Camino Trail Adventure - Additional Information

PREPARING FOR A LONG WALK

Walking makes life better. Walking is good for your health, good for the environment and good for your soul. Walking is one of the most natural things to do, so you may feel that you are already in good enough shape for a long-distance walk. However, our longer treks involve walking for many hours over successive days carrying a daypack, which is likely very different to what you are currently doing.
Regular exercise prior to your trip will allow you to build your fitness steadily so that you will minimise injuries, get the most out of each day, and complete your long-distance walk with a smile and energy left over. We recommend you undertake a training program for at least 3 months leading up to your departure.

PHYSICAL TRAINING

Pounding a trail day after day can take a toll on your body and can sometimes cause niggles like blisters and shin splints. Muscle soreness is a given, but with proper training, you can prevent some injuries that could force you off the trail.
To build stamina and strength you need to build a good foundation so that you can enjoy your walk. Our bodies get used to physical activity, so as your fitness level improves you can increase the intensity and duration of your walking.
If you have tested all your equipment and clothing and achieved a suitable level of physical conditioning (fitness and feet), your trip will be more enjoyable.

Start walking on all types terrain especilly hills while carrying your daypack. Your leg muscles and core need to be strong, as well your lungs and heart. Learn to breath in deeply and slowly through your nose to get the oxygen to your muscles. Increasing the pace during your walks so that you are breathing hard and able to speak only in short sentences is good for fat burning and improving lung capacity.

When training, choose hills to train on and push yourself to do long days. Australian national parks offer some great varied terrain, which will help you prepare for what’s in store on your walking adventure.

GOOD QUALITY GEAR

You’ll also need some good quality gear, including:
Hiking poles – good for balance and taking weight off your knees. - Optional
Comfortable boots or shoes and wet-weather gear.
Clothing you can layer – a base layer to manage moisture; an insulating layer to protect you from the cold; and out layer to shield you from wind and rain.
A comfortable daypack

Always carry a change of socks, snacks and water required for the day– your body needs adequate fuel and you need to stay hydrated. If you eat regularly throughout the day, you’ll be able to keep your blood sugar within the normal range, giving you sustained energy during and after training. Good nutrition will also help your body to recover and repair each day. Focus on including a mix of complex carbohydrates, good fats and some protein.

SPEEDING UP RECOVERY

Having good flexibility assists hugely in speeding recovery. Find a set of stretching exercises to incorporate into your training. You will find that not only do you feel stronger and recover more quickly, but the habit will extend to maintaining the stretching routine during your walk, which will make all the difference to tiredness and muscle recovery day after day.

MENTAL PREPARATION

Having confidence in your fitness, walking ability and clothing will give you a head start mentally at the beginning of a long day on the trail. 

Pay attention to the trip notes and plan for the day’s walk ahead. Check the App and peruse the map beforehand, and have it on hand as you progress through the day.

Remember each day is unique and you need to be emotionally flexible with challenges, tolerant of the things you cannot change, confidence in your abilities and have fun!

TREKKING POLES

Do I need trekking poles? It’s a good question and one that we get asked all the time.

If you already use trekking poles, you are probably a fan, and if you are accustomed to using them, we definitely recommend having a pair with you, particularly in the European Alps. (Not all Travel trips require you to have trekking poles, especially if the terrain is flat. They really come into their own on steep terrain. If in doubt, ask one of our Destination Experts if you need them for your particular walk.)

If you have never used trekking poles before, then we definitely recommended them if:

You have – or have had – any issues at all with sore knees, ankles or hips you are not used to carrying a daypack. Trekking poles, used correctly, take between 10 and 15% of the load from your lower body and redirect that load to your shoulders and upper arms, meaning there is a more even load distribution over your frame. This is a significant help when it comes to wear and tear on your joints, especially over an extended trek of several days.

If you suffer from arm or shoulder joint issues you may find trekking poles exacerbate these. It’s still worth trying poles as you are likely to find the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

The one very important thing to bear in mind with trekking poles is that while they do a fantastic job of taking the strain off your lower body, they will not make you fitter – you cannot get 80% physically prepared for your trip and expect the trekking poles to magically make up the last 20% of your fitness for you.

 

WHICH POLES SHOULD I BUY?

You can spend a small fortune on trekking poles but unless you’re planning to run ultra-marathons with them, it’s not necessary. Cheaper poles will probably be more robust and if you accidentally leave them behind you won’t be so upset.

There are 3 main decisions to make when buying poles.

Q1. Do I want spring-loaded for shock absorption? Spring-loaded shock-absorbing poles (such as the original Lekis) are heavier than the ‘normal’ ones and are a little trickier to re-thread if they come undone. They are, however, very useful for people with particularly troublesome knee or ankle issues. Otherwise, just go with ‘normal’ poles.

Q2. What type of locking mechanism do I want to hold my poles in place once I have extended them?

Generally, poles consist of three separate sections that slide down and fit together for ease of carrying, but can be extended for walking. Overall, we favour a simple metal or plastic lever at the two pole extension points because they are easier to use and often simpler to adjust if they start to get a bit loose. However, the original twist-lock system shouldn’t be discarded – they are very serviceable poles and once you get used to the twist-lock mechanism they are absolutely fine.

Q3. How tall am I and how long do I need my poles to extend to?

This is not really an issue for short people, but if you are tall be aware that some lightweight/compact poles only extend to 125cm (or sometimes even less). If you are tall, make sure that your poles can extend to 130 or 135cm.

 

HIKING BOOTS/SHOES

Buy the right style of boots or shoes for you. 

It is preferable for them to be waterproof and they must have a good sole with good grip.  General trail shoes with or without ankle support are both adequate depending on your preference.

Wear the same socks you prefer to wear for hiking. There are all sorts of opinions on socks, so you need to decide what works for you and stick to it. Take your own socks with you. Don’t rely on the testing socks in the shop: they usually bear no resemblance to the socks you’d wear on a trek.

 

AVOIDING BLISTERS

Invest in a couple of good pairs of socks, they are worth their weight in gold for long walks like the Camino! Opt for socks which have a high percentage of wool, around 70-79% max. Wool is a great natural fibre for socks, newer merino wools are itch-free, you want to get socks that combine wool with synthetic materials, cushioned in the heel & the ball of the foot, breathable & lightweight.

Avoid a high content of cotton in your socks, cotton absorbs sweat, dries slowly & provides no insulation when wet, therefore can lead to blisters on the trail.

Wearing your new shoes in before you go is essential! We recommend that you walk as much as you can in various terrain such as established paths, off-road stone/dirt trails, hilly trails and various distances. See how your foot moves in your shoes, ideally your feet should not slip.

Never trial a new pair of socks or a new pair of shoes on the Camino, always trial them before you go.

Take a spare pair of shoes or flip flops for the end of your day, then you can let your shoes and socks dry whilst you wind down with your fellow pilgrims!

Pack a spare pair of socks in your daypack, these will come in handy!

Carry a blister-kit with you in your daypack, blisters are best dealt with straight away to avoid them getting bigger & more painful!

When you stop for a rest throughout your day, take your shoes & socks off, turn your socks inside out & put them somewhere to air, this will allow some of the moisture to come out of them before you start walking again! Barefoot pilgrims are a part of the Camino!!

 

LUNCHES ON THE CAMINO

One of the delights of walking the Camino de Santiago is the anticipation and enjoyment of the delicious foods you will sample along the way. As the kilometres pass by and your stomach starts to rumble, the topic of Camino conversation invariably turns to what scrumptious morsels are on the menu for lunch. The Spanish generally eat 5 times a day – early in the morning, late morning, lunchtime at 2ish, late afternoon and in the evening after 8 pm but lunch is considered the most important meal of the day. This may challenge your idea of eating but with the options available for lunch, what you eat will be one of your memorable Camino highlights.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL LUNCH?

Lunch (comida or almuerzo) may take the form of a snack or series of snacks, however you should always also carry some light provisions with you at all times. Your midday meal(s) may take the form of a picnic, a pilgrim’s menu, tapas or a more traditional sit-down lunch depending on how many kilometres you are walking that day, what’s available, your budget and of course your hunger and desire to try the tempting options available to you.

THE PICNIC

Do this at least once! Check the weather forecast, pack a sarong or something to sit on and fill your backpack with goodies to enjoy en route. If you travel in spring, you may even be able to garnish your meal with fresh herbs gathered from the side of the Camino! Fresh thyme works wonderfully with cheese and tomato! Relaxing in the sunshine amongst a field of flowers is a lovely way to spend an hour and to appreciate the journey as well as the destination for that day. Head to a local market, supermarket or specialist shop and stock up on some bread and regional cheese and meat en route. Jamón ibérico is a famously flavoursome cured ham that is sliced paper thin and packs a flavour bomb especially when combined with a regional cheese. Olives, nuts, fruit, pastries and seasonal vegetables are also readily available along “the way” and make for scrumptious picnic ideas.

PILGRIMS MENU

Do this at least once! The Menu del Dia (or menu of the day) is the official discounted pilgrim’s menu that was started by Franco to ensure all workers could obtain a hearty nutritious midday meal at a reasonable price. Normally served between one and three in the afternoon by many restaurants in Spain, it usually starts with a soup or salad, has a meat or fish based dish and finishes with a dessert. Bread and wine are included in the price of 8-15€

Typical pilgrims’ menu
Bebidas (Beverages) • Vino de mesa – roja/blanco (glass of house wine red or white) • Agua con/sin gas (water with or without carbonation) • Soda
Entrantes (First Course) • Sopa (soup) • Paella (traditional rice dish containing a variety of seafood, meat and vegetables) • Patatas bravas (fried potatoes served with spicy tomato sauce)
Plato Principal (Main Course) • Pollo al horno (roast chicken) • Bistec (steak) • Chuletas de cerdo (pork chops) • Pescado (fish)
Postres (Dessert) • Flan (custard with a caramel sauce) • Yogurt • Fruit

TAPAS

Do this at least once! Skip the more formal meal and spend an afternoon tapas hopping. Tapas (or Pinchos) are small plates of tasty morsels to bridge the gap between late morning and lunch time or prior to dinner. They can be anything from olives or nuts to intricately created flavour combinations and usually cost €4-5 serve and are traditionally served in bars.  

GENERALLY AVAILABLE IN CAFES AND BARS ALONG THE WAY

Frequently on the menu for lunch at most places along the Camino are Bocadillos (or Sandwiches), Empanada’s (Beef or Tuna or Pies) and Tortilla which is like a potato and egg frittata. These will become your more easily available staples but also paella, salads and hearty soups are also quite typical and are usually accompanied by bread.

WHAT TIME?

You may choose to have first (around 11 am) and second lunch!!! but generally some food option is available any time of the day. The Spanish eat later than we do in Australia, so be flexible and prepared for lunch anytime between 11-3 or both depending on the day. Daylight starts later in Spain than in Australia so if your accommodation is pre booked it is likely you will not be hitting the road until the relatively leisurely hour of 8-9 am. Generally, lunch is considered the main meal of the day and precedes siesta and is usually served until 4 pm. On some days you may also make do with a hearty snack en route and have lunch when you arrive. If you pushed everything on 2 hours you would fit more easily in to the Spanish eating timetable ie lunch at 2pm, dinner at 8pm.

HOW DO I ORDER?

Many of the menus will typically be written in Spanish and you will quickly become familiar with common lunch items. Travel involves stepping outside your comfort zone. Have fun, be courageous and practice some of your Spanish and do not eat only at places where you can read the menu. 

SPECIALTIES

There are many wonderful seasonal local specialties such as white Asparagus in the Rioja area or Padron Peppers of Galicia Padron peppers in Galicia. Spain also enjoys some of the best seafood in the world and this is evident the nearer you get to Santiago. Make sure you try the “pulpo” or Octopus in Galicia.

WHAT TO DRINK

You might start your day with a Cafe Con Leche (white coffee). Water is available from fountains along the way and is generally safe to drink. Make sure you do not miss at least one glass of the best fresh orange juice in the world. If you are after something of the alcoholic variety a cool draft beer is fantastic after a lengthy day walking the Camino in the sun and this comes as a caña, or small glass or a una jarra grande de cerveza a large glass. San Miguel, Keler, Mahou, Cruz Campo, and Estrella Damm are some of the Spanish produced beers

There is a plethora of wonderful wines you can find to accompany your meal. Think wonderful reds in the Rioja region (Tempranillo) and crisp whites (Albarino) by the time you reach Galicia. It is difficult to have a bad wine in Spain and easy to have good wines!

WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS?

Being a vegetarian, coeliac or having food allergies are not generally well understood in Spain so it’s best to learn and print the appropriate phrase before you go (see below). Generally, you can bring packaged snacks from home to supplement your diet and purchase specialist items en route in the larger towns.

Above all, take on the Camino food journey with an adventurous attitude and try as many foods as you can. The tastes are as varied as the people you will meet on your pilgrimage.

 

Memorise these Spanish phrases for as required or print out the useful translation card.

Vegetarians-Vegans

Do you have any vegetarian meals? Tiene un menú para vegetarianos?

Without meat, please. Sin carne, por favor.

I do not eat meat. No como carne.

Does it have meat? Lleva carne?

I am a vegan. Soy vegano.

Without tuna, please. Sin atún, por favor.

I do not eat meat, dairy, eggs or any animal products. No como carne, lácteos, huevos o productos de origen animal.

Allergies

I have a nut allergy. Soy alérgico a los frutos secos.

I am lactose intolerant: Soy alérgico a los productos lácteos.

I am gluten intolerant. Soy celíaca/o. Tengo intolerancia al gluten.

I have an egg allergy. Soy alérgico a los huevos. 

I am allergic to seafood. Soy alérgico a los mariscos.

I am allergic to soy. Soy alérgica a la soja.

 

PACKING YOUR DAY PACK

For walks where your luggage is transported for you only a day pack is required. Suggestions for your daypack are as follows:

Sun Hat
Walking Poles (optional)
Waterproof pack cover
Water
Waterproof bag for spare clothes
Buff or headband for cold mornings
Lightweight Rain Jacket
Ziplock bags
Snacks (high protein/high energy)
Bandaids
Spare socks
Light weight long sleeve top
Money/Credit Card
Lip balm
Sunscreen
Tissues
Hand sanitiser
Vaseline and or Baby Powder (for chafing)
Phone
Camera
Pilgrim Passport

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

The maximum weight you are allowed each day for your luggage transfers on the Camino in Spain is one suitcase weighing under 20kg per person.  

ACCOMMODATION

Accoimmodaiotn on trail is varied with a mixture of beautiful paradors, country casas and basic hotels.  All accommodation is unique in its own way and will be clean and comfortable with everything you require.  A lot of accommodations are small family run businesses, please be patient with staff as they have very limited English or none at all.  Most accommodation will not have lifts therefore you will be required to carry your own case up at least one if not more flights of stairs – please pack accordingly.  Often we are the only group or the main group at a property therefore there may be different room types spread out amongst our group.  We hope you enjoy the uniqueness of the accommodation and embrace the pilgrim lifestyle on the trail. 

Reminder – Tourist tax in Barcelona and Madird is EUR 4.50-5.00 per day paid to the hotel directly. 

CONNECTIVITY

Accommodations usually have wifi available (may or may not be free of charge)  so that you can stay connected with home, check emails and social media (avoid banking or financial transactions on hotel wifi as it is not secure).  Should you require more connectivity you could consider purchasing an E-Sim https://www.airalo.com/  or physical sim card https://simcorner.com/-  or using your local provider global roaming service – i.e. Telstra or Optus.  **1-2 gb of data should be sufficient**  Access to the internet via international roaming or purchase of an e-sim or international sim card is a requirement for this tour, please contact the office if you have any questions. 

WEATHER

The weather during the day in Madrid and Barcelona will pleasant with temps in the high teens to low 20’s, during the day and cool temperatures at night.  On further north on trail average in the low to mid teens with cool and sometimes foggy mornings the weather can be quite changeable this time of year.    There is always a chance of rain.

ACCESSING MONEY

Accessing money on the Camino De Frances will be easy as long as you plan in advance and keep an eye on what you are spending each day.

All of the larger villages and towns on the Camino now have ATMs, so there is no shortage of places on the Camino to obtain cash. However, you need to always be aware of the money that you will need in the days ahead, as there will times when you will be walking for a few days without any ATM access. It is a good idea to always carry around 200-300 euros, but this depends on how much money you are planning to spend on meals and extras. You will need cash to buy food and other supplies, and you can get cash from various ATMs en route.

You can use your credit cards in shops, restaurants and hotel accommodation in the larger towns and cities, although some of the smaller establishments will only accept cash, so please keep this in mind.

Inform your bank about your trip
If you don’t inform your bank about your trip beforehand then it is possible that the bank may block your card. Sometimes the bank will assume that your card has been stolen and will take measures to safeguard your money. Before you leave, let your bank know where you are travelling to and the dates you will be away.

Credit card international charges

Before leaving for the Camino it is a good idea to speak to your bank about international money withdrawal charges when using your credit cards as this is usually seen as a cash advance and extra charges will occur. Also, get an idea of the foreign transaction fees you will be charged as these can also add up.

PILGRIMS PASSPORT

A pilgrim passport is part of your Camino experience. While it is not strictly necessary to have one if you are not staying in Albergues they are still a great memento of your trip and will entitle you to your Compostela certificate once you reach Santiago.

The Camino passport is an official Camino document and will be issued to you with your Camino pre-departure travel documents.

The pilgrim’s passport itself is a folded piece of card with space for 54 stamps. You will need to write your name clearly on the inside page before you travel.

WHY A PASSPORT?

The passport is used to verify the distance you have walked or cycled, regardless of your route and is proof that you are a ‘real’ pilgrim and are not travelling by car or public transport along the Camino. It is also your passport to staying in the Albergues if you choose to. The passport is a wonderful memento of your pilgrimage and is used to determine monthly statistics on the Camino such as how many pilgrims are walking into Santiago each year.

The pilgrim’s passport has space for 54 stamps.

HOW MANY STAMPS DO I NEED EACH DAY?

If you are walking (or travelling by horse!) you will need to obtain 2 stamps or ‘sellos’ per day for the final 100km of walking. This is part of the reason for the popularity of the Sarria to Santiago section, which is just over that distance.

Is a good idea to keep your pilgrim’s passport with your regular passport so that when you are checking into your accommodation you can request a stamp. Stamps are also available at religious sites, hotels, town halls, museums, city halls, police stations and Albergues.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY COMPOSTELA CERTIFICATE?

Once you arrive into Santiago, you and your hostess will take your passport to the Pilgrim’s Office and they will verify the final 100km of stamps in your passport and issue you with your official Compostela certificate. The pilgrim’s office is usually open from 8am–9pm and is a great place to catch up with people you have met along the way. You will be asked some questions about where you started, and your motivation for your time on the Camino.

WHAT’S THE HISTORY OF THE COMPOSTELA?

Historically, pilgrims displayed a scallop shell to prove their pilgrimage but this became more of a commercial practice with many people buying and selling shells en route. Since the 13th century, the ‘Compostela’ became the valuable document to prove one’s pilgrimage and often demonstrate a penance.
The Compostela certificate is still written in Latin, and confirms the completion of your pilgrimage.
By receiving a certificate showing they had walked to Santiago they could get back home and show they had paid their penance, ie repented for their sins. The Compostela also meant pilgrims could stay in the Royal Hospital in Santiago for up to 3 days (now the Parador).

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is mandatory for travellers to have comprehensive travel insurance; please ensure you have provided Sisterhood Womens Travel with a copy of your policy, including a 24/7 Emergency Contact Number.

WHATSAPP GROUP
Please make sure you download WhatsApp onto your phone prior to departure. This App will be your communication tool whilst on tour and your tour hostess will contact you prior to departure to set you up in your tour WhatsApp group.  It’s also a lovely way to remain in touch with friends upon your return.

CHANGES TO ITINERARY
We do our best to give Sisters an enjoyable, trouble-free tour experience but, occasionally, even the best-laid plans can go awry.  We cannot rule out any changes to the itinerary and ask that you maintain a positive, upbeat and flexible attitude.

Updated 18 July 2025