Camino de Santiago: the ultimate Guide
The ultimate guide to the Camino de Santiago. Go in-depth into one of the most spiritual voyages a person can undertake that will take you through some of the most beautiful regions of Spain.
Spain in-depth: Camino de Santiago
Getting ready for the Camino de Santiago
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Getting ready for the Camino de Santiago
To complete the Camino tour, you will walk around 800km for a duration of 30 days and for this you will need a minimum of preparation and some Camino tips to not get ill, or limit bad surprises that could not make you enjoy your trip.
In this section you will find information to prepare El Camino, and also different sections to ensure you are well-`prepared to arrive to Santiago de Compostela
EL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO - FULL GUIDE
Am I ready to walk el Camino de Santiago?
Getting ready for the Camino de Santiago
Getting ready for the Camino de Santiago? here you will find all the information you need on how to properly prepare for the trek to Santiago de Compostela
Types of hostels on the Camino de Santiago
Only on the French way, you will find around 300 hostels, which helps a lot when it comes to preparing your itinerary for El Camino. Places to stay overnight, the parochial hostels and the religious orders were the first to open their doors. This reality has evolved a lot today
Camino de Santiago: the Pilgrims’s Mass
The “pilgrims mass” is a service you will be able to enjoy in a lot of the towns that you will go through. This is a service held normally at 8 pm if there are mass officiants available. These Pilgrim masses are specially destined for pilgrims. The Pilgrim Mass also takes places in Santiago de Compostela upon your arrival at the end of El Camino
Camino de Santiago: The Primitivo and other “Caminos”
The Primitivo and other “Caminos”. Camino de Santiago popular “Caminos”. Discover some of the most popular routs you can take on the Camino de Santiago.
Camino de Santiago: Pilgrims certificate
La Compostela is the certificate that gets stamped during El Camino de Santiago and which certifies that you have at least made the last 100km by foot or the last 200km by bike or by horse. La Compostela, the “ pilgrims credentials”, gets stamped along the journey.
Camino de Santiago: the Camino Francés
The French Way of 775 kilometres unites towns of Saint Jean Pied de Port and Santiago. It was recuperated in 1971 and has signals on the whole path, with 112 hostels and 4 shelters. It is the most famous of all the different “Caminos”
How to travel the Camino de Santiago
It is very normal for a person who wants to do the Camino tour to think about whether to do it alone or accompanied; we would answer that, alone, you wouldn’t have to depend on anybody to make decisions, plus
Camino de Santiago: Types of Pilgrims
There are two different types of pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago; Christian pilgrims who are walking the path as a spiritual journey, and those who simply want to live the Saint James tour experience. In either case, there are clear differences in the motiviations of pilgrims and we can actually speak of a segmentation. We share it with you in this article so you can identify which is your style.
With willpower you can accomplish anything. Even if you do sports on a regular basis, it is recommended that you do a checkup a few months before your trip and to go hiking with the shoes and bag you will be taking on the Camino tour to wear them in. For those who do not do any physical activity, you should start training at least 3 months in advance like it is said below:
First of all, as one of your preparations tips for the Camino, it would be best if you could walk to work if it is possible. This would be the best way to start your training. You could also improve your physical health state and grain stronger leg muscles by using the stairs instead of the elevator.
First month of preparation for El Camino de Santiago
During the first fifteen days, four times a week, you should go hiking without a bag pack on flat surfaces. Start with 1h hikes and gradually build up to 2h30 hikes, all this at your rhythm. For now you should concentrate on gaining muscles and building up your stamina. Before your hikes try to do exercises that activate your joints like your neck, shoulders, waist, knees and ankles. Don’t forget to stretch after your hike to relax your muscles and improve your flexibility.
During the next 15 day, continue with these Camino tips but try to vary the paths your take and try to add more duration to your hikes. Try to vary flat surfaces with ups and downs. After the first month you will be able to walk on any path for three hours with no problem at all.
The second month of preparation for El Camino
Try and do three long walks during the week and use the week end to more attainable hiking paths. Start with routes that are 1 or 2 hours long to finish with routes of 3 to 4 hours, with the shoes and bag you will be going to take on the Camino de Santiago.
Hydration is very important during long hikes as well as eating correctly during these long lasting trips.
Third month of preparation
The last few weeks before facing the Camino tour, keep sticking to your previous hikes but this time, try to hike up mountains with a slope of 500m or more, take it slowly, but it will add to your training making your feel more confident both physically and mentally so that your can fully enjoy your Camino tour.
You should also think about your posture when you walk, standing up straight and looking forward, leaving your hands free for a more natural walk. If it path is long, you can help yourself with a walking stick or too to reduce the strain that is put on your legs and knees