino in the summer season than in winter. In summer temperatures are higher and there is a greater influx of pilgrims. During the winter you will have to organise your route better, but you will be able to see some wonders that you will not see in summer.

The recommended time of year for walking the Camino de Santiago are autumn and spring. These two seasons offer milder temperatures. However, the risk of rain is higher than in summer.

What type of accommodation to choose

The network of hostels of the Camino de Santiago The number of public and private types of public and private services is increasing every year.

Generally, these are rooms with a certain number of beds, in double bunk beds and with shared bathrooms, which for many people can be uncomfortable. For this reason, the offer has been expanding and nowadays the accommodation on the different routes ranges from hostels, guesthouses and hotels to paradors and rural houses.

Physical preparation for the Camino de Santiago

One of the first steps you need to take to organising the Way of Saint James is to train. Remember that if your goal is to obtain the Compostela you must complete more than 100 km. It is therefore important that you improve your physical endurance in the months leading up to your adventure.

If you plan to do the Camino by bike, you will have to do specific training for it. For this, you have to cycle routes that include slopes and various types of terrain.

Take the right footwear on the Camino de Santiago

Another of the basic aspects for organising the Way of Saint James is to select the right walking shoes. If you are going to walk for many kilometres you need to wear durable and comfortable footwear. Boots or trainers of dubious quality will not help your feet.

Pack your pilgrim's luggage

In any case, you will have to prepare your rucksack in order to to do the Camino de Santiago. However, there is a difference if you are going to carry it or not. If you are carrying it, you need to spend more time organising what you are going to carry in it.

First of all, choose the right backpack and carry only what is absolutely necessary. Carrying things you don't need in your backpack won't help your trip at all.

Get your Pilgrim's Credential

This document is compulsory if you are going to stay overnight in the hostels on the Camino or if you want to obtain the Compostela. It is an official certificate that is awarded to pilgrims who have walked at least 100 kilometres of a route, or 200 km, when they do it on horseback or by bicycle.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to organise the Camino a Santiago, You will need to take time to choose each of the aspects mentioned here. On the decision you make on each item, the planning of the pilgrimage trip will depend.