Best shoes for Walking the Camino de Santiago 2026
The right shoes is very important to successfully walk the Camino de Santiago. Walking in the wrong shoes can result in terrible blisters, tired feet, and other injuries that can even end your Camino. Many pilgrims walking the Camino choose lightweight and comfortable footwear because the journey often involves walking 20–30 kilometers per day.
In recent years, trail running shoes have become the most popular option. These shoes are lighter than traditional hiking boots and provide good cushioning, breathability, and grip on mixed terrain such as dirt paths, gravel, and cobblestones. We like traditional hiking shoes with thick cushioning, a stiffer sole and roomy toe boxes. We found these to help reduce blisters and foot fatigue during long walks. Hiking boots are loosing popularity, but some pilgrims still prefer traditional boots for extra ankle support.
In this post I will give you my opinion on the best shoes based on our walking experience on various routes of the Camino de Santiago
Don´t underestimate the importance of wearing proper socks, it can make a huge difference to the comfort of your feet. To prevent blisters good hiking shocks must prevent chafing, keep your feet dry, and provide some cushioning. See our in-depth guide to the Best Socks for Walking the Camino de Santiago.
See our complete Camino de Santiago packing list guide.
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Boots or shoes for walking the Camino de Santiago
Trail runners on the Camino
Nowadays many pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago with trail running shoes. They look a lot like road running shoes, but trail runners are built more rugged to protect the shoes and your feet from objects like rocks, and sticks, so they are light and tough. Many pilgrims mention trail runners as their favorite shoes for the Camino in discussions on forums and in social media.
These shoes do sound like the best choice for hiking the Camino they are light, get dry quickly, and provide enough support for the kind of terrain that you will experience on the Camino. You will mostly encounter forest trails, some rocky sections, paved roads, and depending on the Camino route cobbled stone sidewalks.
Our experience with trail runners on the Camino was not great. We have walked with trail runners on tow shorter Camino de Santiago routes, the Camino de San Salvador (120 km/74 mi) and the Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria (67 km/41,6 mi). We hiked in well-worn trail shoes that we use for trail running. The shoes were comfortable on the trail, but we both had problems with blisters walking in trail shoes.
In the Defense of Trail Runners
You do get many different brands and models of trail running shoes, maybe a different trail runner would be a good idea. We have however not had any problems running with our Adidas or Asics trail runners while running. Since we bought these shoes for running they were a comfortable fit, but not large enough to wear with our thick merino wool socks that was a problem walking long distances. We swear by Merino wool socks, they are fantastic!
Choosing the Right Trail Running Shoe for the Camino
With trail runners, the tread, fit, durability, and heel drop are important factors to consider when choosing new shoes.
- The durability of shoes is very important on long hikes. You do not want to walk in a pair of shoes and have them reach the end of their lifetime during your Camino. The best option is to buy one pair for training, and a second pair of the same shoe to break in a couple of weeks before you go.
- For proper fit of trail shoes check that there is no slipping, lifting, or rubbing in the heel, the toes have enough space, and there are no pressure points when walking
The Toe Box of the shoe is the front part of the shoe where your toes fit. A wider toe box means more room for your toes to move and a smaller chance of blisters due to friction. Check that you can wiggle your toes inside, but not so much room that your foot slides forward or back.
Heel drop - The drop of a shoe is the height difference between the heel and forefoot. The greater the drop, the steeper the angle from the toes to the heel. When standing barefoot and the heel and forefoot both touch the ground the drop is zero. When wearing high heels the drop will be very large. The drop has nothing to do with cushioning.
Drop is important to match your foot strike, which part of your foot hits the ground first: the heel, midfoot, or forefoot. The more you run/walk on your forefoot the lower drop you’ll want. A zero-drop shoe has a 0 mm drop, a low-drop shoe has 1-4 mm, and the average heel-to-toe drop trail running shoe is between 7 - 10 mm.
Popular Trail runners for walking
Popular Trail runners for walking
- Hoka Speedgoat 6 (Speed Goat 5 Ladies) – "walking on clouds" is how many pilgrims describe their experience walking the Camino with their Hoka Speedgoats. You see the fat sole, bright colors of Hokas everywhere on the Camino these days. These super cushioned, trail runners have become extremely popular on the trail. Most pilgrims walk in the Hoka Speedgoat, with lots of cushioning; grippy outsole, and a quality upper. This is a low-drop shoe with a roomy toe box.
- Altra Lone Peak 6 (Lone Peak 6 Ladies) – a running shoe that has since become a thru-hiker favorite. These shoes are well known for their zero-drop design and large toe box. Very popular on the Camino with extreme comfort and thick padding. Unique design. The zero drop is similar to walking barefoot. If you have never walked in no-drop shoes before this can be time to get used to this type of shoe, so make sure you walk them in beforehand.
- Brooks Cascadia 16 (Cascadia 16 Ladies)- very popular with through hikers, feels like a comfortable road shoe, with good underfoot protection. Light quality built trail runners. These shoes have an 8mm drop
Walking the Camino in hiking shoes
Hiking shoes are designed specifically for hiking. With a lower cut, they are more agile and lightweight than hiking boots. Many boots are also available as lower-cut hiking shoes. For Alya and myself, we found hiking shoes to work the best and have worn several different brands and models of shoes in 1000s of kilometers we have walked on 10 different Camino de Santiago routes. We found shoes to be fairly lightweight, comfortable, stay relatively dry, and do not take too long to dry when getting wet. Hiking shoes have a stiffer sole which we found to be great on Camino where you spend a lot of time walking on cobblestones such as the Camino Portuguese.
Popular hiking shoes for walking
- Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX Hiking Shoe (X Ultra 3 GTX Ladies) – A very popular hiking shoe known for extreme comfort, great performance, and durability. Our mid-height Ultra 3 GTX boots are fantastic and this is just a lower-cut version. We really had only great experiences walking in Salomons, Alya walked 3000km (including the Camino Frances and the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon) in a pair of Salomon Elipse 2 Ltr. The Salomon X Ultra 4 has also been released. For a non-waterproof version with better breathability, you can also consider the Salomon Men’s X Ultra Pioneer Aero Hiking Shoes or the ladies’ version Salomon Ladies X Ultra Pioneer Aero Hiking Shoes.
- Merrell Moab 3 (Merrell Moab 3 Ladies) – The Merrell Moab series are probably the most popular hiking shoe ever released. Fantastic shoes we got brilliant service out of doing multiple hikes on varied terrain. A stable shoe with good support and protection a wide toe box, it drains and dries quickly. Also available in a Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof (Ladies Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof).
- Available in Great shoe, but a bit heavy the Salomon X Ultra 3 is significantly lighter.
- Oboz Sawtooth X-low (Sawtooth Ladies), a popular hiking shoe on the Camino de Santiago, is a stiff, stable hiking shoe with excellent support.
Wearing hiking boots on the Camino de Santiago
The two biggest problems many people have walking the Camino de Santiago in boots are weight and breathability. The higher the cut of the shoe the heavier it will be. Leather boots tend to be heavier and less flexible. With boots there are many different choices, the height of the boot and the material used for construction make a massive difference. Old-style, heavy, leather boots do not work well for us.
We both love our Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX (LADIES) mid-length, Gortex boots. Modern, light, and super comfortable we have done some distance in conditions varying from snow to hot dusty trails and have only had a great experience! Light and athletic with a mid-length design. I find them very comfortable and do not have a problem with breathability. I wear them with thick Merino wool socks.
Sandals for walking the Camino de Santiago
Most people pack sandals to wear around the Albergues after a long day on the road. I love my Havaianas flip-flops. They are not the lightest flip flops you can pack, but I find them good quality, very comfortable and have walked long stretches in these sandals on hot days on the Camino. They are not the lightest flip-flops, but they are super comfortable and I find them a good choice to carry in my backpack for wearing in the albergues and walking on the route.
I have met people walking the whole Camino in hiking sandals and saying after switching from shoes to sandals they will never go back! Packing sandals to alternate with your shoes is not a bad idea to keep your feet dry and blister-free. Walking your Camino in sandals is mainly an option if you walk in the dry season. Some popular sandals we have seen are made by KEEN and Teva; Keen Ladies Whisper Sandals, Keen Men’s Clearwater CNX 2 Lightweight, Teva Hurricane Xlt2, and Teva Hurricane Xlt2 women.
Walking the Camino Wearing Waterproof Shoes/Boots (Gortex)
Walking the Camino in Waterproof shoes is usually not recommended. Waterproof material does not only keep water out but also keeps water in. If your feet sweat a lot, leather or Gortex is less breathable and your feet can be wet in any conditions. If it rains enough any shoes will get wet. Waterproof shoes take longer to dry and are not a good option. Changing wet socks during the day in the warmer months is a good way to prevent blisters. Many Gortex shoes do claim they are well-ventilated. We have never had a problem with extensive sweating in our Salomon Gortex shoes.
Gortex shoes can be the right footwear in the rainy season. I will not recommend wearing heavy, waterproof hiking boots on a hot dry Camino in summertime (July/August). Walking in the shoulder season (May, June, and September), can be good, but rain is possible. We walked a very wet Camino Primitivo during this time and waterproof boots worked fantastically.
Walking the Camino del Norte in October and the Camino Finisterre in November when we got a lot of rain. Our hiking shoes got very wet on most days. We managed to dry the shoes on most nights by stuffing our shoes with newspaper (great tip for drying shoes). Struggling a lot we felt waterproof shoes would have been a good idea. If they would have stayed dry in these very wet weather conditions is of course not certain.
Choice of Camino Shoes for different Camino Routes
The Camino de Santiago is not a single route, but a network of pilgrimage routes ending in Santiago de Compostela. None of the routes are extremely rugged and they can all be walked in most kinds of shoes. No crazy mountaineering is involved, mostly hiking on relatively good trails and roads. On the different Camino routes, you will walk on many different types of terrain, a mix of sand, boardwalks, concrete, asphalt, Roman roads, rocks, rain, and mud.
- The Portuguese Camino involves a lot of walking on cobblestones. We do a lot of hiking in Portugal. The cobblestones can make your feet very tired and this surface gets slippery when wet. We prefer walking with a shoe with a stiffer sole for this terrain, hiking shoes are the best choice. The Merrell Moab 3 (Merrell Moab 3 Ladies) is a good shoe for the Portuguese Camino.
- The Camino Primitivo is probably the most rugged trail you will hike on any Camino. It can be walked in any footwear, but we have walked a very wet Camino Primitivo with long stretches of mud. Our mid-length Gortex boots worked fantastically. Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX (LADIES) is a nice shoe, perfectly suited for the Camino Primitivo. This nice, short, flexible, light boot is waterproof and we both find them very comfortable.
Walking in Running Shoes
We walked our first Camino after coming to Europe following a hiking season in Nepal. It was summer and Campbell decided to walk in his road running shoes rather than in his trekking boots. He has done a lot of running in the shoes (more than 1000 km) blister-free. He walked in his running footwear, thin running socks, and his Asics road running shoes. This was the wrong choice of footwear. After a couple of very long days (over 30 km) he got the worst blisters he has ever had. By the end of the Camino, his feet and the shoes both were destroyed. Walking and running are very different, especially long walks with a heavy backpack.
Good socks for the Camino
We are firm believers in Merino wool socks, this is a game changer. Hiking many thousands of kilometers on a variety of budgets we have used probably about every kind of sock you can imagine. Nothing comes close to Merino wool socks. They are simply fantastic at keeping your feet dry and blister-free. They just take much longer to start smelling bad than even the fanciest synthetic hiking socks. DARN TOUGH and Danish Endurance make excellent quality Merino wool socks.
Buen Camino! Good luck and take care of your feet!
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
I strongly recommend Topo Ultraventure 4s. I've hiked 1500 miles of the Appalachian Trail in them and I walked the Camino Primitivo last year in them. Very wide toe box, 5 mm drop, and very comfy. I pair them with Superfeet Hike insoles so it's a cushy ride. Hoka Speedgoat has a more narrow toe box now and Altras are getting complaints on the durability of the Lone Peak 9s as well as a funky change in the heel that people don't seem to like. I just spent 2 months on the AT and I think about 60% of hikers were in Topos. I'm headed to the Camino del Norte in 6 weeks and I'll def have my Topos on. ¡Buen Camino!
Buen Camino!
I’m going to walk the Camino coastal late September and October. I usually wear Berghaus walking boots that I’ve had for a few years and they are super comfortable but after reading articles I believe shoes may be better for this walk.
I have tried on dozens of shoes and none are perfect. I’m currently trying out 2 pairs just indoors as the shop said I could try out and return them.
One is Moab 3 gtx. They feel quite bulky and a bit heavy. The other is Salomon x ultra prime 2 gtx w. They are a lot lighter but definitely more snug in the toe box and I’m concerned that when I had a different pair of Salomon before they were too tight in the toe. These seem a little more roomy in the toe.
My question is are the Salomons likely to give a little and become more roomy over time? Or, should I just wear my comfy Berghaus boots?
Hello Julie, thanks for reading. I find both my Moab 3 and Salomon X ultra´s comfortable. My Salomon X Ultra is definitely a more snug fit. I would not buy a shoe that is not really comfortable in the hope that it will stretch a bit. There are many other well rated trail runners that can also be a good option. Discuss this with the professionals at the store. Always go in shoes that you find comfortable. I would not start a long Camino with shoes with too many miles on them, if the shoes are too worn you can also have problems. If you decide to go for the boots, consider buying a new pair, and walk with them for a while before your Camino. Buen Camino
I'm heading out on the Camino Primitivo in May and was debating which shoes to take. I got the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX hiking boot last year and loved hiking in it throughout the world. I found it light enough but comfortable enough to fit rugged to easy hikes. I was nervous how everyone swore never to use gortex - so I'm very thankful for your report.
Debating about taking another pair of shoes with me though. Did you trade off at all, or just trade off with your flip flops? I have trail runners and the Salomon cross hike or brooks trail runners I've put a lot of kms on. Thoughts>
Hello Renee. Thanks for reading. May can be wet and muddy on the primitivo and I think your Ultra 4 GTX boots can work very well. If you are having luggage transferred I would pack a pair of trail runners as well. If not I would recommend you choose a pair of shoes you have walked the kind of distances you are planning on your pilgrimage. Buen Camino
Hello! I'm heading out for the Camino Frances at the beginning of May, first time! I wear a size 4 -4.5 women's shoe and 3.5 kid's size for sneakers. What do you recommend as it's difficult to find my size. I also would like to consider sandals to take along for walking as well. Thanks so much for your help. I'm enjoying reading your tips>
Hello Alisa, I would say go half a size up if you are buying online. If you are not confident about the size to buy it is better to go to a reputable shop selling shoes where a professional can assist you to buy the best size for you. Bon Camino
I agree with you about the stiffer sole. My favourite Camino shoes are the La Sportiva Bushidos which are a stiff trail runner with good grip. It is a narrower fit shoe so not for everyone but I love them for long walking. Thanks for this review.
Hello Anne-Marie, thanks for reading. Great that you found shoes that work well for you! Buen Camino
I am about to go on to do the camino for the first time in mid June and I am looking into buying new shoes for it. I was looking at the Brooks Glycerin 22 which are more of a running/walking shoe. What do you think about that shoe? I am really prioritizing my foot comfort but I was wondering if I should maybe look into more of a trail shoe...(I am also much at risk of ankle rolling)
Thanks!
Hello Evelyn, thank you for your message. For a very comfortable trail shoe worn by many pilgrims the Hoka Speedgoat 5 is a great shoe to look at https://amzn.to/42Z0BZC. I have never used the Brooks Glycerin 22, so I can not say from personal experience. It is a beautiful, well cushioned shoe, that looks very comfortable. I personally would not use this shoe for long hikes, with high heel stacking it is a great running shoe for heel strikers (hitting the ground first at the heel), also the toe box height is on the low side. I like a big toe box in a hiking shoe so that I can move my toes around even in thicker medium weight merino wool socks https://amzn.to/3GYU2xw Buen Camino
I walked the St Jean and Primitivo in Altra and had no problems. Walked Portuguese with new pair of Altra and got blisters. Now walking from Leon to Santiago in early June. What shoes would you recommend; the ideal in my mind would have the following qualities:
wide toe box
better lateral and medial support to lessen risk of turning an ankle
light weight
Hello John, I am currently hiking with the Merrell Moab 3 https://amzn.to/4dcJuHb, they are comfortable with a big toe box. You can also look at the Merrell Moab Speed 2 https://amzn.to/44A57Pp with a big toe box, lots of cushioning and good stabilization in the mid foot. For ankle support a mid height boot is also available, but they are Gortex, and waterproof boots can get hot in June. I would suggest you try on a variety of shoes and wear good socks https://stingynomads.com/best-socks-for-camino-de-santiago/ Buen Camino!
@Stingy Nomads, thank you very much for your helpful response.
Jmac
Hi, thank you so much for the informative article! A friend and I hope to walk the Camino del Norte in September or October this year. What shoes do you recommend? I’m hoping to find a waterproof pair and bring another pair of sandals for any beach/rain days—thoughts on this and brands?
Hello Sophie, thanks for reading. Walking in September there will be some rainy days, but normally the rainfall is not so high that I would recommend waterproof shoes. I would walk in my Merrel Moab 3 hiking shoes or whatever shoe you prefer. Walking the del Norte in October, especially the second half waterproof GTX shoes can be very nice. We are very happy with our Salomon mid height Gortex shoes https://amzn.to/3F01FDb They are comfortable, fairly light and flexible, a very popular lower cut shoe is also available.
I'm confused! I'd like a recommendation for a lightweight semi open shoe for a reasonably fit ,but inexperienced male walker..covering approx 200 KS,north Spain
Hello Mike, I have never used hiking sandals on the Camino (I have walked many kilometers in my flip flops). Keen Newport H2 are good hiking sandals I have seen recommended by several pilgrims. Complaints I have seen is that they are a bit heavy for a sandal and take some time to dry, check them out here https://amzn.to/3DgiwRq.
Another option you can look at that I know some pilgrims use is Teva Hurricanes https://amzn.to/3EZPc1X
Buen Camino
Hi, We are thinking of walking Camino Portuguese along the sea about 5+ days at beginning of March. First time hikers, 65 yrs. old. Regarding shoes, what do you recommend? Hokas are always great for me. Also saw you mentioned Merrel Moab 3, would that be waterproof or non-waterproof ones? I know March is the rainiest month. Thank you!
Hello Betsy, thanks for reading. Everybody's feet and bodies are different, so people don´t always have the same experience with shoes. If the Hokas work well for you I would say stick with them, they are very popular, good quality shoes that thousands of people use on all the Camino routes. I really like the Merrel Moab 3´s, they are great on the Portuguese route where you do a lot of walking on cobblestones. I would go for the non-waterproof shoes. Even if you get rain, they are well ventilated and dry fairly quickly.
Hi Nomads,
My wife & I have just finished the Camino Frances, walking SJPDP to Santiago de Compostela and as I type are walking to Fistera and then finishing up at Muxia.
We used Lowa boots because of the ankle support and goretex. I have a very bad ankle, so I have the very high Z8-s gtx (a military style boot) while the wife is using a lady Mauria EVO gtx.
Neither of us have had a single blister or even a hotspot, and our feet have been dry the whole way despite extensive stretches of sloppy mud and some very warm days. I suspect the latest boots have come long way since the old days of leather clod-hoppers and are well worth testing if you are heavy & old like us !
The other key has been socks - we’ve both used injini toes socks and they are part of why our feet stayed dry & blister free.
Hello Gavin, thanks for your comment. It is great to hear your choice of footwear was so successful. Enjoy every minute. Buen Camino!
Excellent site. Well done.
I walked the last leg of the Spanish camino (Sarria to Santiago about 8 years ago - 120 km)
I am 82 years of age. Live in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
Planning on doing a guided highlights of the camino this Fall, 2024.
My 23 year old cousin from Vancouver leaves in 2 weeks time to solo walk the classic Spanish camino. If he can, he will try to walk the full 830 km route. That is his plan He has the Merrell Moab 3 boot (not waterproof and the low rise version).
Please put me on your newsletter list.
Thank you.
Douglas Gray
Hello Douglas, thanks for reading, I am glad you enjoy our website. If he is comfortable hiking in the Merrell Moab 3 boots it would certainly be a good choice of shoe for the Camino. He is planning a long pilgrimage, so one bit of advice would be that he uses a pair of shoes that is still fairly new so that they will last to the end of his Camino. Buen Camino
Doing a 1000km in any pair of running shoes is a major no-no. The cushioning in running shoes is completely worn out by 500 miles. Depending on one's weight, running shoes that have 350-500 miles are worn out for running. You can use them for casual shoes, but the best thing is to donate them. Runners make this mistake all the time and wonder why they have foot injuries. Worn out shoes are especially bad for people over age 60.
Campbell's experience using running shoes for the Camino, should have been expected. I have done long distance hikes, but not the Camino. I would never recommend anyone using older shoes for the Camino. Buy a couple pairs for training and break-in prior to your Camino. Having 2 pairs of shoes is the best situation. Alternating shoes gives them a chance to dry out. Also if one gets wet in the rain, you can use the other pair. I know the extra weight of another pair of shoes is not ideal, but your feet will thank you in the end.
I am looking at the altra peak 6 shoe. Really like the shoe. Would you recommend the waterproof weather 2 or the altra 6 that is not waterproof but would dry faster.
Doing the last leg of the Portuguese end of Sept 24.
Hello KW, the Altra 6 is a good choice for the Portuguese in September. I would go with the normal Altra 6.
@KW, Hi, my 2 cents… I walked the Portuguese in the Altra lone peaks July 2023. Great light weight and roomy. As SN said do not do Gortex. I was not used to the zero drop and walking on the sand where the boardwalk was broken or covered puts your foot at an angle like you are doing a steep incline. My calves got over stretched and the heel pressure & shifting sand gave me heel blisters. I used Compeed, no blister popping and healed while walking. I still like shoes, though the tread won’t do for rougher terrain or multiple Camino. My best to you!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Buen Camino
Hello
Thank you for reading my comment in advance and help me choose shoes for my first Camino
I’m walking the coastal Poruguese route end of April. I own a pair of Hoka speedgoat 5 but after training with them for a few months, I think the cushion part aren’t cushioning anymore
Reading your blog, I’m considering either the Salomon Ultra or Pioneer. I have troubles finding them in the non GTX versions with my size. Will it affect my feet a lot if I have to go with the GTX versions?
Would you recommend to size up one or half size to compensate for the swollen feet at the end of the day?
Thank you so much
Hello, thanks for reading. If you were happy with the Hoka´s I would just buy the same shoes now, they are a good choice for the Camino Portuguese with a lot of cushioning on the cobblestones and boardwalks. The problem people have with Gortex is sweating in the shoes not drying. In May you should get some hot days. Personally this has not been an issue for either of us walking in Salomon Ultra Gortex boots. Regarding size you should wear hiking shoes that are a half or one size up since your feet will swell after days of hiking. A finger behind your heel is recommended if you move your toes to the front of the shoe. Don’t buy to big, if you get heel lift when walking on your toes it can cause blisters. Wear similar socks to what you are going to hike in when trying on the shoes. A professional in a sport shop should be able to assist you with choosing the correct size. Buen Camino
Thanks for all the very helpful information!
Do you recommend wearing shoes a size bigger on the Camino Primitivo in August?
It is often suggested for that a long-distance hike taking a couple of days, you should wear hiking boots that are a half or one size up since your feet will swell after days of hiking. A finger behind your heel is recommended if you move your toes to the front of the shoe. Don't buy to big, if you get heel lift when walking on your toes it can cause blisters. Wear similar socks to what you are going to hike in when trying on the boots. You will be walking a lot of up and down, try the boots on an inclined surface and see if they feel comfortable.
Thanks to your suggestions I hiked from SJPDP-Santiago in 34 days with ZERO blisters. I’m 65, and 100 % loved the Altra Lone Peak 6. Wore for at least 150 km hiking in Colombia, 800 km of Camino, and a month later still have a little tread left.
I saw SO many with blisters, saw shin splints and torn Achilles tendons among heavy boot wearing pilgrims. At one point, I gave away my sock liners to suffering friends, and the last 2 weeks only had one pair of toe-socks and still no blisters. Trail runners for me, unless expecting snow maybe.
Hello, thanks for reading. Good to hear you had such a good experience hiking with you Altra trail shoes! Buen Camino!
I have recently found out in Camino de Santiago shop in Pamplona that I’m not too old to walk one of the Caminos.
Got loads of information from the leaflets & came across you guys here. Amazing to find all my questions answered in one article. Lovely initiative & many thanks for all the info.
Hello. Thank you for the comment. If you have any questions regarding the Camino de Santiago will be happy to answer them.
Buen Camino
Hello Alya, I have enjoyed reading your posts and the information you provide is really invaluable. My friend and I are planning on walking the Portuguese route September of 2024. This will be our first Camino. We are both 65 and in good condition but novice hikers. Also, living in Florida our walks are on flatland. Do you think this route would be one to choose for our first (and probably only) Camino. We have talked about doing this for years and want the best experience possible as this will be the trip of a lifetime for us.
Thanks so much.
Dawn Leskoske
Hello Dawn. Thank you for the comment. The Portuguese Camino especially the Coastal Route is probably the flattest Camino route. At the very end of the route on the way to Santiago there will be a couple of steep ascents but all routes have it as the city sits on the hill. It is a good Camino to walk for first-timers. The route is well-marked, has plenty of places to stay, restaurants, shops, etc. I would suggest combining the two routes the Coastal and the Central. Walk out of Porto on the Litoral Way (the route that goes along the coast) to Vila do Conde from there continue on the Coastal Route till Caminha and from there walk to Valença and continue on the Central Route. We have many posts on the Camino de Santiago in general and on the Portuguese route in particular. You can find them here https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-resources/
Buen Camino
We are thinking of walking the Camino in the spring. What type of training regimen is required to be able to walk the longer distances. We are considering the Portuguese route. D0 you have info on the leg that would branch off to Fatima? This will be my first long distance hike.
Hello Ellen. We have a detailed post on walking the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon including the Fatima part. You can find all our posts including the Camino training https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-resources/. From our experience I'm not sure that route is the best one to walk as the first long distance hike. The Lisbon to Porto part doesn't have as much infrastructure as the Porto to Santiago part. There are not many albergues and overall places to stay are more limited. Maybe for the first long distance hike it's better to choose a shorter distance and start in Porto.
Buen Camino