Pilgrim Parade on the Camino de Santiago
GCC – A great way to boost early retirement success rates is to spend a little less in the early years. We did this by traveling in Central America rather than Western Europe, but there are a ton of good value options that are also physically and mentally rewarding. One of them is a dream holiday of mine, to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
I’ve wanted to write about this goal for some time, but wasn’t sure where exactly to start. But then I discovered someone who has walked the Camino, not once, not twice, but FIVE times!!! Who better to help the dream become a reality, for myself and others?
Please welcome today’s guest post author, Miss Mazuma.
So you want to walk the Camino de Santiago…
Well of course you do! Who wouldn’t you want to take 30 days to walk 500 miles across the varying landscape and weather that Spain has to offer? It is a feat that I have come to believe everyone should undergo at least once in their lifetime. But let me back up to introduce myself. My name is Bianca and I write about money and the mind at MissMazuma.com. Beside money (more importantly the freedom it gives you!), travel is my greatest passion and I am so grateful to Jeremy for reaching out to me so I can introduce you all to my favorite travel destination of all – The Camino de Santiago.
A quick google search of The Camino de Santiago (translates to “the path” or “the way” to Santiago) will net you 21 million results, a shocking number compared to the limited information I found when I first walked in 2005. For those who don’t know, the camino is an ancient footpath in Spain once (and still for some) used as a pilgrimage as well as punishment for thieves, bragging rights for Kings and Queens, and more recently, for historical, spiritual, or tourist related purposes. There are many starting points to the camino but only one ending point, Santiago De Compostela (SDC), where the remains of St. James the Apostle are said to be buried. These days, the most popular starting point is St Jean Pied De Port on the French side of the Pyrenees, 500 miles from SDC. No matter where you start, a lot can happen in 500 miles so here is look at what you can expect on your journey…
You will follow arrows and varying signs and mile markers the length of “The Way”…
You will eat a ton of food – some completely foreign to you, others not so much…
You will walk in every type of weather on every type of terrain at every hour of the day…
You will see tributes, statues, animals, memorials, and more churches than you can imagine while walking through cities, villages, and one horse towns…
You will be tired, you may even get hurt, and at some point you will definitely want to quit. But hang in there…
because you will meet a ton of friends, some of which you will keep for a lifetime. The camaraderie is like no other…
And what your friends don’t make up for, the locals will, because Spain is a country like no other…
And at the end of your journey, after many miles of walking, you will be handsomely rewarded…
Now that you made the trip in pictures, I highly suggest you get out there and give it a go. :)
Though the terrain varies, if taken slow enough, it is able to be accomplished by most. I have witnessed a blind man walking with his seeing eye dog, a woman with a baby on her back pushing another in a stroller, a man dying of cancer walking with a medical support team, dudes on horseback, a family of 5, a man in his 80’s traveling solo, a woman in her 80’s traveling solo, and too many college kids to count. I have seen crutches, wheelchairs, bikes, donkeys, horses, and wagons. If you want to hike/ride/be wheeled 500 miles, this is the place to do it.
Now, let’s talk money…
The FIRE community talks a lot about geo-arbitrage, if you play your cards right, the camino is vacation-arbitrage. You don’t need expensive, heavy weight equipment to hike the Camino. No tents, no stove, no worries. In all, you can expect to spend 20-40 euros per person per day including food and lodging, two of the biggest vacation budget busters. I average about 20 euros a day (see below). Gear, on the other hand, is something you’ll have to buy or borrow but will most likely last for future trips to come. Here is what works for me:
FOOD – I like to visit local grocery stores and take advantage of the communal kitchens for dinner often cooking multiple pounds of pasta not only for myself but to share with my fellow pilgrims (sharing is caring!). Each morning I eat a healthy serving of tortilla de patata along with a fresh squeezed zumo de naranja (OJ) from the first bar I see (4 euros). At lunch I usually grab a cheese or tuna sandwich (I don’t eat meat but you are in the land of THE BEST ham (jamón) in the world) whereas others are quite fond of the “Pilgrims Menu” of the day which usually goes for around 10 euros and consists of a starter, main dish, dessert, and water OR wine. TIP – Check the albergues communal kitchen before heading to the store. Usually there is enough food in the pantry (canned goods, pasta, bread) donated from the people the night before. Grab some veggies and you have a complete meal for a couple euros!
LODGING – The beauty of this hike is that you have the opportunity to stay in a hostel like set up (commonly referred to as “albergues”) every night. Albergues are not open to random tourists, instead, you must have a “credential” (similar to a passport and specific to this trail) to gain access to these accommodations. At each stop, the hosts (hospitalarios) will stamp your passport and assign you a bunk (or single bed if you’re lucky!) for a small fee. The price ranges from a donation (donativo) to 20 euros a night depending on if you use a bunk or private room and if you get breakfast or dinner. If you’ve got kids that aren’t used to sleeping together – I suggest you research tips for kids sharing a bedroom specifically for this purpose, or have a nightmare of a night on top of a stressful overall time. I like to stay in the municipal albergues which are the lowest priced but most packed. It’s all about the experience! :) On occasion I will splurge on a private room to get a good night’s rest. Hotel Spa Paris in Leon was a great night including free access to the aqua spa as is Molino Galochas outside Villafranca where your dining companions are super friendly…
Some take a few days off to stay in the larger cities and explore, while others (like me) keep on truckin. Camping is not encouraged because the entire route is lined with private properties and farms therefore trespassing is highly frowned upon. Don’t be an asshole. You may be able to ask a hospitalario if you can camp in their yard but they will probably charge you the nightly rate anyway. Skip the tent weight and grab a bed.
GEAR – Your most two most important items will be your shoes and backpack. Personally, I like to hike in gym shoes but others like to hike in boots, Tevas, Crocs, and barefoot (though I don’t suggest that due to the massive amounts of cow shit you’ll no doubt walk through). My shoe of choice is pretty much anything Merrell, though I am partial to the Grassbow Air which I have used for the past 4 years. They started at $100 and are now down to $50 as they get closer to being discontinued. Time to buy a new pair! ;) TIP – I always buy half a size larger than my normal foot size. Your feet will swell with continuous walking which can cause blisters. If the shoes feel too big at first, wear an extra layer of socks until they do.
Backpacks are a complex topic. . Go to your nearest outdoor store (REI, Cabela, Gander Mtn) and try the bags on. Find something that fits well and weighs little. Gregory makes a great pack for women (I use an older version of the Jade 38 – $120) though Osprey’s are also a great option and what I bought my mom (Kestrel 38 – $120) for her walk. Whatever you do, don’t go overboard with the size of your bag. Bigger bag means more crap you will put in it. Keep it small. TIP – You can usually find last years bag on sale at a big discount and the only difference is the color. Google before buying and save yourself some dough. Also, check out Ebay and Craigslist (particularly if you live in an outdoorsy area) – I have sold quite a few used bags on both.
On a hike like this, many advocate for the 10-15% rule which means you should carry no more than 10-15% of your body weight. I am not fond of “rules” but it’s a good guideline to see how your pack ranks. My total kit weighs about 17lbs including water. Some days it becomes part of me and I barely notice it, and others…
No matter what it weighs, it is you job to know your gear and how it works. Practice walking with it beforehand. Learn all the features and how to properly pack and adjust the weight. Learn how to access things in the dark (lights out in some albergues can be 8pm!) and how to pack quietly. Nothing is worst than a cranky pilgrim after a 5am wake up from the noisy packer in bunk 2. Figure all this out and you will have no problems. Now, all you have to do is walk 500 miles. That’s not so hard, right?
SUMMARY OF COSTS
GEAR: $170 and up! The sky is really the limit with how much you want to pay.
Shoes – Expect to spend around $50-$100. If you are getting boots, expect to spend double.
Backpack – $120+ You can do this much cheaper by buying used or borrowing but if you are going to skimp, either way, the fit still needs to be right.
Other items you will need can be found on my packing list HERE.
FOOD: 5-20 Euros/day
LODGING: Free-20 Euros/day
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Total cost (not including airfare or gear) = 30 days x 25E/day = 750 euros +/-
I have done the camino 5 times never spending more than 25 euros a day but often spending less. This is the type of trip that you can customize. You can do this on a shoestring budget or you can go the luxuries route and stay at places like the famous parador in León. Remember, the original premise of this trip was a pilgrimage. People relied on the generosity of strangers and walked with no money at all!! The choice is yours though whatever you choose, I wish you a “buen camino”!
In the past 10 years, the popularity of the camino (specifically for Americans) has risen exponentially thanks to an increase of awareness brought to us by movies such as The Way, books like The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho and documentaries including Walking the Camino: 6 Ways to Santiago. It isn’t hard to understand why. I have traveled all over the world and can honestly say that a walk on the camino is the most rewarding experience one could have. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Other resources for information (beside Google) can be found at the following:
- American Pilgrims on the Camino (I am the founder of the Chicago Chapter and they meet once a month to do local hikes as do other Chapters. Find yours HERE.)
- A Pilgrim’s Guide to The Camino (French Way) by John Brierley – This is my favorite guidebook though I know there are more recent downloadable versions by other authors. Personally, I like having a physical book that I can write notes in.
Thanks for reading and thank you to Go Curry Cracker for giving me some motivation to get my ass back to Spain! Camino 2018? :)
Until next time…
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Thanks for sharing your experiences, preparations, and the beautiful photos. You’re a better woman than I am, Bianca!
Did you take 30 days each of the 5 times you walked? Is there a good way to do part of the journey but still soak in the experience?
Hi Mrs Groovy! Nice to see you over here. :)
I have done the camino in varying lengths. The whole thing from St. Jean Pied de Port (in France) 2 times, from Porto in Portugal once, and bits and pieces when I went with my mom once. The first go around I only made it one week before my demise so I can hardly count that!
If you are going for religious or spiritual purposes and hoping to get a compostela (certificate of completion), you are required to walk the last 100km (200km if on bike). It’s about a 3 day walk from Sarria, Spain which is where most people start if they just want to qualify for the compostela. If you do decide to go that route, heed this advice and DO NOT GO IN SUMMER! ;) It is very crowded and can be difficult to find a bed in the albergues. I prefer spring and fall because the weather is a bit more mild then. Oh, and if you are looking for a little bit longer, you can walk past SDC to Finisterre or Muxia (also 3 days) to the ocean. I haven’t had the chance to hike it yet but I am aiming to next year. Maybe I’ll see you there?? :)
If you have the chance, try going to Finisterre (Fisterra). Its name comes from the Latin Finis Terrae (end of the earth). That’s because the Romans thought it was the end of the known land. Sunsets there are incredible.
Yes to everything Ruben said! Though I haven’t walked it, I did take the bus so I can attest to those sunsets. Gorgeous!!
Wow, it sounds like an awesome experience. I never heard of El Camino and will put it on the bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, add it to the list!! You’d have to try really really hard to have a bad time. :)
That’s awesome! Now I miss the Pyrenees mountains, little towns, food, and wine. Such a great country to visit, and that’s one hell of a way to see it :)
Haha – that’s why when you were out there I was watching your tweets like a hawk! So many great pics of food and scenery. One of the caminos (the Camino Catalan) goes directly through Montserrat. Having spent a ton of time in Barcelona, I had to go see it for myself. We were able to find a couple yellow arrows but we didn’t have a ton of time to hike that day. It looks like a tough one and it’s not well traveled but that’s all part of the adventure! :)
Wow – this sounds like such an adventure! We have done marathons in the past and we are looking to switch into these kinds of vacations. Where we get to see some amazing sights but still include a physical aspect too. Thanks so much for sharing! I think the extra few days to go all the way to the ocean would just be the icing on the cake! Maybe you could head something like this up next year for some of us!
Talk about amazing – thanks for keeping us posted on Stashmont!! Looks like you guys had a great time and learned a ton. :)
As for the camino, it’s definitely a marathon of a different color. I would LOVE to get a group together and hit the trail. The hard part is that everyone hikes at different speeds and for different amounts of time. I am quite fond of long days and other like a more relaxed approach. That being said, we could always set up a start date and everyone take off together! OR, if we did the short 3 day hike to Finisterre/Muxia that would be an easy one to pull off as a group. Hmmmm…now you have me thinking!! If you are going to FinCon flag me down and we can chat about this some more. ;)
Stashmont was absolutely incredible! It will change many parts of the rest of my life! Let’s definitely get together at FinCon! I agree that keeping together could be a real challenge for a group. But I love the idea of starting together – and maybe smaller groups could find their way if it worked out. See you net month!
I love this article! A year and a half ago I biked the last 200 k from Ponferrada with my 78 year old Dad. It was awesome in just about every way. I really want to go back and walk the entire thing with my wife. We work at a High School and get two months off in the summer. I keep reading that that is the worst time to walk it so we are trying to figure out an alternative plan. Did you walk any of your 5 times in the summer? The Camino is calling my name for sure!! I linked the website to my trip with my Dad if anyone is interested in our experience.
Here is the link of our trip. http://twomilesontheirway.blogspot.com/2016/04/buen-camino.html?_sm_au_=iVVZ0JmmjBP5n64s
That’s great!! I took my mom one of the times and, though we didn’t walk the entire way, she had a BLAST! Ponferrada was her favorite city though that was in part because it was my birthday and we were celebrating.
I definitely walked in the summer. There is much talk about the crowding situation but it really isn’t too much of an issue until the last 100km (from Sarria on). Only one time was I unable to find and albergue but that is mainly because I walk long days and get into town quite late. I think it is becoming more of an issue now because so many Americans are doing it. For the most part, Americans don’t really have a go with the flow mentality when they travel (due in part because we don’t get a lot of time off to play around). Due to that, many have started booking beds in advance which messes it up for everyone else. Especially when they don’t show because they decided to stop walking earlier that day. My best piece of advice if you have to go in the middle of summer is to try the Camino Portuguese. It is less crowded, equally beautiful, and the food is amazing! You will love Tui (the border town to Spain). If you have any questions feel free to email me. I walked from Porto to SDC in 2015 and it was beautiful. I look forward to reading you journey with your dad!!
Thanks so much for the response! I will take your advice and look into the Camino Portuguese and may just give it a go this summer! Your pictures alone have my mind churning and my heart yearning of ways to get back out there.
What a cool experience(s)! We haven’t done this yet, but we did help a fellow traveler make her decision to do it. We met her in Granada while she was traveling around Europe. She was unsure were to go next and so she decided to flip a coin (heads Camino, tails Morocco). Heads is was and we totally have it all on video. After following her journey and now reading your post, I think the Camino has definitely jumped higher on my list. Sounds amazing!
That’s so funny – literally living by the flip of a coin. LOVE IT!! Glad to hear you it’s on the list. The good news is there is no rush. It will be there for years and years to come. In the meantime, you guys have some exciting things on the horizon with the Chautauqua! I can’t wait to hear all about it. :)
The Camino has been on my radar for a while. Waiting for the kids to get a little older. This post makes me want to just pack up the strollers and do it.
DO IT!!! :)
I first heard about this from Arebelspy on the Mad Fientist podcast, but thanks to your post and all the great photos, now it’s on our must-do list in FIRE.
We’d like to bring our future kiddos. What age do you think would work best for a long hike like this? I was thinking 10 or older…
I heard that episode as well and it made me want to hop a plane and start walking again stat!
I have literally seen all ages, however, when volunteering in the pilgrims office in Santiago de Compostela, I saw a 7 year old boy who had walked with his family be turned down for his compostela (the certificate). The church only gives them to those who have completed their first communion and he had not done that yet. He was crushed!* If you don’t care about that aspect, then I would say go whenever. The benefit of having your kids be a little older is that they will remember it better and it may be easier on you as the parent. That being said, younger kids don’t get as “bored” as older ones do. My boyfriends teens (14 & 16) look at me in horror when I reference the camino…like, why wouldn’t you just drive! It certainly isn’t for everyone. ;) I told each of my niece and nephews I will pay for them to go when they turn 18. Not sure if anyone will take me up on it, the youngest is 13, but the offer is there!
*In the end they got a priest to come to the office and give the boy first communion so he could receive his certificate. He was elated!!
Ahhhh … el Camino:) My wife and I LOVE Spain and have wanted to do this hike for a long time. This article and the pictures was so inspiring. How cool to hear about your experiences, Miss Mazuma!
We chose to go to Ecuador this year with our young kids (2 & 4). We wanted a semi-permanent type of experience in one place, going to schools, learning the language, etc. But we’d love to do the Camino with our kids later on.
You said you saw a lot of people of all types hiking. Did you meet any families with young kids? And how old were kids that could actually make most of the hike? We’re thinking pre-teens. But maybe we’ll do a small portion sooner as a test run!
Thanks for the inspiration. I saw in a comment above you’ll also be at FinCon. Hope to catch up some there.
Hey Coach!
Done By 40 just wondered the same thing and it’s hard to answer because everyone’s capabilities are different (though your kids are already world travelers so I think it would be easy for them to adjust). The benefit when you finally go is that your kids will know Spanish…something I am definitely lacking! I hiked with a woman and her baby (less than 1 year) for a few days in 2005. That was rough. The terrain is not stroller friendly in parts but people make it (even in wheel chairs!). I also met a woman hiking with her 2 teenage daughters (13 and 15) and they seemed to be in great spirits. I asked if they ever fought and she said not really. If ever it was out of exhaustion and not hate…that’s comforting to know! I also met 2 brothers (7 &10) who were living in one of the albergues while her mother was hosting pilgrims. They loved the experience of meeting new people everyday and assigning them bunk beds. So hosting is another option! As for me, I have offered to take each of my niece and nephews when they turn 18. Fingers crossed they take me up on it! I seriously can’t think of a better education.
If you decide to do a test hike there are many options to make it easier. Sending your packs via a transport service is one way. Short days and booking your accommodations ahead is another. I have also seen where one person hikes and the other drives a car to meet them at the next stop. Heck, if it doesn’t go well, you can always grab the bus and visit one of the many lovely coastal cities. Whatever happens, there are many ways to turn it into a fabulous adventure!
Thanks for the great post, Miss Mazuma! Camino de Santiago is on my list to experience. I love backpacking and have am planning on hitting another smaller European trail next year, Tour Du Mont Blanc, 100 miles of Alps views that cross Switzerland, Italy and France. While TMB doesn’t take quite as long, the price/day is a lot higher but I’m a sucker for the Alps.
I imagine that would be a bit more costly but the views are probably breathtaking!! Promise to write a post if you do. I am always looking for new trails to fall in love with.
The TMB is amazing. I think we spent about 45 euro/pp per day, but that was when the euro was a fair bit more expensive. My favorite Rifugios were Elisabetta and Bonatti. You likely have the guidebook by Kev Reynolds….aka The Bible! ;-) Bon Voyage!
Ok – now I have some research to do. :) Thanks for the tips!
I am very, very, very jealous that you’ve done this 5 times. I can’t wait until I can say I’ve done it just once! This, plus a bunch of other long trails, are on my retirement bucket list. You are very lucky that you can do it now. Thanks for sharing and great pictures!
To be fair, I may have walked it 5 times but I only completed it 4. ;) I too have a bunch of long distance trails that I would love to accomplish. The hut to hut / temple to temple (88 total) trail on Shikoku in Japan is supposed to be amazing. The Appalachian Trail is my FI dream trip. I am definitely lucky that my job has the flexibility that I can take so much time off…I am not sure they would let me go for 6 months though!! Whenever you are ready the trail will be waiting. :)
My alma mater, Franklin Pierce University, does this every year! When I was going there (20 years ago), they did what they called “Walk across Europe” during the summer semester. But a few years ago they changed it to the Camino de Santiago. Students even earn 12-15 credits! I think it’s such an amazing program, and I really regret not going when I was in college.
http://www.franklinpierce.edu/academics/studyabroad/camino/
That’s awesome!! Damn – the community college I went to only offered a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters! I mean, it was fun and all but it was no camino.
Great guest post! Looks like a very beautiful, but tiring hike! How experienced a hiker does one need to be to take on something like this?
This guest post was a very nice surprise because I’ve followed Miss Mazuma for quite some time.
Awww – I’m blushing!!
The hike is tiring but truly anyone can do it. For reference – I don’t work out and therefor am severely lacking the strength and muscle tone that most human beings have. Thankfully, hiking is just walking for long stretches. ;) Yes, the terrain varies but none of the climbs are that crazy and most are done within an hour or two (except day 1 in the Pyrenees where you are hiking up for most of the day). “Embrace the suck” is a great way to get through the uphills because you know the best views are at the top!
Thank you for sharing. One of my dreams is to hike the Camino.
A (probably) stupid question. I have some health issues – nothing too serious, but I’m afraid I might need to take a rest day or two over the course of a Camino. I’m contemplating the Roncesvalles to Santiago route (don’t think it’s wise to attempt the Pyranees on the first leg of my trip). Are you allowed to stay two nights in an auberge in the same city? Or would I need to find other lodging for the second night? I’d be planning a slower Camino with more interim stops than most (probably stretching it out to ~40-45 nights), but this is one thing that has been worrying me.
Not to worry! Usually they do not allow for multiple nights in the same albergue but it is up to the hospitalario who is working. I stayed 2 nights in Burgos when I got hurt but I was required to leave for the day and come back later when they reopened. If you stay in a private place or pension, then you can stay as long as you’d like. I have found a few as cheap as 20 euros. The other option is to leave and do a short walk to the next town. Many times you can find one only a km away. Or take the bus if you can’t walk that day. Don’t let the logistics hold you back. It will all work out the way it has to. :)
Dang, This sounds awesome! This totally just made my bucket list (The FI community just keeps makings this thing longer…). All I have left is to convince my wife she wants to walk with me for a month straight in a country where we don’t speak the language ;-)
Awesome Write up Miss Mazuma! You mentioned you don’t speak Spanish. How much of a challenge did you find the language barrier to be?
Happy to add to your list! I didn’t have a hard time with the Spanish. I know some basics and what you don’t know can be conveyed easily with gesturing. Obviously, when visiting any country it is good to know please, thank you, and bathroom. ;)
PS – Thanks again for getting me into the lounge at SEA before CM. I owe you a beer or whatever it is you’re drinking. :)
Sounds like rock solid advice. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind as I expand my travel horizons!
And my pleasure! Hopefully we cross paths next month at FinCon!
I’d love to do some of the Camino, possibly several hundred miles of it. Is it relatively easy to take things really slow, as in do just a few miles some or most days? Are there hostels or hotels or albergues within a few miles of each other generally speaking? We’ve done several ~60 day “vacations” with nothing more than bookbags (12-18 pounds each, including a laptop but not including drinking water) so are accustomed to traveling very light compared to typical tourists.
Absolutely!! There are sooooooo may albergues popping up all over the place where there was once some long gaps. I just did a quick google search to see if there is a list of all the albergues across the Camino Frances – this looks useful:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/%E2%80%9Call%E2%80%9D-albergues-on-the-camino-frances-in-one-pdf.10/.
You have to log in to download it but, short of buying a guidebook, this is your best bet for pre-planning. You can definitely spend 60+ days out there and, one suggestion if you do – get two credentials (passports) for each person. You will run out of room for stamps and need another. Some add pages but it’s much nicer to have an extension of your original (a lot of people frame them later). See this link:
https://www.google.com/search?q=camino+de+santiago+credentials&rlz=1CATAAB_enUS665US665&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgyb369LjWAhUS8YMKHfa8CbAQ_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=968
I hope that helps! Feel free to reach out with any other questions. :)
Good to hear!
Do you think it’s common among the peregrinos to stretch it out and take it super slow?
Absolutely!! There is no right or wrong way to camino. I have met (on several occasions) a man who walks to SDC, then turns and walks back. That’s all he does! Back and forth, back and forth. Taking your time and really getting to know the area is a luxury that many don’t have. You are lucky to have the chance to stretch it out. My suggestion is that you absolutely take your time and make sure to leave room at the end to walk the 3 days past SDC to Finisterre then one more to Muxia. Those are the true “end of the world” and shouldn’t be missed.
Sounds awesome! Great pictures and info. This is definitely on our list. We are in Spain right now, but with a 3 year old we might need to wait a while until we are able to tackle this.
Yup – it’s hard to switch from vacation mode to hiking mode with a 3 year old if you aren’t mentally geared up for it. Glad to hear it’s on your list. :)
An enjoyable write up. Which is the most rural route ? I was put off by reports of a lot of walking by the side of roads and so many people on the route. I would love to do it if it is off the beaten track and not crowded. Thank you
So…this would be safe for a 65 year old woman to do by herself? (Just in case I can’t convince my husband to hike it with me!!)
Yes!! My advice would be to go slow on the first few days as your body acclimates to long distance hiking. My mom’s (also 65 at the time) biggest challenge was day 1 crossing the Pyrenees. We’re from Chicago so she’s rarely been higher than sea level. After that, she had no issues physically. I have seen people from 2-82 walking. As for safety, and particularly as a woman, follow your intuition. There are very few issues with people bothering the “pilgrims”. Spain takes this pilgrimage seriously and the locals know that.
A great resource to help you get in the right mindset is American Pilgrims On the Camino. They have a website that will show you local groups that do meetups. Perhaps you can convince your husband to join you at those. They also have numerous FB groups and some specific to women hiking alone. If I can be of help in any other way, just reach out!
Bianca
This is great! We are looking to go for our first time and have looked at tour groups but not sure if that is a good way to go or if we should just make our own path. Any suggestions or thoughts? If we were to use a tour company is there one that is better than others
i read the Pilgrimage in ‘99, it inspired me to want to do this hike — but shortly after reading the book i met my wife and other adventures took place. Now 20 years later and about to go FIRE in April I think its time. Though I’m late to this post I love it!
Everyone should ever do even one of the Caminos de Santiago, at least one section. It does not matter if it is with a spiritual, religious, sports or tourist sense. It is a totally different journey without any comparison.