Planning Your Camino, Part 6 - What Else?

You may think we have covered everything already: Routes, Accommodation, Hydration, Food - but there is more to Planning Your Camino!

A Scene from the Camino Frances

In fact, you probably already have many more questions. I will try to answer some questions most people have when they are planning to walk a pilgrimage route, whether in Spain or beyond.

Planning Your Camino - Packing

This is a biggie! There are a LOT of videos on YouTube dedicated to this, so you can go do a search. Most include a packing list as well. I will just cover some general concepts.

What you pack should be based on:

1. The time of year - It can always be rainy in Northern Spain (unlike the song, the rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain - it falls frequently in Galicia). Summers have been very hot lately, and spring and winter can be quite cold. So pack rain gear and layers. Bring a hat!

2. The route - The Via de la Plata (or any of the other southern routes) can be quite hot and have long distances between stops. The Camino del Norte is often windy and cooler along the coast.

3. Where you plan to stay - If you are staying in albergues, you will need a sleeping bag (or equivalent) and a towel. If you are in hotels these things are generally included. Again, the season matter - many albergues are cold and without central heating. They may supply blankets but those are not regularly cleaned.

4. Your personal needs - notice I said 'needs' - Spain is very civilized, you can purchase almost everything you need at a farmacia, a mercado, or an outdoor store. Do bring any prescriptions, including a spare pair of prescription glasses (I learned this the hard way).

5. Whether you plan to carry your backpack or ship it ahead each stage - you can do an occasional bag transfer or arrange to have your luggage ported every day. Either way, be prepared with a small day pack (also handy for trips to the mercado). And even if you are sending your bag every day, DON'T overpack. Some of the transfer companies have weight limits.

Pack light! Just what you NEED - not what you WANT!

One general concept is the suggestion to carry no more than 10% of your (ideal) body weight. While this is a good suggestion, I feel that it is not a hard and fast rule. I might be controversial here, but I think some folks can handle a heavier pack. People who do wilderness hiking, for instance, are accustomed to carrying a lot more weight. While they don't need that much on a Camino, it won't stress their body as much as a less fit person.

Smaller people may find it difficult to maintain that 10% limit as they need many of the same items.

You can go to an outdoor store to be fitted properly, then gradually increase the weight in your pack on your training walks.

Of course I hear stories of pilgrims packing very light, with 2-3 kg, but I think that is the minority. However, your back, feet, shoulders, and knees will thank you if you do pack light! And living minimally is very freeing!

In my book, Quest for the Enlightened Pilgrim, Lucy learns an important lesson. She learns not to pack her fears. In other words, don't pack for what 'might happen'!

Planning Your Camino - Money

First, be sure to plan ahead and budget for your Camino. I put aside a little bit from every paycheque into a special account for my next Camino. A Camino is a less-expensive-than-average travel experience, but you should still be prepared without going into debt.

How much does it cost? That depends.

1. Ultra-low cost - €20-30/per day - sleeping only in public/donativo/municipal albergues, buying most of your food in a grocery store, cooking your meals, not drinking alcohol.

2. Medium cost - €30-70/per day - sleeping in a mix of accommodation (hence the wide range), eating some food in restaurants and some albergue-cooking, enjoying some pilgrims meals with vino/cerveza.

3. Higher cost - €70 or more/per day - eating out, staying in private rooms, an occasional splurge at a Parador OR hiring an agency to book everything for you (the most expensive and least flexible option - but if you like comfort...).

I usually plan for €50/day plus transportation to and from the Camino. That can vary a lot, depending where you are coming from.

Make sure you always have some cash!

Now, what about cash vs credit? Credit and debit are much more widely accepted on the Camino than when I first walked, but sometimes you must use cash (in euros, NOT your home currency). Some albergues and restaurants only accept cash.

I start with about €300 cash, and withdraw from ATMs as needed. There are plenty of ATMs, but you could be 2-3 days from one, so plan accordingly. One thing that worked well for me was the Wise Card/App. This is a pre-paid visa card, easy to reload from your online banking app and exchange currency on the Wise app. I was able to tap with this card, and use in bank machines as well. Rates aren't as good as they used to be, so you might want to shop around.

If you are using a credit card that isn't already in euros, like my Wise Card is, make sure to always use euros for the currency. For instance, when you withdraw from the bank machine you will be asked if you want them to convert to your home currency. Say no - you will pay more in exchange rates!

Planning Your Camino - Phones

I am from Canada, where phone plans are among the worst in the world, especially for travel. Be sure to turn off your data roaming before you land in Europe!

In 2018 I walked the Camino Frances and only used Wi-Fi (pronounced wee-fee in Spain). I think I used my 'roam like home' option one or two days. Wi-Fi is readily available in most cafés and accommodations, but not always.

For my second Camino, in 2022, I decided to take two phones. One for Wi-Fi and camera use, the other for phone and data use. I stopped at a phone outlet and purchased a sim card, which they helped me to install. That was a good option at that time. I have friends who purchased a cheap phone with a plan in Spain, also a good idea.

But last year, 2025, I used an eSim on my new phone. The one I used was data only, not voice, so I couldn't make phone calls. But that was okay. Many Spanish services use WhatsApp, which uses data anyway. And I used Facebook messenger to do voice or video calls with my family at home.

I wouldn't go back to Wi-Fi only, I really got used to the mapping features of the Camino apps! And if necessary, Google Maps.

One caveat about phones. While they can be a useful tool, try to minimize their use. One of the best things (almost magical) about walking the Camino is stepping away from all the distractions of everyday life. Spending hours on social media is a barrier to that magic. Yes, you may need to stay connected to your loved ones, but at the very least turn off your Facebook notifications, please!

Up Next - Apps/Safety/Health

By now you are probably wondering if I am ever going to stop. Maybe:)

I keep thinking about things I want to include.