10 mistakes on the Camino de Santiago that you should avoid in 2023

Peregrinos realizando el Camino De Santiago - Envato Elements

10 mistakes to avoid when walking the Camino de Santiago

Doing the Camino de Santiago is quite an experience. Having to walk daily for hours and go through dozens of locations, is a challenge to the will and physical capabilities of oneself that makes the person who overcomes it feel a sense of pride and joy. And while it is true that when we reach the Cathedral of Santiago we feel a full happiness, it is also the moment when we come to mind the mistakes we have made and we are sure that we will not commit again the next time we walk the Camino de Santiago. 

To avoid that this year new pilgrims make the same mistakes, we have compiled a list of the most common and that can greatly worsen this experience, so we must avoid falling into them at all costs. Write them down!

Forgetting that it is your first Camino

If you are a first-time pilgrim, it is very important that you take this into account, as this will require more work beforehand. It will be important that you do not choose a route for its beauty, but one that best suits your situation of preparation and time, thus avoiding that the Camino de Santiago becomes a bad experience for you. 

In addition, it is essential that you inform yourself very well about important elements such as training, clothing and backpack. And do not forget, if it is your first road, let yourself be advised, the pilgrims who will accompany you during this adventure may have a lot of experience, so it never hurts to listen to them if they want to advise you.

Do not train for the journey

Whether or not you have experience, it is essential that you train before embarking on your adventure. You will also need to take into account the conditions of the route you are planning to travel, as the presence or absence of hills and the weight of your backpack will have an influence.

This is very important, because if we start the journey unprepared, we are more likely to get tired easily as well as to get injured, which in some cases could force us to return home early. 

In addition, if we do the Camino in a group and we are not physically prepared, we may delay the others, thus disrupting the schedule of the daily stages.

Not planning the trip

If you think that the Camino de Santiago is a completely improvised trip, we are sorry to tell you that it is not so. While it is true that we must go relaxed and enjoying the day to day without getting too much in a hurry, there are certain elements that we must take fully studied and planned.

Firstly, it is very important to know in advance what time of the year we are going to do it. This way, we will know the weather with greater accuracy, which will allow us to wear the right clothes and may even help us to decide on one route or another.

Once we know the time of year and the route we will take, we will have to plan our stages, establishing a daily route of greater or lesser distance depending on our preparation. In addition, and especially in summer due to the overcrowding, a good option is to reserve a place in the places where we will be sleeping. Although it is true that public hostels do not offer this option, there are other places where it is possible.

Organizando el Camino De Santiago - Envato Elements

Going with just enough time

Walking the Camino de Santiago is an experience in which the ideal is to be able to go with peace of mind. During the stages we will go through a lot of villages and places where we would like to stop, and if we have just enough time we will not be able to do it, thus losing the possibility of enjoying certain landscapes and even the local gastronomy.

In the same way, being pressed for time can mean extra fatigue. If, for example, travelling to the point from which we will start is already a hard day, perhaps starting the Camino the next day is not the best option. Therefore, we must plan our trip taking into account all these elements for a better experience.

In addition, we cannot forget that there is always the possibility of unforeseen events, so having a few extra days so that this is not a problem will always be the best option. 

Going too fast

Something that all pilgrims should keep in mind is that the Camino de Santiago should never be taken as a race. Many walkers accelerate their pace to arrive first to the hostels and not lose their place, which in addition to causing greater fatigue, deprives them of truly enjoying the route. As mentioned above, this can be solved by planning your trip in advance.

Another situation to avoid is to go at the pace of others, especially if you are travelling alone. Keep in mind that everyone should do their own Camino, since the most important thing is to enjoy the experience, which should be unique for each pilgrim. If you feel like stopping to rest or visit something do it, do not worry about going slower than others.

Overloading your backpack

One of the most important elements that will accompany us throughout our adventure is the backpack. And although it should include what we need on a daily basis, it is essential that it is only what is necessary.

Many pilgrims carry the backpack overloaded with things 'just in case', which makes it excessively heavy and causes back pain and increased fatigue. Do not forget that along the Camino we can find places where we can buy what we need, so it is not necessary to carry everything from the beginning. 

If you think that the backpack can be a problem for you, remember that there is the possibility of doing the Camino without it, as there are companies that will pick it up at the beginning of your stage and deliver it to you at the end of it. It is safe, comfortable and very flexible.

Mochila para el Camino De Santiago - Envato Elements

Wearing inappropriate clothing

Wearing the wrong clothes for days of walking can be a serious mistake. Walking an average of 25 kilometres a day is an effort, so you should wear suitable equipment such as sports clothing that is breathable, sweat-wicking and comfortable. In addition, these clothes tend to weigh less, which is also a plus for our rucksack. 

Another element to take into account when choosing our clothing will be the weather, as it should be specific to the weather conditions. For example, if we start our route at a time when rain is likely, it will be essential to carry a mackintosh in our backpack, as walking wet for hours can even be dangerous. 

It is also essential to wear suitable footwear. Among all the advice on the footwear we should choose to do the Camino, it is important to train previously with those shoes that we plan to wear, so we can know if they are really comfortable or if they can cause us problems.

Neglecting your belongings

Although the Camino de Santiago is safe, we should not neglect our belongings, especially when we make stops to eat or rest, because although thefts do not usually occur, if we are attentive to our things we can avoid scares.

Also, although it is not common, we should be wary of strangers if they approach us with the excuse of helping us with our backpack or recommending alternative paths. After all, being cautious can save you a lot of trouble. 

Forgetting to immortalise the moment

While it is true that this is an adventure to disconnect from the routine and get to know ourselves a little better, some pilgrims completely forget to immortalize some moments and at the end of the trip they regret not having hardly any memories of it.

Therefore, although we are not glued to the phone, it never hurts to photograph those places that we like, as well as take pictures with our friends and those we make during the Camino. Over the years we will be grateful to have all these memories.

Peregrino fotografiando la Catedral - Envato Elements

Not respecting the values of the Camino

Something that all pilgrims must meet is to respect the values of the Camino de Santiago. During our adventure we will meet many people, some from different places and cultures, so respect and kindness should always be present. In addition, we must not forget that after a long stage rest is essential, so if you share a hostel with other pilgrims, remember to respect their rest and not disturb their sleep. 

Similarly, it is mandatory to respect the environment. There are many pilgrims who each year walk the Camino de Santiago, more than 400,000 only in 2022, so it is essential that we all do our bit and take care of the environment. Do not leave leftover food or wrappers, use the litter bins and carry small bags to collect your faeces in case of a complicated situation. Remember, the Camino belongs to everyone.