BootsnAll Travel Community

I would like to know if anyone here has done the entire Camino de Santiago in Spain.(or part of it)
I will be coming overland from Portugual in June; I would like to attempt at least a small part of it. I will need to make my way to the northern part of Spain to take a feery to the UK.
I am interested in any stories,experiences.
Also, what part would you suggest doing if I was only going to do one part?
Thanks, gigirtw

I've done it more than once. In June it will be very hot and a little over crowded, but still very nice. Very green as well.

How many days do you have? If you just want to do a short portion, then I suggest starting in Leon. If you can swing a longer stint, however, and don't want to start the journey in France, then Roncesvalles is the ideal.

Continental Op,
When I first asked this I thought I had about a week to walk a tiny part of it-
now I'm thinking of spending a month doing the entire thing,or whatever I could get done of it,since it turns out I have 6 weekfrom when I arrive there.I would begin June 1st.
Questions:
What would you suggest bringing?
What about places to stay? Is there anything inexpensive?
(A friend told me she slept on cots in large church halls,but this was some time ago..)
Could I just show up and be able to find a place to lay my weary head,or would I have to arrange in advance?
Any favorite stops along the way?
How did doing it affect you? Was it a challenge,or?
Thanks, C. Op. I love it when you reply to my queries!
Gigirtw

A month would be a great way to slowly enjoy Roncesvalles to Santiago. You could probably start across the border in France, but the Spanish towns you'd be passing through are so pleasant and alive in the summer that I'd recommend sticking to those and foregoing France.

quote:

What would you suggest bringing?

The usual backpack rules apply here. A good, comfortable pack that settles well and isn't too heavy. Static and Piecar (and that rogue, Callilucy) are the biggest pack enthusiasts on the site, and their suggestions in the backpacking gear section are always excellent.

You don't really need a tent, as there are dorms for the pilgrims along the way, but a good lightweight, waterproof sleeping bag is a must. Waterproof sneakers or hiking boots, something with good ankle support so you don't slip when you're walking through the small creeks and horse crap, are also a must. A dependable flashlight is also recommended for those evenings when the sun dropped before you found the nearest pension.

Again, all the usual hiking gear applies: a water bladder, a light windbreaker, a sweater, clothes that you can layer if necessary, a tiny first aid kit, and the like. Keep it as light as possible, but remember that sometime the temperature drops unexpectedly in the mountains. Largely, however, it will be pretty warm.

quote:

What about places to stay? Is there anything inexpensive?

There are small dorms throughout the route made especially for pilgrims. Most are cheap or free, as you'll usually be sharing them with several dozen other pilgrims (ranging from Irish college students to middle aged Belgians to drunk Italian monks.) Usually there will only be a single set of showers for everyone to share and share alike. But, after you've been walking all day, even tile and concrete looks clean and welcoming. It's in these places that you and other pilgrims will bond over improvised BBQ's and blisters.

quote:

Could I just show up and be able to find a place to lay my weary head,or would I have to arrange in advance?

I just showed up. Never had a problem. Worst case scenario, you sleep on the floor in your sleeping bag. No one is going to turn you away. As a young gal, one of the Belgians will probably offer you his cot. Just make sure he doesn't intend to sleep in it with you.

quote:

Any favorite stops along the way?

If you follow the route from Roncesvalles to Santiago via Leon, you really can't go wrong. It is beautiful country, and the towns always seem intricate and beautiful when you come into them off the trail. These are a friendly people as well.

quote:

How did doing it affect you? Was it a challenge,or?

That's a much longer post, but suffice to say it was worth doing more than once and it has yet to lose its shine. Many people find themselves or someone else on the trail. It can be taxing at times, especially in the heat, but there is some truth to the notion that the spirit is best encountered through suffering.

quote:

Thanks, C. Op. I love it when you reply to my queries!

Why thank you. Happy to help.

Thankyou,thankkyou,thankyou,C.Op!
You are wonderful!
I have definitely decided to it.
If anyone else has any experience doing the Camino, I would appreciate your suggestions and comments as well.
Continental Op-I will definitely pay attention when offered an available bed-in case it comes with a guy attached.!
Gigirtw

Some resources I had gathered

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Santiagobis/

There are some very specific forums that can help you with the planning.

Also I remember reading about this bloggers journey on Camino...maybe will inspire you

http://solbeam.com/

Thank you very much for the links-they are great!
Also I found one that was pretty down to earth and dicussed the nitty gritty (footcare,etc). I've forgotten the website at the moment, but it's called "the camino de santiago by alex patterson"
After reading the links you gave me, and talking online with more people who have done it, I've definitely decided to do it but do it slowly. I've actually got 5 weeks!
Thanks.Gigirtw

5 weeks should be ample time to do a full camino...no?

quote:

Originally posted by Madhu:
5 weeks should be ample time to do a full camino...no?

If by "full" you mean from Le Puy to Santiago, then I'd day no. In all fairness, you probably could do it in 5 weeks, but you would really be rushing it. Just passing through the Pyrenees can and should take a lot of time. I met plenty of pilgrims who spent as much as three to four months on the Camino, beginning as far away as Luxembourg and making their way down the Paris-Bordeaux route.

Of course, the Church considers one's pilgrimage "full" if one starts it as little as 100 km away from Santiago, and many people only spend a week or two on the Camino. Your five weeks will be, in comparison, a good amount of time.

I'd still recommend starting in Roncesvalles or just across the border in Ostabat, where most of the French routes first merge.

You know, I never thought to ask, but will you be hiking, biking, or annoying other pilgrims by traveling on horseback?

Well, I was planning on hiking. It just sounds more intimate..although no doubt more painful. I had not occured to me to do it any other way.

So at this point I have to be in London at the start of July,give or take a few days.I could potentially begin sometime in May. So, at most, I could have 60/65 days available.(with current itinerary) This would still give me time to rest for a week when done.
How long would I need to do the entire thing without pushing myself too hard?
I would like to have enough time to go slowly,and not rush thru it-as I have heard that people that rush thru it are the ones who burn out and drop out.
I should say that I do hike,etc,but I have never attempted anything like this...I would be doing it for spiritual purposes.
I doubt very much that I will be able to be in Spain for so long at any time in the near future, so that's why I'm really thinking about doing the whole thing.
I'm also going to be travelling to some difficult places during the rest of my trip,and I thought it might be wise to set aside a chunk of time to be reflective so that i arrive peaceful and centered for the next part of my journey(to Liberia,Africa).
Thanks, I appreciate your advice. gigirtw

Mistake above.
I just realized I have 3 1/2 months-I was getting confused with my OLD itinerary(! There have been so many!!!!). IS that enough????
Gigirtw

Oh yes, two more things?
What should my budget be for such a journey?
Surprisingly, I can't find a site that covers this.
I was thinking accomadation would be cheap/shoestring to free. I thought my main expense would be food,first aid supplies, and the occassional nice meal/nice lodging. I'm not that interested in stuff and shopping, so I won't need to consider that.
Best way to get to start of Camino in France?
Right now I fly into Madrid, but I could change that to a closer locaton,if there is one.

quote:

Well, I was planning on hiking. It just sounds more intimate..although no doubt more painful.

I don't know if walking is the most painful (asses chap easily on horseback), but it's definitely the best way to go. Just wanted to make sure I was covering all the bases.

quote:

Originally posted by gigirtw:
I just realized I have 3 1/2 months-I was getting confused with my OLD itinerary(! There have been so many!!!!). IS that enough????

Ha! Well, if you have 3 and 1/2 months then I suggest you start in London.

No, seriously!
Hey, I've GOT 3 1/2 months-but I'd really prefer to do it in less!
1..C.Op, What should I budget for the journey? Just a guesstimate will suffice at this point...??
2. Have you done it on horseback,yourself? I don't know why, that just seems like...cheating! (of course, it isn't, but still!)
Gigirtw

quote:

Originally posted by gigirtw:
No, seriously!
Hey, I've GOT 3 1/2 months-but I'd really prefer to do it in less!

Hmmm...well, in all honesty, I still recommend starting just across the border in France, as it's the summer and you don't want to end your pilgrimage when the weather starts turning foul. Use a single month (plus a week or two) to make it to Santiago from there. Then go exploring the rest of Spain with the rest of your time.

quote:

1..C.Op, What should I budget for the journey? Just a guesstimate will suffice at this point...??

Well, the days you'll actually be on the trail staying in refuges, you can spend as little as €15 a day. (Depends on how much ice cream you buy from the over-priced vendors along the way. And, believe me, you will want ice cream.) I always spend little to nothing, but when I was first on the Camino the world was still graced with francs and pesetas and since then I've done it in the off season.

When not on the trail, consider a budget of €50 a day. You'll probably be able to do it for much less, even with the hostels so crowded that time of year, but best to prepare for the worst. Especially with the U.S. dollar tanking the way it is.

quote:

2. Have you done it on horseback,yourself? I don't know why, that just seems like...cheating!

Hell no. It's cheating.

Hey, thank you for the info...
I think the idea of ding the whole thing sounds nice and romantic and lovely-but I think you are right about just starting it over the border in France.That is ust over 200 miles,right?
So, I'll use the 5 weeks I originally had set aside for that,which should be enough-then go explore.
I think I will start it in mid-may.
Thanks again.
gigirtw

When I was thinking about the Camino I did some research and couple of folks on those forums actually sent me some materials. I have a pdf i can mail you. so send me a PM with your email.

If things go as plan maybe 08 might be the year for me but I will see...no more planing..i have been thinking for 3 years now and its not happening. One day.

Thanks Madhu, I got it. It is amazing--answers to all my questions. I'm going for it!
Are you refering to going around the world, or doing the Camino in your post? I've been talking to lots of people about the Camino, and some people can't take off enough time to do the entire thing, so they divide it up into a week of it every year....
gigirtw
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/gigirtw