I just came here to share that it’s absolutely worth it, and now is the right time to do it.
I wouldn’t call it life-changing, but it’s a lot of fun and a great break from modern life.

I took a bus from Grandas de salime to Lugo two days ago due to my tight schedule (i have a Flight on the 18th..) and the damage accumulated from day 5 and 6 was rough, so I booked a hostel and stayed in Lugo for a day.

I never took a bus between points before, feels like cheating but its inevitable for me. The peaks from day 5 and day 6 was amazing, despite significant elevation gains and losses, the view was incredible!

Connected to Camino Frances from Melide, lots and lots of pilgrims, i missed the peacefulness of the primitivo. Some groups were blasting music somehow, and more trash on the road.

I had an amazing time during the primitivo, since I skipped ~ two stages, I will come back the next year and try again, now with more careful planning since I planned to do this in 12 days and it didn’t work out.

Walked 39 km today, will go to Santiago de compostela tomorrow, which is about 38 Kilometres, to make up for it.

For the next one, i’m thinking of doing the Del norte or the San salvador, probably during Winter, since I want some peace.

This group has helped so much with my planning, so here’s my summary!

About me: 30F, generally active at the gym but not a strong hiker, never backpacked before, social but I also do well being alone and don’t get lonely. I’ve done a solo trip before, but nothing as long as this!

Trip dates: Late September into Mid October

General Experience:

The camino has been a bucket list item for me for years, and I just had never found the time to do it until now! I went in fully expecting to be alone for the majority, as my main goal was to challenge myself physically and mentally. Wanted to reflect, be present, away from screens, one with the earth, etc lol. However, I ended up socializing a ton, and really had strong connections with other pilgrims! Truly people of all ages and stages of life, and there are a few who I would absolutely visit/host/meet up again. I’d say I ended up in a rhythm where I walk with someone for a day, and then alone for two . Or alone for half a day, then with someone for the other half. That was perfect for me, as I truly did want to spend time alone. I found that I more preferred to socialize after I walk, at a hostel or at dinner. You can totally make it your own— if you want to be alone, you have the space to be. If you want to socialize, as long as you don’t be a weirdo, there will be others who are down to socialize! Take initiative, ask people in the common area to get dinner! 

It’s weird because you have a lot of time to… do nothing. Depending on the day, I’d start walking between 8-8:30 and finish walking between 1-3pm, including stops for coffee and lunch. So once I got to my accommodation, I’d shower, air out my clothes, do laundry if needed, elevate my legs, lay down, play on my phone, get dinner/hang out with other pilgrims/drink wine. I didn’t bring a book or a kindle, but if I did this again I would bring a kindle for sure. I ended up playing on my phone way more than I expected lol. I was often too tired to want to explore, not wanting to waste my steps!! Lol. And, because it’s Spain, a lot of stuff is closed in the late afternoon. 

Okay the food though…. was tough. As someone who eats a lot of protein and vegetables on a daily basis. It was tough when the hostel “free breakfast” was always a piece of bread and margarine lol. I ate a looot of mediocre ham and cheese sandwiches. But I also made sure to go to real restaurants on my rest days and order seafood or steak or chicken! But alas, this isn’t a foodie trip, so the food was merely sustenance. I got all my vitamin C from drinking the fresh OJ everyday, so that was great!

I honestly had the best time though, it was an adventure of a lifetime. It was easy, not physically, but like from a convenience perspective. No major planning needed, besides accommodations and the boat if you’re doing the Spiritual Variant. 

The Central Route:

The Central route was not too busy in Portugal, I’d see maybe 1 other pilgrim at a time on my walk. However, once I hit Tui where the 100km marker started, it got exponentially busier. There were tour groups, more Spaniards, people walking for just a few days, etc. I honestly didn’t love it. There were guys with speakers hanging off their backpacks. There was almost always at least 3 people within sight, often more. This is actually the primary reason I decided to switch the Spiritual Variant, and I’m so glad I did, as there were significantlyyyy fewer people and I felt much better and the route was beautiful.

Overall, I loved the Central Route (and was able to take a peek at the coast on Day 1 when I walked out of Porto to Matosinhos). I took an uber from Matosinhos to Arcos, simply because I had pre-booked some of my stays without planning my days out correctly (rookie mistake) and to make it there on time I had to cut some mileage out. But I skipped the super industrial areas outside of Porto, which I heard was a super bad experience. I chose Central because I love walking through towns and seeing the vineyards and cute houses and farm animals! But, the cobblestone is definitely super hard on your feet, so I suggest shoes with good cushioning. 

Days:

1. Porto —> Matosinhos 11.5km
2. [Uber to Arcos] Arcos —> Barcelos 19.4km
3. Barcelos —> Vitorino dos Piães 21km
4. Vitorino dos Piães —> Labruja 21.6km
5. Labruja —> Paços 17.9km 
6. [“rest” day] Paços —> Valença 6.6km 
7. Valença —> O Porriño 19.5km 
8. O Porriño —> Redondela 15.7km 
9. Redondela —> Pontevedra 20.8km
10. [Start of the Spiritual Variant] Pontevedra —> Combarro 11.5km 
11. Combarro —> Ponte Arnelas 22.5km 
12. Ponte Arnelas —> Vilanova de Arousa 11km —> 11am Boat to Pontecesures —> Walk to Padron 2km —> Short Bus to Ameneiro 
13. Ameneiro —> Santiago de Compostela 11.5km

Accommodation (all booked via booking.com unless otherwise noted!):

1. Matosinhos- Pensao Central: I did a private room here because it’s the day I landed and I immediately started walking after I got my pilgrims passport. I needed some peaceful rest to start my trip lol. 
2. Barcelos-  In Barcelos Hostel: Clean, has AC, bunk beds but no top beds were booked! 
3. Vitorino dos Piães- Casa Fernanda (Booked via Text Message, 6 weeks in advance!!!) Super cozy stay in Fernanda’s home, this was highly rated on Facebook, super communal feel with a delicious homemade meal by Fernanda herself, wine was flowing, pilgrims are friendly, and there was even guitar playing! Made a lot of strong connections here that lasted throughout my trip. 
4. Labruja- Casa do Olival (Booked via WhatsApp): this was a great clean stay, friendly host who made a homemade dinner, double rooms so no bunk beds. Checkout being at 7am was a bit tough though, as someone who needs a little more time in the morning.
5. Paços- Albergue Quinta Estrada Romana: big hostel, friendly host and pilgrims! There was a communal vegetarian dinner for 15euro
6. Valença- Residential Portas do Sol: Since this was my short day/rest day, I booked myself a private room. Barebones but comfy and clean, and super cool that it’s inside the fortress walls!
7. O Porrino- CH Casucho da Peregrina: Big clean hostel with laundry and breakfast, but it was extremely warm and seemingly lacked AC, and probably the worst night of my sleep. But, met really cool people here and there was space to socialize.
8. Redondela- As Madriñas da Illa: Clean and comfortable, and laundry (with dryer!!!) is free to use. 
9. Pontevedra- Acolá Hostel: Clean and comfortable, no complaints! 
10. Combarro- Albergue Nuestra Señora del Camino: Clean and spacious, but no curtains and the loudest snorer I’ve ever heard (not the hostel’s fault though obviously lol). Cute garden to chill in! Beautiful coastal town. 
11. Ponte Arnelas- Casa Carmucha: I didn’t mean to book a private room here, so it was a surprise! Same price as some hostels I’ve stayed at, so it was a good value. 
12. Ameneiro/Teo- Albergue Aldea da Pedreira: great hostel, lots of seating for socialization, some food on site, brought me closer to Santiago so I didn’t have to walk as much on the last day!
13. Santiago- Lemonade Stays: of course I had to book a private room at the end, this was a comfortable stay super close to the cathedral. Pricey for what it is, but Santiago stays in general seemed pricey. 

I purposefully booked everything that was right on the camino path, as I wasn’t wanting to really walk any extra to reach my stay. Most hostels are mixed gender, but there were a few that was a female room. I also booked the first half of my stays about a month in advance, and then started to book the second half of my stays early into my trip after figuring out how much I could comfortably walk each day. I also added the Spiritual Variant last minute, and it’s definitely harder to find accommodation on that route so that’s why I stayed a bit off-stage, but pretty much everywhere I stayed was clean and comfortable! I would recommend any of them! 

Packing: 

I packed SUPER light. I got a ton of compliments on how small my pack was lol. I used the Osprey Sirrus 24L pack, and it was perfect. My pack was about 11lb/5kg without water.  I fit all my clothes into two large ziploc bags. 

• 2 Long sleeve shirts
• 2 short sleeve shirts
• 2 Sports bras 
• 4 undies
• 1 pair of shorts
• 2 pairs of pants
• 4 pairs of socks (1 compression, 2 wool, 1 waterproof) 
• 1 lightweight fleece. 

I cut down the most on toiletries, I challenged myself to bring no makeup or skincare

• 1 Cetaphil lotion for both face and body
• 1 mini shampoo and conditioner
• 1 mini toothpaste (lasted me exactly 13 days)
• Toothbrush 
• Daily contact lenses 
• 1 tiny bar of soap 
• 1 mini sunscreen

Did I wish I had some more toiletries? Yes lol but this really helped me save weight. A little bit of bug repellent might’ve been helpful! I ended up purchasing at a pharmacy. I also wish I maybe had 1 cuter outfit for hanging out in Santiago?? But again, the weight lol. 

Other helpful stuff to bring:

• Poncho— saved my life when I needed it, it rained really hard one day
• Waterproof socks— I had no idea this was even a thing but found it on amazon right before I left. These honestly came in so clutch the day it rained, they got wet on the outside but stayed mostly dry on the inside! Lifesaver, especially as someone who cannot STAND wet socks in shoes. 
• Tennis ball— the best thing I packed on this trip; I had been having some foot pain before, in my sole/arch. And having the tennis ball let me roll out my foot during walking breaks, at hostels, in the morning before I walked, etc. It really helped massage my ligaments! 
• Sleep liner— The first 3 days I didn’t use this, but then there was a day where I felt mosquitos/bugs buzzing around me so I freaked out and used the sleep liner and also pulled it up over my head. It gave me so much peace of mind, and I ended up using it everyday afterwards. It also helped with it got a bit chilly at night, and also was good to separate my body from the hostel blankets lol. 
• A 6-pack of granola bars— purchased at a supermarket, helpful for days where there isn’t really breakfast or you need some fiber or food on the go. 
• Carabiner on backpack— helpful for hanging my sandals and hat
• Earplugs— PLEASE bring these. People snore, we’re all exhausted and drinking wine, snoring happens. I brought 2 pairs in case I lost one. 
• Teva sandals— no notes, super helpful for the hostel. 
• SHOES— I wore the On Cloudmonster 3, I loved them. I have slightly flatter feet, so shoes with high arches aren’t comfortable. They dried well after the rain, and were super lightweight!

Neutral things or things I wish I didn’t bring:

• Lightweight towel— this is a maybe need; almost all my (private) hostels provided towels, and the ones that didn’t, you could pay a few euro extra. I’m not sure if I would bring this again. 
• Trekking pole— I only brought 1, and I’m inconclusive on whether or not it was helpful. Maybe it was helpful on the one big hill? IDK. I used it though. 
• To my surprise, I didn’t need to bring my Nalgene water bottle! I ended up purchasing bottled waters from cafe’s often, and so I’d just dump that into my nalgene, which didn’t actually feel efficient or necessary. Just keep the plastic one from the cafe, and refill if you need. I didn’t actually find myself refilling too often, I’d just buy new water bottles. 
• Electrolytes— I didn’t actually need this, but maybe if it were peak summer? I didn’t sweat too much and walking wasn’t too intensive, so there wasn’t a need for electrolyte powder. 

Hello! I'm looking do walk the camino alone as a 18-19F and was wondering about the general safety as a woman, both physically and the likelihood of being overcharged or tourist-trapped? I dont want this to come across as mean spirited as i know a lot of the camino is supported/recognised by people and buisnesses along the route, but a friend brought this up to me so i thought i'd ask!
- feel free to take this down if it's already been answered ad nauseum, but thought i'd ask

I’m thinking of doing the Portuguese section mid-end of April. Are there usually a decent amount of people to socialize with? How is the weather?

I am landing in Madrid and then looking at trains to Sarria and other locations to complete partial Camino Frances. But I am seeing people saying they are flying to Santiago and then taking the Monbus to their starting points. Isn’t that going backwards? I feel like the arrival to Santiago is having the urgency and excitement of being a kid on Christmas. If you already have been there before you started… just wondering how other pilgrims journey to their starting points. Trying to understand the logistics and would appreciate insight.

Hi everyone!
My friends and I are planning to walk the Camino Portugués Coastal from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, and we would really appreciate some advice from people who have already done this route.
We are three girls, and this would be our first Camino, so we’re trying to plan everything properly while keeping the trip as budget-friendly as possible.
A few questions:
🧿How many days would you recommend for Porto → Santiago?
🧿Is the Coastal Route difficult for beginners?
🧿How much money should we realistically budget per person for the whole Camino, excluding flights?
🧿What are the best ways to save money on accommodation and food?
🧿Are there cheap albergues along the route, and do we need to book them in advance?
🧿Is it cheaper to stay in municipal albergues or private ones?
🧿Can we easily buy food in supermarkets and prepare our own meals?
🧿How much cash should we carry, and are cards accepted in most places?
🧿Is it worth paying for luggage transfer, or is it better to carry everything ourselves?
🧿Are there any parts of the route where we should be especially careful or avoid walking alone?
🧿We would also love to swim in the ocean during the trip. Are there safe beaches along the route where you would recommend swimming?
We’re coming from Ukraine, so we’ll probably travel to Portugal through Poland and fly to Porto.
If you have any tips for saving money, packing, choosing accommodation, food, transportation, or anything you wish you had known before your first Camino, I’d be very grateful!
Thank you! 🌊🇵🇹🇪🇸

I was wondering if trail runners vs. hiking shoes would be better for the Camino del Norte in June. I went into REI hoping to try on the HOKA Speedgoat 7s and was discouraged from trail runners. Instead, I was recommended the Merrill Moab 3s.

Would love any advice! Thanks!

Does a hostel provide a blanket in the colder season? I know that pilgrim albergues ask you to bring a real sleeping bag, but how about the hostels where I pay 15-25€ per night?

When I check on booking.com it only says “linen”, but if get only a sheet, I would freeze. Is there usually also a comforter when you walk in October/November?

I plan on starting from Porto and camping along the way. I do expect it to be rainy (will be fully equipped with rain gear) but upon checking reports for the weather, I’ve seen comments/posts ranging from light rain to torrential flooding. Should I just try to settle for Auberges instead of camping? I’m worried that they’ll be closed off season. I can’t go any other time because of work.

Hi everyone!
I’m about to do the Camino Francés, and am wondering what shoes to wear for it. I have been really liking my Topo Ultraventure 4’s, but unfortunately they are so beat up, and I definitely need a new pair. I can’t seem to find that same shoe in my size, so I think I’ll need to switch to a new brand. Does anyone have recs of shoes they wore through their Camino and swear by? If they’re similar to Topos- bonus points hehe. I was thinking about a pair of Solomon’s but I’m unsure about the narrow structure of the shoe. I have narrow feet but have really been enjoying the wide toe box of the Topos. Idk if this is super niche (or even the right subreddit for it), but let me know what shoes you wore and if ya liked them. Thank you in advance, cheers :-)

Im currently in Arzúa and heading to santiago. On 16th of October I arrive on santiago but have no accommodation to send the backpack since im heading straight to Madrid using Renfe. What should I do when I dont have a booked accommodation to send my luggage?

Now that autumn is settling in, the official Camino season is pretty much winding down for the year. Whether you’re back home dealing with post-Camino blues, taking a break, or just couldn't squeeze in enough PTO to fly to Spain this time around, I know that itch to be back on the trail is super real.

So half-jokingly, I added a new Virtual Camino feature to RoamFolio to push myself to walk more because I'm planning to walk the Kumano Kodo next year.

Basically, you can turn your everyday routine into trail progress. The app syncs your daily walking or running distance straight from Apple Health and moves you stop-by-stop along the Camino Francés or Camino Portugués. You'll unlock local stories, stamps, and collectible road cards as you rack up miles. You can also invite your friends to take the virtual journey with you.

If you’re currently stuck at a desk or just missing the daily routine of getting up and walking, hopefully this gives you a fun little connection to the trail until your next real journey.

The iOS update is live now—give it a shot and let me know what you think, or tell me which routes we should add next! If you are already using it, make sure you get the latest version.

RoamFolio - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roamfolio/id6799133648

Hello everyone,

Recently over the past year have got into fitness and the gym and lost 30kg! I’ve always wanted to do like a spiritual hike and I feel like now I’m ready…hoping to go in April/May time.

Do you have any recommendations what are the best routes for a young solo female and where I should stay?

It would be nice to make friends along the way but I am okay being alone too, tbh things are a bit rocky with my fiance at the moment so could use some time to think and just work on my mental health which being in nature helps.

Thanks everyone!

My husband and I are looking to spend about 8 days of walking the Camino. We are constrained by our time off with work, but we can fit in 8 walking days and have 1 break day in the middle and one day before & after is what we’re currently planning. I’m having a difficult time of deciding where we should start. We’d like to end in Santiago.

I believe we can do 13-15 mile days with our current fitness level. We could definitely fit in a couple of the days to be 16-18 miles I’m thinking.

Any suggestions of where we should start? We’d love a mix of the coastal & central route and we’d like to spend a portion of the route in Portugal as my husband is Portuguese, and this will be our first time visiting.

Thanks for any help !

An open letter to someone whose name I will probably never know.

Dear Stranger,

I don't know your name.

I don't know where you come from, what language you speak, or what brought you to Santiago de Compostela that Monday evening.

I don't even know whether you remember me.

But I remember you.

And although the chances of these words ever reaching you are extraordinarily small, there is something I have wanted to tell you since that night.

Thank you.

Let me tell you what you couldn't have known.

I had arrived in Santiago the previous afternoon, after walking the Camino Inglés from Ferrol. Five days alone, with plenty of time for reflection and conversations with myself that I had perhaps been avoiding for years.

October 5 was my last evening in the city.

That morning, I had attended the pilgrims' Mass at the Cathedral. I am a believer, though not a regular churchgoer, and I've always felt somewhat uncomfortable with public expressions of faith. But something drew me there that morning, and I was glad I went.

The priest encouraged us not to be afraid to ask for what we truly needed. To ask with an open heart, trusting that even when life doesn't unfold as expected, something good may still be waiting for us.

Those words stayed with me.

That evening, after a lovely dinner, I wandered through the old streets until I reached Praza do Obradoiro.

The square was almost empty.

I sat on the ground facing the illuminated Cathedral, listening to traditional Galician music through my headphones.

For the first time in a very long time, I felt completely still.

I was grateful for the journey, for the silence, for having kept a promise to myself.

And then I remembered the priest's words.

So I quietly asked God, the universe or whoever may be listening for something I had been missing in my life.

I asked for love.

For a kind woman. For tenderness. For the possibility of building something sincere, affectionate, and meaningful with another human being.

It was a simple, private wish.

And then, just seconds later, you appeared.

I noticed someone approaching from my right. I removed my headphones, thinking perhaps you wanted to ask me something.

But you didn't say a word.

Instead, you lowered yourself to the ground, bringing your face level with mine.

You looked at me, smiled, and opened your arms.

I opened mine too.

And you embraced me.

Not the polite, fleeting hug strangers sometimes exchange.

You held me. Fully.

For what felt like an entire minute, we stayed there, two people who knew absolutely nothing about each other, holding on as though there was nowhere else we needed to be.

I remember your neck against mine. Your hair brushing my cheek. Your breathing, so close that ours seemed to fall into the same rhythm.

I remember how you kept nodding gently, repeatedly, almost as though you were silently saying, Yes. Yes. It's all right.

And I remember holding you back.

As I gently rubbed your back, I could feel your ribs beneath the fabric of your clothes.

Such a small detail, yet one that has stayed with me. The fragility of the human body, and the strength of someone willing to embrace a complete stranger so openly.

I don't know what you were feeling. Perhaps you were celebrating something, perhaps carrying a sadness of your own. Perhaps you simply saw a man sitting alone and felt an impulse to offer him affection.

I will never know.

What I know is that your embrace felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Eventually, we pulled apart.

We looked into each other's eyes.

We smiled.

Then you kissed me.

A gentle kiss on the lips.

I can still feel it.

It was glorious.

I cannot think of a more accurate word.

Not because it awakened desire or promised something more, but because it didn't.

Just the extraordinary sensation of being kissed, unexpectedly and tenderly, by someone who had no obligation to offer me anything.

Then you kissed my cheek.

And for reasons I still cannot fully explain, I felt as though God had reached out and touched me through you.

Somewhere nearby, I heard a woman softly exclaim, "Aww."

We continued looking at each other.

And I managed to ask just one question:

"What is this?"

You didn't answer.

You stood up and walked away, joining a small group of older women. One of them gently touched your back as you left.

An older gentleman accompanying your group turned around, looked at me, and gave me a thumbs-up.

Still bewildered, I instinctively returned the gesture.

A few minutes later, I got up and walked back to my hotel.

But something had changed.

Only moments before you approached me, I had asked the universe for love.

And there you were.

I cannot tell you whether your arrival had anything to do with my prayer. I wouldn't presume to know.

But for one extraordinary minute, the distance between longing for tenderness and receiving it simply disappeared.

You knew nothing about me.

Not my name, my age, the disappointments I had carried, the mistakes I had made, or the quiet battles I was still fighting.

You didn't know whether I was happy or heartbroken.

And somehow, none of that mattered.

You saw a human being.

And you offered him warmth.

That was all.

And that was everything.

I'm back in Cambridge now.

The Camino is over, and ordinary life has resumed. I thought that, with a little distance, what happened would fade into one of those beautiful memories we bring home from our travels.

But it hasn't.

I still remember the illuminated Cathedral, the cool stones beneath me, your arms around me, your breathing, the outline of your ribs beneath my hand, and the indescribable feeling of your kisses.

I hope those memories never fade.

Because you reminded me of something I had forgotten.

That affection doesn't always have to be earned. That kindness doesn't always need an explanation.

That sometimes two strangers can share something entirely genuine, without promises, expectations, or even exchanging names.

I don't know whether that embrace meant anything similar to you.

Perhaps it was one small gesture in an otherwise ordinary evening. Perhaps you have already forgotten it.

That's perfectly all right.

I only want you to know what it meant to me.

When I asked, "What is this?", I wasn't questioning your intentions. I was simply overwhelmed.

If I could return to that square, I wouldn't ask you anything.

I would simply look into your eyes and say:

"Thank you. You have no idea how much I needed that."

Perhaps, against all probability, these words will somehow find their way to you.

Perhaps someone who witnessed our embrace will recognize the scene.

Or perhaps this letter will disappear into the vastness of the internet, unread by the one person it was written for.

That's all right, too.

You don't owe me an explanation, another meeting, or a reply.

I am not writing to ask for anything.

I am writing because some gifts deserve to be acknowledged, even when the giver may never know how deeply they were received.

I walked five days to reach Santiago. But the moment I will carry with me happened after the walking was finished.

When a woman whose name I will probably never know lowered herself in front of me, opened her arms, held me close, and reminded me that tenderness still exists in this world.

You were a stranger.

You gave me a moment.

And somehow, that moment has stayed with me far beyond Santiago.

Wherever you are, I hope life treats you with the same gentleness you showed me that night.

I hope that whenever you need comfort, someone is there to offer it without hesitation.

I hope someone holds you with the same warmth with which you held me.

And I hope that, someday, when you least expect it, a stranger reminds you just how beautiful the human heart can be.

Just as you did for me.

With all my gratitude,

The man sitting alone in front of the Cathedral.

Praza do Obradoiro, Santiago de Compostela. Monday, October 5, 2026.

Hi pilgrims! I'm arriving in Pamplona around 14:00 today and have a taxi booked to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, leaving around 14:30 from the bus station. The driver is happy to share, so there are 3 free seats.
Total price is about 130€, so we split it: around 30-40€ each depending on how many we are. That's much faster than going via Roncesvalles or Bayonne, and we'd arrive in St Jean around 16:00, in time for the Pilgrim Office.
If you're in Pamplona today and want to start from St Jean, send me a WhatsApp: +34 629324521
Buen Camino!

Landed in Madrid and took the bus up today. Realizing this is actually happening. I booked my trip for 38 days to do the Camino Frances and now I’m debating just doing a shorter route and traveling like normal the rest of the time.

My pack feels so heavy but it’s only 12% of my body weight even just carrying it around in Madrid was a struggle. Is it true it gets easier/ you get used to it??

Is there a benefit to doing the full Camino vs a shorter one? Anyone have any experiences with that?

Thank you for reading I am just so nervous and I felt very called to do this when I booked it but now I’m getting cold feet.

As above, looking to do the 4th stage next year, looking for preferably Irish based camino group organisers

Hi, i have a question about the form you have to fill in online. I have started in Lisbon and afyer Porto switched to the coastal(litoral) path and will do the spiritual way after Pontevedra. On the question about which route I am doing, should I put down that I have done the "Portuguese way" with a starting point Lisbon or Camino Portugues por la costa as a starting point Lisboa Costa (as that is the only option mentioning Lisbon in the drop doen menu?

Hi fellow pilgrims!

I’m currently mapping out a project to open a self-service laundromat (lavandaria auto-serviço) along the Portuguese Coastal Way (Caminho Português da Costa), specifically on the stretch between Viana do Castelo and Vila Praia de Âncora.

As anyone who has walked the Camino knows, finding a reliable place to wash and dry gear after a long day on the trails or coastal boardwalks can be a real pain point!

To help me place this facility right where pilgrims actually need it most, I would love to get your thoughts and past experiences:

1. Where did you stay or feel the biggest gap for laundry on this stretch? (e.g., closer to Carreço, Areosa, Afife, or right upon arriving in Âncora?)
2. What laundry facilities did you end up using on that leg? (Did you hand-wash at your albergue/hotel, use an in-house machine, or walk into town looking for a laundromat?)
3. What is most important to you in a Camino laundromat?
   • Speed of cycles
   • Express drying
   • Soap/detergent automatically included
   • Contactless/card payment vs. coin operation
   • A comfortable place to sit, rest, charge phones, or grab a coffee while waiting
4. If you walked the Coastal Route, what time of day did you usually finish this stage and look to do your laundry?

Any advice, feedback, or pain points from your own trek along this stretch would be incredibly helpful.

Thank you so much, and Bom Caminho!

Hi everyone!
I have (yet another) Camino question lol. I’m doing the Camino Francés. My pack is 42L, and feels quite heavy. Right now I’m thinking I will send most of my stuff to the end of the Camino and pick it up when I reach there, but I’m wondering what an appropriate weight for a pack is? What did people pack (eg: how many pairs of pants/shirts/underwear/etc.?) I’ve done a fair bit of backpacking and always try to keep it light, but I’m trying to think about this “ultra-lightly”. Should I send my backpack full of clothes/stuff I don’t actually need and try to find a smaller backpack with a hip strap and fill it up with just the clothes I do need? What’s the best + cheapest way to mail stuff to the end? Thanks so much in advance for any help provided, cheers :-)

Hey all,

I have time off from work from October 23-November 1 and am hoping to walk my first Camino at the end of October. I’d really appreciate some advice from people who’ve experienced it firsthand!

I’ve wanted to do the Camino for years, and lately I’ve been feeling like this might be exactly what I need. I’ve been going through some difficult things in my personal life, and somewhere along the way, I feel like I’ve lost little pieces of myself. I’m hoping that spending some time outdoors, disconnecting from everyday life, and challenging myself physically might help me reconnect with those parts of myself again.

I won’t be able to complete the full Camino but I’ve heard so many people describe the Camino as a spiritual experience and I think that’s part of what draws me to it.

I have about 9 days, with travel and I love mountains, the ocean and looking for which route has some great scenery of a little bit of everything. I understand that things start to close down November 1st but I’d ideally love to meet other pilgrims along the way.

Ideally, I’d also love to finish in Santiago and earn my Compostela, but I’m open to hearing other recommendations if there’s a particularly beautiful route worth considering.
I’ve been looking into the Camino Francés from Sarria, the Portuguese Coastal Route from Baiona, and parts of the Camino del Norte. The Norte looks absolutely breathtaking, but I’m realizing that the most scenic coastal sections might not be realistic if I want to finish in Santiago with my limited time.
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who’s walked in late October or early November. How was the weather? Were there still other pilgrims around? Did you find many accommodations open?

And for anyone who started the Camino during a difficult chapter of life, did you find the experience meaningful in the way you’d hoped? I’d love to hear about that side of the journey, too.

I’m traveling solo. Any tips, advice or personal experiences would be great!

Hi there, I will be doing my Erasmus in Bilbao and will get holidays for Christmas around the 22ND of December. I was thinking of doing the route from Bilbao for Christmas break until January when I will have to be back to do my exams. I’m wondering has anyone done it this time of year as I know it may be difficult finding places open to stay during Christmas but it’s the only consistent amount of time I have free to get as much of it done as I can.

Appreciate any insight and also if anyone wants to join me:) the dates will be the 22ND until the 8th thanks !