We started actually planning for the Camino in March 2021. We booked our flights in May and took advantage of some of the softer airline prices we noticed, as a result of Covid. Flights from the US to Spain were not yet open, but there was talk that Spain would soon be opening up travel for vaccinated US citizens.
One great resource we used was the “American Pilgrims on the Camino” Facebook group. There we found lots of current useful tips for planning our trip on the Camino. As a result of the sentiment from this group, we started booking some of the early hotels and albuergues in advance.
Although we were already avid walkers (two to three miles each walk, about three to four days per week, at a clip of about three miles per hour), we stepped up our game to get into better shape for the long days of walking on the Camino. We began longer walks, walks with elevation changes, and started wearing backpacks with increasing weight (it is recommended that you carry no more than about 12-15% of your body weight on your back).
In our preparations, along with our short walks, we walked 12 miles, with light packs, earlier this week. We also did a six mile hike, with near max weight, in one of the state parks last week. We are about one month out from the Camino walk. Here’s a suggested plan to get one in shape for all that walking:
Camino Frances Stages
There are many routes to take, but they all have the same goal: Santiago de Compostela, in the northwest of Spain. One of the most popular routes is the Camino Frances, which starts in St. Jean Pied de Port (at the foot of the pass), France. This little town nestles up to the French side of the Pyrenees. This is the route we will take starting on September 1, traveling about 790 kilometers (500 miles) until we arrive in Compostela. We expect to walk for about 5 weeks or so. We are in no hurry, so we will take some breaks as we walk, to enjoy the history and hospitality we encounter along the way.
Digital Postcards 