My Camino de Santiago Journey : Part 2

Posted on by Marie Journals

What I Packed, What I Learned: Camino de Santiago Prep Guide for First-Timers

Preparing for this trip took months—mainly because I kept delaying it out of hesitation.

But once my visa was approved, things got real.

That was my cue to seriously plan for it and start reserving places for domestic transportation and (gulp) start learning Spanish. 

I really wish I learned Spanish earlier because it would’ve been easier to communicate with the locals. I feel like I missed out on a lot of good stories with a lot of people because I can’t speak Galego or Spanish.

Here’s a breakdown of what I brought as a Camino first timer, what I wish I hadn’t, and the things I’ll do differently next time.

I am certainly not an expert, some of these things are also stuff I saw from other people’s list. Everyone has different needs so you don’t have to bring all of the things I brought but some of them were a life saver for me and really helped so I want to share them here.

WHEN TO GO?

I went on June 24-28 2025 and it was brutally hot. Apparently this year it was hotter than usual so it’s really hard to estimate but next time I would try to go earlier or later.

The temperature went as high as 35°C so it was more exhausting. I was grateful whenever I walked through the woods because there was shade but that’s not always the case. Sometimes you’ll walk on the side of the road with no shade.

I did my Camino (from Sarria to Santiago) for 5 days but I wish I did it for 7-8 days so I had time to really enjoy the hamlets and towns I pass by. The last two days were just miserable for me so I don’t recommend it.

I met some people who were doing the same distance stretched out to more days and I wished I did it like that.

🎒 THINGS I BROUGHT 🥾 

SHOES

I brought La Sportiva Akyra trail runners for the walk, a pair of casual shoes for post-Camino travel, and slippers to rest my feet at night.

Tip: Break in your shoes well in advance to avoid blisters.

CLOTHING & RAIN GEAR

I rotated between two pairs of hiking pants and one pair of yoga pants.

I was never comfortable with wearing hiking shorts but I wish I did because IT.WAS.SO.HOT. I think at one point of the day it went as high as 35C. 

I don’t like being drenched in sweat while sitting in a restaurant, so I brought two quick-dry T-shirts.

I brought gloves (a thin one for summer) but never used them. I used an arm cover instead and it helped protect my arm from direct sunlight without getting so hot.

I brought rain gear but only used my small umbrella once. A poncho would have been much more convenient.

One big lesson on this walk was learning to embrace discomfort instead of stressing about it and fighting it. 

SOCKS & FOOT CARE

I followed everyone’s advice and changed my socks 1-2 times a day and re-applied foot powder every time. 

My routine was to wear thick Darn Tough socks in the morning and switch to toe socks later in the day. 

I tried switching it up – but ended up returning to this routine.

On Day 4 and 5, I felt a hotspot forming so I used hydrocolloid bandages right away. My feet and legs hurt like never before, but I didn’t get a single blister—thanks to everyone who shared their tips!

I also brought knee and ankle support.

Pro tip from a friend: Dip your feet in cold streams when you can. Pure bliss.

SUN PROTECTION

Hat, Sunglasses, Microfiber Towel & Sunscreen- Since I often walked during peak sun hours, I was glad to have them with me. 

Yes I know, I should’ve started early like everyone else but it’s still so dark at 7am and I didn’t feel comfortable entering the forest alone.

Also, after walking 30km and 45,000+ steps on my first day, I think my body went into shock and was just tired the whole time I was in Europe. 

I didn’t have a proper rest until the 10th day so I always woke up later than usual. 

*Next time: I would try to start my hike early, that way I am already resting by noon and still have time to explore the town after my siesta. 

I didn’t get to do that because I’d start around 9am and take my time walking.. By the time I reach my accommodation around 16:00-17:00, I would shower and do my foot care and it would already be time for dinner and then bedtime. 

Solo tip: I suggest getting ready early and just walk to the marker and wait for someone. You can try to walk behind them just so you wouldn’t feel completely alone, or you can ask them if you can walk together until the sun is out.

HYDRATION: INSULATED BOTTLE OR BLADDER – I chose a 20oz bottle over a hydration bladder. Shops typically refill bottles from the tap. While some prefer to ask for free water, I liked supporting local businesses by buying something whenever I needed to use their facilities.

TREKKING POLES- I didn’t think I’d need them, but they became essential. They helped me stay balanced and gave me strength when I was exhausted. It became my second companion—right after Kuma-chan, my little stuffed dog who kept me company. I felt safe walking with it.

HEADLAMP – I always bring one even though most times I never used it. But it is something that is good to have in case of emergencies in case you find yourself still on the trail after dark—or in rare cases, like the blackout in Spain a few months ago.

FIRST-AID KIT – Yes you can buy medicine there but I find it more expensive than in Japan, so for me it’s better to bring it and maybe just leave it in your suitcase to be transported. I brought my own compeed, bandaids, painkiller, antiseptic, gauze, stomachache medicine and I think I only used the compeed and painkiller on the last two days. The rest thank God I didn’t have to use it, but I still think it’s good to have.

I brought melatonin because even though I was exhausted, I sometimes had trouble sleeping—partly due to noise outside or lack of AC.

And even though I brought EARPLUGS with me, I would still hear the loud noises because it was that loud. Coming from Japan, the noise level was a big cultural adjustment.

TOILETRIES – Travel-sized is best. I brought a new deodorant and sunscreen but I wish I brought a smaller size.

POWER BANK & CHARGERS – I don’t know how attached you are to your phone but even when I wasn’t using on my phone for maps (I just relied on the markers which was a huge help for giving me a digital detox) I still found myself going low on battery at the end of the day because I used my phone for making voice notes and taking pictures and videos.

JOURNAL (Optional) – I tried to write during my walk, while on lunch or on a break, but I found voice notes more convenient because I don’t have to take them out of my pack every time I feel like writing. 

DOCUMENTS – Passport and pilgrim’s passport. Make sure you write your name on it because someone lost hers and we had no idea whose it is because she didn’t write her name. I also printed my travel insurance policy copy in case I need it.

I also brought a printed version of my itinerary and address/contact numbers of places I would stay just in case I lose my phone but I never had to use it and I stopped bringing it on the 4th day to lessen the weight of my pack. But I don’t think it’s wrong to not bring one.

*I forgot to print out a list of emergency contacts & medical info because I thought my phone would be enough but I think it’s smart to have this in physical copy too. 

CARD & CASH – most places accepted my debit card but some didn’t. Some places my card didn’t work so I had to pay cash so I think it’s good to have both.

BACKPACK – I was going to bring a 20L (Salomon Xtrail backpack) but opted for the 28L Gregory Jade instead for the extra space and pockets. In hindsight, the bigger the bag, the more you convince yourself you need to fill it. 

Items I brought on the first 3 days but didn’t use while walking:

  • Slippers – only used at night
  • Full First aid kit (I only used painkillers & hydrocolloid bandages on the 4th and 5th day)
  • Rainwear – it only rained a little bit so my umbrella was sufficient
  • Extra clothes (Underwear, t-shirt and 2 socks) – I only used one change of shirt and socks mid-day
  • Compact Massage gun (Which I thought I’d use for recovery while resting but I didn’t have much time. I only used it at the hotel before sleep)
  • Extra insulated water bottle so I can keep my water cold. -I realized one was enough because we passed by shops and were able to buy drinks from them.
  • Lots of trail snacks and a powder electrolytes.I ended up buying snacks at the shops especially when I want to use their toilets.

By Day 4, my feet were in pain. I decided to just ditch the heavy backpack and just carried my fanny pack with just the ultimate essentials. 

What I kept in my fanny pack (Salomon Trailblazer):

  • Passport & pilgrim’s passport
  • Debit card & cash, 
  • Towel & cooling wipes
  • Phone & mobile charger
  • 20oz hydro flask (enough for the busy Sarria route, with regular refill spots)
  • Extra T-shirt & extra socks
  • Hat, Sunglasses and Sunscreen
  • Trekking Poles
  • Insect repeller (there were some parts that you need this.. And a lot of restaurants don’t have AC so there were some flies too.)
  • My companion kuma-chan (dog stuff toy)

Pack weight:

Day 1 – 11kg
Day 2 – 7 kg
Day 3 – 6 kg
Day 4 & 5 – 3kg

Things I brought with me and kept in my suitcase to be transported:

(I used PILBEO company. I find their website easiest to navigate. They allow up to 20kg. I planned on travelling to Portugal, Barcelona and Madrid after my walk so I had stuff with me that you might not need for your walk, my suitcase was 20-23kg)

  • Sea to Summit Quick dry towel (Didn’t get to use because the places I stayed at always had fresh clean towels.)
  • Towel Poncho (I stayed in private rooms with shared bathrooms sometimes and I didn’t like changing inside the bathroom nor walking around in my towels. So this was really great to have.
  • Smart Tags – to track my suitcase and backpack incase I lose them.
  • All my toiletries stayed in my suitcase for transport.

Packing Tip: If you’re unsure about something, you probably don’t need it. Start light—you can always add later. Walking with too much weight is a regret I heard from many pilgrims (myself included!).

APPS I USED

I was overwhelmed with a lot of suggestions of apps to download but these are the ones I only used.

  • All Caminos (Frances) – I find this easiest to navigate.
  • Google Maps – I mainly just looked for markers but there are times where I get anxious if I’m still on the right track so I still checked google maps sometimes.
  • Alert Cops – To call for help during emergencies.
  • Voice Recorder on Samsung for recording voice notes.
  • Whatsapp – to keep in-touch with other pilgrims I met
  • Viber out – Something I wished I downloaded because when I got there, it was already too late to download and get the codes. There were a few times that I have to call a local phone and they didn’t have whatsapp. I was lucky that I met people who made phone calls for me but so this would’ve been handy.

FB GROUPS I JOINED

MAJOR EXPENSES 

Flight – €961 (I flew with AirChina from Japan with a stopover at Beijing. I won’t recommend it though because I wish I just transited through Incheon)

Hotel – €560.63 (if my original plan went through, €630.36 because I wasn’t able to get to O Cebreiro the day I was supposed to.) 

Food– €11-15 per meal. But I struggled finding a set meal with salad and rice. Everywhere I went offered mostly bread so it wasn’t very filling for me. I drank a lot of orange juice and cafe con leche (coffee with milk).

Some places I stayed at (different post) offered dinner and breakfast so I didn’t have to leave the place and look for food.

*€56 & €61 – I splurged on 2 restaurants because they were both rich in history and I wanted to comfort myself because I was on the verge of giving up.

Laundry- €9 per batch and I did it twice during my walk.

ESIM– €23 (I used Airaloo -message me for the discount code, I bought 15 gb for 30 days and got 6gb left)

Travel Insurance – €87 (for 22 days I was in Europe)

Luggage Transport – PILBEO (€42- 1 Suitcase for 3 days and additional backpack for the last two days)

⛑️ SAFETY AND WALKING SOLO

While I was planning this trip and in my hesitant phase, someone asked me why I was so scared of going alone and what exactly it is that makes me scared.

“Getting lost? Getting R*P*D? Getting injured? Wild animals?” 

I said all of the above.

She told me she had the same fears, but told me not to let them stop me. I just need to take precautions for the situations that I am afraid of, to ease my anxiety.

She said “anxiety before doing something outside of your comfort zone is normal but I got this, and that once I arrive and start my walk I will laugh at why I was so worried”..and she was right. Thank you so much Kiera! (HeyKiera on IG)

Feel the fear and do it anyway. One of my fears is walking alone in the forest and it ended up being one of my favorite times. Walking in the forest gave me shade and it felt like God was trying to protect and comfort me from the heat of the sun. It felt like a father protecting his child making sure she is alright. 

Kiera also advised me to bring a keychain alarm (confiscated when I transited through Beijing Airport) and to use my pole if an animal (or a person) tries to attack me.

*Someone mentioned using a dog chaser but I have never heard of it. Although I saw a few dogs every day, there wasn’t one that looked unfriendly. But that’s not to say that they will never ever attack you. I read some posts about getting bitten by dogs so you never really know.

SOLO TRAVELLING: I transited through Beijing Airport alone and started walking solo, too. I was only nervous before I started my walk but once I started, there was never a point where I felt unsafe.

Still, I was cautious. I paid attention to my surroundings, and made sure to share my location with at least 2 people.

I downloaded the “Alert Cops” app so I can notify the emergency hotline in case I need help and I have my family and boyfriend as my emergency contacts.

🌱 Final Thoughts

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and helped me overcome my fear. Every tip, every encouragement, every lesson made a difference.

If you’re nervous, that’s okay. I was too. 

Just prepare well, listen to your gut, and trust the process.

In Part 3, I’ll take you with me on the actual walk—challenges, blessings, and everything in between. 

I hope it inspires you to take the first step, too.