Thank you for coming to my blog. You might have stumbled here through a forum post or researching a winter Camino experience.

There are two main sections, accessible by the menu.

Starting

My preparation towards my journey, both practical and mental. I hope it is useful for you.

Journey

My daily journal, initially to update friends and family. I’m glad it has also gotten a good response from others, some saying how it feels like they are walking vicariously with me. I myself wouldn’t read such an account before my Camino—it is a detailed spoiler, of sorts.

In addition, here are some simple recommendations to prepare for your journey:

Get used to a 20km walk
The Camino de Santiago is undertaken by people of all ages, but some basic fitness is required. I would say at the very least, get comfortable with walking a minimum of 20km in one day.

Take a Spanish class
It is possible to survive the Camino with no Spanish at all, but I do feel it severely limits the depth of your interaction with the locals and opportunities to learn about the culture. At least one unit of Spanish classes will help to keep you open.

Learn how to pack light
The lighter your bag, the more your body will thank you. I have detailed my packing style and list here. Do get familiar with the materials in your clothes (e.g. merino wool, synthetics), how they work and are maintained. And contrary to other hikes, I would recommend that it is better to underpack than to overpack. There are shops along the way, and it is easier to buy than to discard/ship back. Let the Camino provide.

Read up a bit about The Way
Do some research on the pilgrimage through perusing blogs, visiting a forum, or reading a guidebook. Know some basic things to expect—it is generally flat, you do not need to camp, cash is used more but there are ATMs along the way, and that you will learn a lot.

Find your own reason to go
Even if it is a vague reason. Don’t do it just because someone else is doing it. I also strongly suggest going alone.

At the end of the Camino de Santiago, some people would say, “so your Camino has finished”, and I would reply, “But my Camino de la vida (walk of life) has just begun”. One lesson I learned which I hope to keep in my life is to take things one day at a time. May this be a mindset you have for your Camino too.

In this vein, I would also recommend:

Do not book a return flight too early
The Camino Frances takes 30–35 days to complete. I took 32 days (including one day of rest). I gave myself 35 days + one week buffer, which allowed me to extend my trip to Fisterra and Muxía. Anything might happen on your journey, good or bad. Take the walk at your own pace.

Do not pre-book any accommodation
Who know where you’ll be tomorrow? Let alone in a week, or a month? For most of a winter Camino, there will be space. Make reservations at most a day in advance. For this, don’t use data roaming, get a phone SIM in Spain with minutes for calls. Not everyone has WhatsApp.

Do not go with expectations
Go, and don’t let others’ opinions or prior experience affect the way you take your journey. Let it be your own.