Planning Your Camino, Part 7 - Safety, Health, Apps/Books
Updated: Aug 29
Planning your Camino just got personal! These are important considerations, but I don't believe they are scary topics, at all!
Planning Your Camino - Safety
You may be apprehensive about travelling to Spain and being on your own (or in a group), or you may be quite confident about international travel. In my experience, walking the Camino de Santiago is one of the safest types of travel.
Here are some emergency Services in Spain:
112 (like 911 in Canada)
062 (Guardia Civil)
Alert Cops (an app you should download on your phone. This app makes it easy to report a problem and get help. You can also receive alerts for wildfires, etc, I believe)
what3words (an app that provides a three-word description for your location - not specifically Spanish)
I never felt unsafe while walking, but it is reassuring to know that assistance is available.
Use common sense though. Keep your valuables with you at all times, even in the shower (waterproof bags). Take precautions against pickpockets. Don't walk in dark city streets alone at night. And be sure to return to your albergue before curfew - many will lock the doors at 10:00 pm.
Planning Your Camino - Health
Once you have your shoes or boots for the Camino, it's time to make friends with them - go for a walk! In fact, go for walks as often as you can manage. Now is you chance to try out that gear you ordered from Amazon because it looked so cool.
This is where it helps to have a walking group in your area. In Edmonton, our Canadian Company of Pilgrims (CCoP) Chapter walks every Saturday. Check out Camino groups in your area or country. Maybe start a walking group yourself!
It may be difficult to work up to the distance of the typical Camino day (who has time to walk 20 kilometres every day?) but do what you can. As you increase your distance, increase the weight in your pack as well. Once you arrive on the Camino, aim for shorter distances for your first few days. This helps your body adjust to the time zone and the distance.
If you do have health concerns, deal with them as much as possible prior to your pilgrimage. But don't panic. Many pilgrims have chronic conditions and are able to walk. This isn't like hiking in the wilderness. You can adjust your expectations, do shorter days, take taxis if needed, etc.
Bring your prescriptions medications with you, but know that there are doctors, dentists, and farmacias in Spain, usually every few days on the Camino Frances. The pharmacists are very good about helping pilgrims, often just for the cost of the goods you purchase (ibuprofen and compeed, for instance).
Check your travel/health insurance. I am fortunate to have great coverage through my work plan, but you can also purchase travel insurance. CCoP members qualify for insurance and other benefits.
Planning Your Camino - Apps/Books
You could put your phone away and just follow the yellow arrows - they all lead to Santiago de Compostela. Father Don Elias started this tradition and helped to shape the current Camino.
Or you may want to carry a guidebook and/or load one or more apps to your phone.
I love to read (and write) Camino books. Camino guide books are worth bringing along. It is a delight to read about the places your are walking through, and guidebooks contain valuable information about routes, services, and accommodations.
However, in this digital age, you can download guidebooks to your phone, or use an app. Here are a few apps that I have used. It's not an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea. One great feature of many apps is that you can see where you are on the Camino route even without data on your phone (as long as you turn your location service ON).
Buen Camino - provides maps, information, links to accommodation, points of interest, services
Camino Ninja - similar to Buen Camino
Wise Pilgrim - again, similar to Buen Camino, they also have a website with a great planning feature
Gronze maps - very nice layout for mapping and elevation, plus links for accommodations and more
Omio, Rome2Rio - provide help for transportation (if you need more than your feet)
FindPenguins, Polarsteps - great way to stay connected to folks back home and later you can make a photo book
WhatsApp - stay connected with other pilgrims and family, connect with albergue and hotel hosts. You can make voice and video calls using just data or wifi
Even if you prefer digital for guidance, I recommend a paper journal. There is something special about writing your thoughts on paper. That's why I created one for myself and to share with others.
Resources
Your own national agency probably provides a lot of information and support. Plus, you can obtain your pilgrim passport (credencial) in advance, maybe even a badge to add to your pack!
Canadian Company of Pilgrims website (Canada) https://www.santiago.ca/
Camino Forum: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/
Confraternity of St. James (UK) https://www.csj.org.uk/
American Pilgrims (USA) https://americanpilgrims.org/
Australian Friends of the Camino (AUS) https://www.afotc.org/
Facebook, Youtube, and many more!
Wow, that's a lot! Do you think we are finished with our preparation for the Camino? Nope, I'm saving the best for last - the Inner Camino!
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