5 Tips for your First Camino

Even if you don't have a Camino on the horizon!

Are you dreaming of walking your first Camino? Before I start with the tips, though, let's get real. The Camino de Santiago isn't for everyone, right? The short answer? Yes and no.

I believe that anyone that WANTS to walk the Camino de Santiago in Europe (more info on that HERE) CAN walk. There are so many options for doing this wonderful pilgrimage walk.

You can walk short or long distances, you can stay in budget friendly pilgrim albergues (hostels) or swanky luxury Parador hotels. You can stop for a coffee every five kilometres (on some routes). You can use services to carry your pack or even send luggage all the way to Santiago to await your arrival. There are shops, taxis, buses, and trains. You can walk, ride a bike, or even a horse!

You can walk alone or with family and friends. You can gather your own Camino family as you walk, like my character Lucy did in Quest for the Enlightened Pilgrim.

What if you do NOT want to walk the Camino. Well, if you're sure about that, then the Camino is probably not for you and you should stop reading now.

Once I found out about the Camino, I felt like it was calling to me. So, I answered the call, and here I am - three trips to Europe and more than 1,600 kilometres of Camino trails later!

Tips for your First Camino

And what about those tips? Here you go, in no particular order:

1. Go for a walk - around the block, around the neighbourhood, through the river valley - wherever you like to walk. Once you are kitted out (see No. 4) start walking in your Camino gear, adding weight gradually into your backpack.

   
   

2. Learn about the Camino de Santiago. Sure, you can read my blogs, but there is a lot more to learn. You can listen to podcasts, watch YouTube videos, read Camino books. If you live in Canada, you can attend events with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims (CCoP). The website, https://www.santiago.ca/, is a great resource itself. You can subscribe to a monthly newsletter in your area.

   
   

3. Hook up with other pilgrims. In Edmonton, that's easy. Our CCoP chapter has an active walking group. We meet every Saturday morning, so you can combine No. 1 and 2! We all love to talk about the Camino, and the new members always have great questions.

   
   

4. Start saving some money for your adventure. I like to set aside a little bit of each paycheque for my next pilgrimage walk. I can use that for airfare, expenses once I'm on the trail, or for purchasing items now that I will require. So you can do a little shopping now. A few things that are important: a well-fitting backpack, boots or shoes and socks, rain gear, comfortable walking clothes appropriate for the season you are walking, and so on.

   
   

5. Attend the next event! In Edmonton, that is March 21. Link to event HERE. The Spring Gathering of our Camino chapter can help with all of the above. And a bonus is our amazing potluck lunch. And if you are reading this after March 21, shoot me a message and we can work something out. I can do a talk for your book club, church group, walking group, coffee club, whatever!

I could go on and on, but will stop for now. Just one more thing.

Is the Camino de Santiago is on your Bucket List? Take it off that list right now and put in on your Book It List instead!

Buen Camino!