But take all the usual precautions you would travelling anywhere - tell someone where you’re headed and when you expect to finish carry your phone with you in case of emergency (coverage is very good along the trail) and go with your gut feeling. The more common problems are blisters and sunburn. Hundreds of thousands of hikers walk the Camino every year without incident - in fact, the greatest risk is from traffic as you pass by or alongside some of the busier roads. Trails are well marked, often with the shell that symbolises the Camino. This can be bought for around €2, or you can download a digital version* to your phone. In this, you’ll want plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen and a raincoat.Īt the starting point, you can pick up a Pilgrim Passport (or Peregrino Credencial) and get it stamped twice daily (in shops, cafés and so on) as proof you’ve completed the route. There are a number of tour operators who can organise the whole thing for you, or that offer a “Sherpa service”, moving your luggage each day so you only need to carry a small daypack on the path. You don’t need to rough it along the route either - you can shun the traditional hiker hostels for B&Bs, homestays, farmhouses and even luxury hotels. This will save you roaming around at the end of a long day’s walk trying to find somewhere to sleep. It’s not absolutely essential to book accommodation but it’s worth considering if you know where you’ll be at each stage of your itinerary. If you’re carrying all your things with you in a backpack each day, it’s a good idea to do a test run of this, too, to identify and deal with any annoyances and assess whether you can cope with the weight. Do be aware that in July and August it can be particularly hot, and some of the routes have few places to shade from the sun.īe sure to have worn in new hiking boots before you start the walk to avoid developing blisters as your feet and boots get used to one another. The best (and most popular) time to lace up your boots is between May and September - though a month either side is certainly a possibility. People soon starting coming from all over Europe to visit the tomb, and a pilgrimage route was born.įast forward 11 centuries and that once little-known city is now abuzz with tourists, many of whom don’t simply fly to see the fabled ecclesiastical burial site but choose, instead, to walk there.įind a hotel in Santiago de Compostela* What do I need to know before I set out? His remains were placed in a tomb in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Seizing the opportunity, the church confirmed the discovery and concluded that two disciples guided by angels had brought his body to the northwest corner of Spain by boat and buried him there. If you click and buy a product, we may earn revenue.īack in the 9th century, in a small, unassuming enclave in northern Spain’s Galician countryside, a shepherd is said to have happened upon a very special (and fortuitous) discovery - the remains of the apostle St James. These buttons and adverts are clearly signposted, and provide direct links through to external sites. We also feature properties and itineraries from a specially selected list of trusted operators. Our travel journalism is written and edited by independent experts to inform, inspire and advise our readers about the best choices for your holidays. Main photo: walking the Camino de Santiago-Riaño, Castilla y Leon, Spain (Getty Images) Ready to try it? Here’s what you need to know. In fact, when you reach the end, the questionnaire you fill in to get the Compostela certificate that declares you’ve successfully completed it has a number of options - whether fitness, adventure, culture or simply tourism. And you no longer have to be religious to walk the Camino. Nowadays, there is a network of nine routes of varying lengths to choose from, with starting points in Spain, France and Portugal. They all lead to the same point - the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, capital of Galicia in northern Spain, the alleged resting place of the apostle St James.įrom the Middle Ages onwards, the devout would have set off from their own doorsteps and made their way across Europe to the city to purge themselves of a lifetime of sins. What few people know is that the Camino (path) is actually made up of multiple routes. The Camino de Santiago (or the Way of St James) is Europe’s most popular pilgrimage route, and one that travellers are increasingly adding to their bucket lists.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |