I walked the Camino Francés, 500 miles across Spain, and it changed my life. This isn’t just a hike. It’s tiny villages, landscapes, blisters that teach patience, and strangers who become family.
Whether you’re walking the classic French Way (like I did), or trying the coastal Portuguese Route… I’ll share exactly what you need to know:
The best shoes and walking sticks.
How to choose the best backpack and how to actually pack light (trust me, you’ll thank me later).
Buen Camino, friend, your adventure starts here!
Ever tried solving a jigsaw puzzle blindfolded, with your family tossing pieces at you one by one? That’s exactly what my Camino Frances planning felt like. I didn’t just walk solo I threw my husband, my kids, rental bikes, and summer crowds into the mix. In the next few minutes, I’m handing you a behind-the-scenes […]
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Ever spent more time rearranging schedules than packing your suitcase? Trust me, you’re not alone. Last summer, as I desperately tried to coordinate my Camino trip around my kids’ sporadic commitments and my husband’s cryptic work calendar, I wondered: Does ANY family actually leave on time? Spoiler: No. But sometimes, those rearranged plans lead to […]
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I still remember the first time I tried to buy a real backpack for my Camino de Santiago journey. Not just a school bag, but one for an actual adventure which, in my case, turned out to be a comedy of errors. Between getting tangled in straps at the store, underestimating how much a liter […]
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I once thought packing for the Camino de Santiago was just about stuffing clothes into a bag, but a few rough experiences (think: nightmare hostel stays, unexpected blisters, and roommates who snore like freight trains) changed my entire game. The truth? Sometimes the weirdest little items end up being your travel heroes. Let me share […]
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Let me confess something right out of the gate: I’m that person who triple-checks the stove before leaving for a day trip, but only packs two pairs of socks. My recent foray into prepping for the Camino de Santiago taught me there’s a serious difference between being overprepared and simply hauling too much stuff. Is […]
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The first time I tried to pack for the Camino de Santiago, I’ll admit it I almost quit before taking the first step. The pile on my bed looked like I was moving house, not heading out for weeks of walking. The truth is, you can Google the ‘perfect’ Camino packing list a thousand times, […]
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Let me paint you a picture: It’s Day 3 on the Camino de Santiago. There’s a blister blooming on my heel, my head feels like someone is drumming inside it, and my knees are screaming louder than a toddler at recess. This is not the stuff they show in the glossy brochures. Trust me, if […]
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I’m not Catholic, and I didn’t grow up dreaming of crossing Spain on foot. But one breezy day in Santiago de Compostela, standing among an ocean of weatherworn backpacks and walking sticks, I felt a strange tug, a call, if you will. It wasn’t about faith or ticking a bucket list. Honestly, I almost bailed […]
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I never quite expected to find my chosen stride on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage famous for forging bonds. The camaraderie is real travelers sharing stories, sharing bread, sharing blisters. Sounds picturesque, right? Well, here’s the twist: for every communal wine night, there’s that lone walker who (like me) quietly wonders, ‘How on earth […]
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I used to roll my eyes whenever I heard, “The Camino is the safest walking route for women.” Sounds too good to be true, right? But there I was, a not-even-really-a-hiker, drawn to endless kilometers through Spain, for reasons I couldn’t entirely explain. One moment I’m reveling in the solitude, the next, I’m sprinting to […]
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When I first heard about the Camino de Santiago, I pictured myself stumbling upon a lively group of instant soulmates – the infamous ‘Camino family’ everyone seems to talk about. But the reality? Well, it didn’t play out like a travel blog highlight reel. Let me take you behind the scenes of my Camino Frances […]
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It all began in a surprisingly ordinary way: in the shadowed nave of Barcelona’s cathedral, clutching two euros, nervously eyeing a stack of Camino passports that, rumor had it, might run out at any moment. While others hunt rare stamps for the challenge, I joined the Camino madness for something messier, proof that my feet […]
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I’ll never forget the jittery excitement my feet felt at the first signpost of the Camino de Santiago. Not from spiritual devotion, not escaping a breakup, not even a spark of wanderlust, but simply… because I could. The strangest part? I wasn’t quite sure what I was hoping to find, but I figured the Camino […]
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You know those moments where your body starts acting like it missed the memo on what you’re doing to it? That’s pretty much what the first few days of my 25-kilometre walking experiment felt like. I hadn’t exactly predicted my limbs would turn into a committee of complainers, or that my mind would wake me […]
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Every step on the Camino de Santiago told my feet a different story, most of them about pain I never imagined. I thought I was prepared: new shoes, trekking poles, and a playlist of motivational podcasts. Yet, halfway through the second week, my calves throbbed, my knees ached, and the mysterious top-of-foot pain was making […]
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When I set off to bike the Camino de Santiago, I thought my regular sneakers would be enough. Little did I know that the path would force me into more challenges than I expected. Imagine trudging through mud, slipping and sliding, desperately wishing I had packed something sturdier. This experience taught me a valuable lesson […]
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Embarking on the Camino on two wheels was a thrilling adventure for me, but the first stage taught me an invaluable lesson: staying hydrated during the Camino de Santiago is not just a suggestion, but a necessity. Imagine this: a bustling trail yet painfully sparse water sources. It was a somewhat surreal experience that launched […]
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As I prepared for my biking journey along the Camino, I discovered something that changed the entire experience: timing is everything. Picture this: it’s a beautiful summer morning around 6 AM, and the soft golden rays of the sun are peeking through the trees, illuminating the path in front of you. As I pedaled quietly […]
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When my husband and I hit the road on our bikes to do the Camino de Santiago, we were full of excitement, and a bit of trepidation. Little did we know that the paths we chose would test not only our fitness but also our patience. From the technical slopes that left me walking while […]
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The moment I clutched the handlebars of my rented bike in Saint Jean Pied de Port, I got overwhelmed with a mixture of feelings of excitement and trepidation. To be honest, bikes and I had never been the best of friends, I’m more a lover of flat roads and scenic views. But here I was, […]
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