Have any of you all done it.
About a year ago I decided I wanted to do this...I actually wanted to leave the five kids, hubby, dirty house etc... behind and just do it by myself for four weeks.
My mama's boys sons got wind of it and they got knee deep into wanting to join me.
They would well I think...

I wanted to go next year in April (2010) but it is a Holy year and feared accomodations might be harder.
Now wondering if it is best to wait till 2011, everyone being a year older would also help with that idea.

Does anyone know if a Holy Year vs non Holy year would really make that big of a difference in April?
Any advice for those who have done it with kids.
My sons will be 11,9,7 if we do next year and of course 12,10,8 if we wait.
hubby will probably meet up with us towards the end with the two youngest.

My husband and I walked the camino with our 1 year old in April this year. We stayed in albergues and it took us 4 weeks to cover the distance.

There will be a huge difference in being a holy year next year - they are anticipating over 1 million pilgrims next year. They are building more albergues but the trail will be very busy. I would wait for the next year if I were you.

Also PLEASE make sure that your kids are used to walking long distances on offroad trails. The meseta has one 17km stretch without water so in places you will need to carry your own water. We also had very variant weather - boiling hot and also freezing cold.


I think it is probably a better idea for the younger two boys to walk the last 114 km with you and hubby so they still get their certificate or perhaps consider skipping the mesetta.

We are in the process of writing our blog about it www.thelittlestpilgrim.blogspot.com if you want to check it out.

Buen Camino

If you do it right, it will be the best experience in your children's life. It may take you twice as long, accounting for your childrens shorter convenient range. If you push them too much, their feet will suffer, and you definitely don't want that.

You very well might want to skip the Meseta, and DEFINITELY skip the two stages before Burgos. Its one vast stretch of highway, which is both not-fun and possibly dangerous. When its not highway, its walking through an industrial wasteland. If you take a rest day once in a while, it will give your kids a chance to really see a few towns, and give your feet a well deserved rest.

What might be fun is for you to plan to stay on top of the tallest mountain on the walk as a reward for all that work. Its one of the most beautiful locations on the Camino. Also, you can stay on the top of the first mountain you encounter from St. Jean, and that too is incredible. They have tents if they're filled in the alberque. From that point, you can see the hawks circle for hours and hours when you're not admiring the view. Their restaurant isn't bad either.

You might have to call ahead to reserve that mountain alberque, as it is often full. When I was there, an entire class from Spain was camping there.

Please remember the prime rule of the Camino: Walk at the pace of the slowest walker, within reason, and know your limits. If you exceed them, you could hurt your knees running down mountains(DONT), or your feet walking on blisters until your feet get too sore to walk on.

It is not a race, it is an experience. Do not let the volumes of people passing you ruin your mood, and if you are slow. DO reserve your place in the alberques ahead of time, for if you don't, and arrive late, you might have to scrounge for a sleeping place.