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CAMINO DE SANTIAGO: BASIC INFORMATION AND HISTORY
Camino de Santiago is one of the oldest and best known pilgrimage routes in the world. Many people plan their holidays in Galicia just to get through this road. And not all of them are religious. Many are simply travelers, admirers of nature and hiking. And for them the road has many attractions, as it passes through the most emblematic places What to see in Galicia, such as Costa da Morte, Finisterreolas or the Rías Baixas. The history of Camino de Santiago dates back to the 9th century when the hermit Pelayo found the remains of the Apostle Santiago in the current location of Santiago de Compostela. The finding caught the attention of King Alfonso II, who went to Santiago to verify its veracity. His journey is considered the first pilgrimage to Santiago and the king: the first pilgrim. Since then, the Camino de Santiago has been gaining popularity, attracting hundreds and thousands of pilgrims every year.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO SANTIAGO
The Camino de Santiago has developed a lot since the 9th century. If you wonder where does the Camino de Santiago begin, There is not a single answer. There are currently 256 routes (a total of 80,000 km of paths designated as the European Cultural Route). Of these, 56 paths are in France, 49 in Germany and 49 in Spain.
The busiest route is the Camino Frances, which is also the best marked and has the best infrastructure. Novice pilgrims usually choose the last 100 km of the French Way (from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela) to doing the Camino de Santiago for the first time.
Other known paths are:
❖ Road to Finisterre and Muxia
❖ Silver Way
❖ Sanabres Road
❖ winter road
❖ Path of the Lighthouses
❖ Path of Father Sarmiento
❖ Catalan Way
❖ Baztanes Way
Each of these paths is divided into several stages. You should choose the path that you like the most and the stage that best suits your physical possibilities. Also, remember that there are different ways to do the Camino de Santiago: on foot, by bike or on horseback.
To get the credential (a kind of folding booklet that identifies you as a pilgrim and in which you will collect stamps that will certify the places you have passed through. The credential is used to be able to sleep in hostels and obtain the Compostela (people usually call it the Compostelana) you have to travel at least 100 km on foot or on horseback or 200 km by bike.
BEFORE LEAVING…
You already know what the Camino de Santiago is, now the question is, how do you prepare to do the Camino de Santiago? Here is the list of things to do before leaving:
● To train! If you are not used to walking, start training about 2/3 months before leaving. Remember to walk carrying some weight during training rides, to get used to the backpack.
●.Buy a good backpack and good shoes (they can be hiking boots that protect your ankle well or comfortable sandals if you go in summer), but never go with new shoes! They have to be used to your feet by now.
● Choose the route and the time of year. The best times to do the Camino de Santiago are spring and early autumn, since it is not too hot or cold and there are not so many people on the way. The route depends only on you: if you prefer mountains or coast, towns or nature, etc.
Read also: END OF SAMANA IN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
BUDGET:
It is important to know how much money we will need before leaving. According to us, you will spend around €30 a day, obviously depending on how you think about it. However, this is what the basic expenses look like during the Camino de Santiago:
○ €10-12 for the pilgrim menu
○ €5-7 for other purchases of food, water etc.
○ €5 – €12 in accommodation (if you choose hostels)
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED?
How much time you will need depends on the route you choose. Once you choose the route, plan the average daily distance between 15 and 30 km, depending on your physical condition (better not to exaggerate with the distance, you have to enjoy the road!). This way you will see how many vacation days you have to take.
PACKING LIST: WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO BRING?
The weight of the backpack should not exceed 10% of your weight. In fact we recommend carrying around 6kg, 10kg is an absolute maximum. Only take the essential things, remember that in the hostels you can wash your clothes and that they are not in the jungle, there will be shops and restaurants if you are missing something.
What will you need?:
● shorts
● Long pants
● underwear
● three t-shirts
● sweatshirt (perfectly a light fleece)
● oilskin
● sleeping bag
● Cap
● Sunglasses
● sun protection cream
● the first aid kit (hypodermic needles, gelatin dressings, band-aids, bandages, small scissors, sunscreen and moisturizer)
● basic cosmetics
● boots and sandals (have a second pair of shoes just in case)
● boots and sandals (have a second pair of shoes just in case)
● moisturizer
● Canes! – they take away up to 25% of the effort of walking
Read also: 6 COASTS AND BEACHES OF GALICIA
WHERE TO SLEEP?
The most typical thing for pilgrims is to sleep in hostels, along the Camino de Santiago you will find three types of them:
❖ donations – you choose how much you pay
❖ public – more or less €6 per night
❖ private – about €10 per night
Remember that to sleep in public shelters or donations you need the Credential and there you cannot reserve the bed in advance.
Apart from the hostels there are plenty of hotels and hostels near the Camino de Santiago. Their price arose from the standard they offer. They will surely be more expensive than hostels, but after walking for several days you may feel like a bit of luxury ;).
SOME EXTRA TRACKS THAT MAKE THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO MORE ENJOYABLE
●. stretch after each stage
● foot massage with tennis ball
● moisturize feet at night
By following these tips you will arrive in Santiago de Compostela without ailments or injuries! We hope we have helped you plan your tour. Don’t hesitate anymore! enjoy the road and feel Galicia. It may seem difficult at times, but we are sure that you will overcome all the problems and you will love the unique experience of walking the Camino de Santiago.