Tips for Walking the Camino de Santiago SOLO | Follow the Camino

Are you thinking of walking the Camino de Santiago alone? GREAT! The Camino pilgrimage is fantastic for solo walkers of all ages. It is safe and enjoyable to walk by yourself, and it is easy to make friends or find people to walk with if you prefer company!
Follow the Camino has been organising solo and group walking and cycling breaks on the Camino since 2007, so we know all about it!
Here are some of our top tips to make your solo Camino adventure more fun, safe, and fulfilling.
Stick to the main routes so you always have good infrastructure and walking buddies. The Camino Frances and the Camino Portuguese are the most popular routes and are clearly marked.
May to September are the busiest months, so you will always have company if you want it.
Get good walking notes or a guidebook. Make sure that you know where you are going. On the Camino Frances and Camino Portuguese, the paths are well marked, but you may still want to check occasionally to make sure that you are going the correct way. Follow the Camino provides comprehensive walking notes for every trip we organise!
Get active before you leave. A bit of training to prepare yourself for walking several hours each day will make a massive difference to your Camino. Getting an injury when travelling alone is no fun! Follow the Camino has a full training plan here: followthecamin...
Plan your pace and your rest days. Make sure that you are planning to cover a manageable distance for your level of fitness. Add in extra non-walking days to give yourself time to explore and rest if you are walking for more than 7 days.
Be aware of the weather. Even in summer, the weather can change and you always want to be prepared. Carry a light raincoat, a spare warm layer, enough water, and keep an eye on the sky. During cooler months, check to make sure that visibility will be good before you leave in the morning.
Learn about the average weather for each month here: followthecamin...
Wear good, well broken-in shoes. Make sure that your footwear is ready for the Camino and won’t give you too many blisters.
Walk during daylight hours. In Spring, summer and autumn, the sun is up for a long time so you should never need to walk in the dark.
Talk to pilgrims along the way. On the Camino, you are only alone if you choose to be. There are hundreds of other people on the trails with you, so it is easy to make friends and find someone to walk with if you want to.
It is ok to part ways. If you find yourself no longer enjoying the company of someone you have started walking and talking with it is always ok to leave. Let them know that you would like some time to yourself, and say “Buen Camino!”
Embrace time with yourself. Sometimes you will find yourself walking alone for a while and those moments are special. Take a deep breath, admire the scenery, meditate, and think deeply. The Camino is an excellent place to take time to reflect.
Carry a charged cellphone. Even if you are trying to disconnect from technology, it is a good idea to have a phone with you. You can leave it in your bag and only pull it out when absolutely necessary, but it is important to have in case of emergencies.
Pack light. The less you carry the easier your walk will be and the lower your risk of injury. On the Camino, you really don’t need much, and you can always have your main bag transferred between accommodations so that you can walk with a small day bag. Follow the Camino includes luggage transfers on all our trips.
If in doubt, ask! Whether you aren’t sure of your directions, or you need to find a bathroom, people along the Caminos are used to pilgrims and happy to help.
Join a tour group! If you really want to walk the Camino with friends but none of yours can make it - consider joining an organised group! There are dozens of group tours on the Camino every year on multiple routes. Joining a guided tour group means you have someone looking out for you, and a group of people to walk with each day. Plus, they are loads of fun!
You can learn more about Follow the Camino and our active holidays on our website - www.followthecamino.com
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