Am I fit enough to walk the Camino?

As a member of our very own Travel Team discovered a few years ago, the Camino de Santiago is not to be underestimated. Even though he was in good shape to begin with, he still ended up wearing a knee brace by the end of his second day on the trail. Thousands of people tackle this classic pilgrimage walk every year, but not all of them manage to complete it. The biggest mistake you can make with the Camino de Santiago is going in unprepared.

That being said, you don’t need a high degree of physical fitness, or years of walking experience, to have an enjoyable time on the trail. If you can do some sensible training in the weeks and months before you leave, and take care of yourself during the walk itself, then you should be fine. Don’t forget there’s no need to walk the entire route in one go; some people prefer to do it over years. You can cut out difficult sections you don’t fancy, or even take a center-based approach first to ensure this type of vacation is for you.

In order to say you’ve ‘officially completed’ the Camino de Santiago, you need to have walked a minimum of 100km. There’s no time limit though, meaning you can add in the odd rest day, or break the route into shorter, more leisurely sections. With most organised trips you will be walking between 14km and 27km each day, and the first day is usually shorter, to break you in gently. These itineraries are tried and tested, so you can be confident they’re very achievable for practically everyone.

The Northern Way is often seen as one of the most challenging routes, due to the steep ups and downs involved. By contrast the French Way and the coastal route are less demanding, while still presenting a few difficult sections. It makes sense to be realistic about your fitness when considering which route to take. If you fall behind schedule it can sap both your stamina and your motivation.

Seasonal weather variations can obviously have a big effect on the terrain on every route. During the summer the trails are much busier, and you will need to cope with the heat. In the autumn and winter, some sections become slippery or muddy, which can be hazardous on downhill stretches.