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BEGINNERS GUIDE
WELCOME
The Camino de Santiago is one of the longest and most inspiring walks in the world.
Every year thousands of pilgrims, walking enthusiasts and explorers embark on a
Camino journey.
This ebook is designed for anyone who would like to learn more about the trails, the
history and the culture of The Way. If you are planning to go on the Camino for the
first time, you will find our best advice in this free guide.
Each section is carefully put together to assist you in learning about the different
routes, the places you will visit, the people you will encounter and preparing for the
wonderful experience ahead of you.
About Us
CaminoWays.com is a walking and cycling holiday specialist with in depth knowledge
on the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St James across France, Spain and Portugal.
Our experienced team builds your Camino journey around you.
In addition to the Camino we organise walking holidays on the Camino to Rome (Via
Francigena) and St Francis Way (from Florence to Rome) at FrancigenaWays.com as
well as exciting walking and cycling holiday at IrelandWays.com and European
adventures at RusticRambles.com
Ireland: 01 5252886
Table of Contents
20 Camino de Santiago Facts........................................................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER 1. THE HISTORY ............................................................................................................................ 6
The Pilgrimage .............................................................................................................................................. 6
The Camino Passport................................................................................................................................... 7
What is the Compostela? ............................................................................................................................ 7
What is the Certificate of Welcome?....................................................................................................... 8
Follow the Markings .................................................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER 2. THE ROUTES ........................................................................................................................... 10
Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 10
How to Choose the Right Route for You? ............................................................................................. 11
Most Popular Camino Routes .................................................................................................................. 13
CHAPTER 3. THE CULTURE ......................................................................................................................... 14
Camino de Santiago Lingo ....................................................................................................................... 14
Useful Spanish for the Camino ........................................................................................................... 15
Useful Portuguese for the Camino..................................................................................................... 17
Food on the Camino.................................................................................................................................. 20
The Camino in 10 Dishes ...................................................................................................................... 21
Camino Accommodation Options ......................................................................................................... 23
Famous Annual Festivals along the Way............................................................................................. 25
CHAPTER 4. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO? ................................................................................... 26
Weather on the Camino de Santiago ................................................................................................... 27
CHAPTER 5. IS THE CAMINO DIFFICULT?.............................................................................................. 28
CHAPTER 6. GETTING READY ................................................................................................................... 29
Fitness & Training ...................................................................................................................................... 29
Packing for Beginners................................................................................................................................ 31
Movies about Walking the Camino ....................................................................................................... 32
5 Books to Read Before Your Camino Journey ................................................................................ 33
Camino de Santiago means Way of St James and refers to the routes leading to
Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia.
3
There are many Camino de Santiago
routes, starting in France, Portugal and Spain.
4
Pilgrims used to start their Camino
from their own homes.
5
The yellow scallop shell and yellow arrows mark the way to Santiago.
However, the most famous Camino route is the Camino Francs or French Way
starting in St Jean Pied de Port.
The trail from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago is 800kms long and takes
approximately five weeks to complete.
10
This makes Sarria (111kms from Santiago)
the most popular starting point for walkers.
11
12
Over 200,000 pilgrims arrive in Santiago each year and receive their Compostela
certificate.
13
If you walk the Camino for cultural or non-religious/spiritual reasons, you can receive a
certificate of welcome.
14
The pilgrim passport (credencial) needs to be stamped at least once a day; or twice a
day if you are starting your Camino in Galicia.
15
16
The 12th century Codex Calixtinus is
the oldest Camino de Santiago guidebook.
17
18
19
25th July is St James Day, a holiday
in Santiago and Galicia.
20
replacement for a bowl so the pilgrims could use them to hold their food and drink on their long
journey. Pilgrims would also be given food at churches and other establishments, and a scallop
shell scoop was the measure for the food they would be donated.
Since the scallop is native to the coast of Galicia, the shell also became a memento, a physical
proof of having completed the pilgrimage to Santiago (and quite often walked to or via Fisterra,
on the Costa da Morte). The shells could be picked up at the very end of the journey in Fisterra
but also became a popular souvenir and source of business for the shops near the Cathedral
in Santiago and other establishments along the way.
the mountains, could be a good option for you, as it is one of the most challenging sections.
However this is a quite a quiet route.
Id like to walk a coastal route but also see Santiago
If you are looking for a Summer Camino with
coastal tracks, there are a couple of fantastic
options: the Portuguese Coastal Way, starting
in Porto, follows the Atlantic coastline to
Baiona in the first week, then continues along
the seaside villages and towns of the Ras
Baixas until Pontevedra. You could also
choose the Finisterre and Muxa Way, the only
route starting in Santiago, to discover the
fabulous Costa da Morte with its pristine
villages.
Id like to walk a Camino along the coast but dont need to finish in Santiago
Then the Northern Way is perfect for you, particularly sections 2 and 3: between the cities of
Bilbao and Santander; and further on the green Northern coast to the seaside town of
Ribadesella.
Im travelling on my own but Id like to have a
social experience
If you are travelling on your own but are
looking to meet people and make friends, we
would recommend you choose the French
Way. You can either book a self-guided tour
or join one of our Camino guided tours.
The most popular Camino de Santiago route is still the Camino Francs or French Way
with 68.10% of all Compostelas issued (161.994 people) in 2014.
The classic Camino Portugus is the second most popular with 14.92% of all pilgrims,
35.491.
Camino del Norte Northern Way is third with 6.34% (over 15.071)
Via de la Plata follows with 3.57% of all pilgrims (8.490)
Camino Primitivo or Original Way is next with 3.48% (8.275)
The English Way or Camino Ingls attracted 3.02% of pilgrims (7.194). Still not at the top
but one of the routes experiencing the biggest growth. The Camino Ingles received
1.86% of all pilgrims reaching Santiago in 2013.
It is worth noting that statistics only account for those pilgrims who have received the
Compostela, hence finishing in Santiago and therefore not taking into consideration those
pilgrims walking stretches of the Camino de Santiago routes in France, Spain or Portugal for
instance but not reaching Santiago.
Ultreia! It is a less known version of Buen Camino! but the sentiment remains the
same: safe journey to Santiago!
Peregrino: male pilgrim / Peregrina: female pilgrim
Bicigrino: male bike pilgrim / Bicigrina: female bike pilgrim
Me gusta el pulpo (Spanish): I like octopus. Of course you can replace octopuses
with any other food of your choice! Calamares (squid), pollo (chicken), caldo gallego
(Galician stew), ensalada (salad)
No me gusta el pulpo: I dont like octopus. Non me gusta o pulpo would be the
same in Galician.
Me encanta el pulpo: I love octopus. Encntame o pulpo in Galician.
Me duelen los pies (Spanish) Denme os ps (Galician): my feet are sore
Necesito un caf: I need a coffee but you can easily replace coffee with
Un descanso: a little rest or break
Por favor: please
Muchas gracias (Spanish) Moitas grazas (Galician): thank you very much!
Spanish
Im looking for
Estoy buscando
Id like to
Quisiera
Where is?
Donde est?
How much is ?
Cuanto cuesta?
Hello
Hola
Good morning
Buenos das
Good evening
Buenas noches
Bye/See you
Adis
Please
Por favor
Thank you
Gracias
Youre welcome
De nada
Sorry/Excuse me
Perdone
Como te llamas?
My name is
Me llamo
Encantado/a
De dnde eres?
I am from
Soy de
Im allergic to
Soy alrgico/a a
ATM
Cajero
Is it far?
Est lejos?
Go straight ahead
Vaya derecho
Turn left
Tuerza a la izquierda
Turn right
Tuerza a la derecha
I am lost
Estoy perdido/a
Where is the hospital? post office? bus Dnde est el hospital? correos?
station?
estacin de bus?
Portuguese
Im looking for
Estou procura de
Where is?
How much is ?
Quanto custa?
Quanto ?
Hello
Ol
Good morning
Bom dia
Good evening
Boa noite
Bye/See you
Tchau / At logo
Please
Por favor
Thank you
Obrigado
Youre welcome
De nada
Sorry/Excuse me
My name is
Meu nome
De onde voc ?
I am from
Sou de
Im allergic to
Sou alrgico/a a
Estou a procura de
Is it far?
Fica longe?
Go straight ahead
Siga em frente
Turn left
Vire esquerda
Turn right
Vire direita
I am lost
Estou perdido/a
Galego
Hello
Ola
Good morning
Bos das
Good afternoon
Boas tardes
Im allergic
Cmo se chama?
I am from
Qu hora ?
Today
Hoxe
Tomorrow
Ma
Im looking for
Estou buscando
Dinner
Our standard package includes dinners during the trek (apart from the first and last
night) and these will be generally the Pilgrim menu, including three starters to choose
from, three mains and desert. Starters usually include soup or broth, salad or fish. Mains
usually include fish or meat with chips, potatoes and bread. There is typically a
vegetarian option.
Alcoholic drinks are generally not included. It might be included at the hotels discretion.
Some might provide wine free of charge but it is not included as standard. The type of
dish will vary depending on the region you are walking, as each area has its own
seasonal and local dishes and specialities. For example, fish will be more common in
Galicia, the Northern Coast and the Portuguese coastal regions than in other inland
areas.
From La Rioja region of course, famous for its red wine, you will find a variety of dishes
cooked a la Riojana, Rioja-style, including potatoes. This is more than just a potato
dish, the potatoes are stewed in a clear broth with chorizo sausage.
4-Ice cream in Logroo
Marzipan, goats cheese with blueberries, cherry and orange sorbets, Ferrero Rocher
any ice cream flavour you might imagine you will find it in Logroo, capital of La Rioja
and famous for its wine but also a city with a deep ice-making tradition.
5-Tapas in Burgos
Go for tapas in the many bars in Burgos, offering a wide variety of flavours and
combinations so you can taste as many different dishes as possible.
6-Cured meats in Len
As you get into Castilla-Len, cured
meats become even more prominent in
restaurant menus. Cecina, smoked
beef, is a local specialty and cured
meats (embutidos) from this region are
of exceptional quality.
7-Cakes and Chocolate from Astorga
Astorga had at one stage up to 64 chocolate factories we were assured by Camino,
the shop assistant, at the Alonso Mantecados shop in the Plaza de Espaa. As good an
excuse as any to stop and taste some of the artisan chocolate made locally. Dont forget
to try the famous mantecados (little buttery cakes) and hojaldres (super sweet sticky
puffy pastries). There is also a chocolate museum in town.
8-Botillo in El Bierzo
You will cross El Bierzo on sections 6 and 7 of the French Way, its capital being
Ponferrada. The most famous dish of this region is botillo. It is a dish where various
parts of the pig chopped, seasoned, spiced and stuffed together to be cured and
smoked for a few days. It gets cooked and sliced before serving and can also be eaten
in stews.
9-Octopus market fair style in Melide
Hotels
Bigger Camino towns and cities will have a good range of hotels of all styles and sizes,
from 3 star to 4 and 5 star rated properties.
Paradores
A parador is a luxury hotel belonging to the state-run company Paradores in Spain. They
are usually historic buildings such as castles and monasteries; as well as buildings set
in nature reserves and areas of outstanding beauty. Check out the many paradores
located on the Camino de Santiago in our article: What is a Parador? The most famous
Camino de Santiago parador is the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos in Santiago de
Compostela; which has been in operation for 500 years. In Portugal, you will find similar
properties and they are called Pousadas de Portugal.
Casas Rurales
Casas Rurales or country cottages are a
relatively recent development in the
hospitality industry in Galicia and North
West Spain; and one that has brought new
life to many rural communities. They are
boutique country properties refurbished
keeping in mind the traditional
architecture of the region. They are
generally farm houses, manor houses and
restored homesteads located in rural
settings; they generally offer home-cooking using local or even home-grown produce.
We work with many casas rurales along the different Camino de Santiago routes and
we arrange for our clients to be picked up from the trail.
Bigger towns and cities will have a better choice and range of accommodation options;
while accommodation in smaller villages and hamlets can be limited. The Camino is a
long-distance trail so the mix of accommodation styles will also be part of your journey.
The French Way Camino Francs is the
most popular route and therefore the one
with a wider range of accommodation
options, however it also gets busier,
particularly in Summer months certain
towns might get completely booked up.
Our advice: if you are planning your trip
on the French Way, book well in advance.
Easy (1,2)
Time: Under 5 hours per day on average.
Gradient: Gentle, no steep climbs.
Trail Type: Walking path, easily accessible.
Suitable for: Everybody. Some easy preparation walks should increase your enjoyment.
Moderate (3,4)
Time: 5 to 7 hours / less than 20km per day on average.
Gradient: Up to 1000m ascent per day on average, possibility of some steep climbing.
Trail Type: Walking paths, mountain trails, not technically difficult.
Suitable for: Moderate level of fitness required. Some weekend walks of around 3-4 hours
should help your preparation.
Challenging (5)
Time: Days can be over 7 hours / 20km.
Gradient: Days can be more than 1000m, some steep climbing.
Trail Type: Walking paths, mountain trails, can be technically difficult.
Suitable for: Good level of fitness required. Previous experience would be best. These
should include some mountain walks.
3.
5. Shin Stretch: Place one leg across and in front of the other. Place tip of
foot on ground. With the knee of the leg behind press gently on the calf of
the leg in front. A stretch can be felt on the lower leg in front. Hold for 30
seconds and repeat.