Walking the Camino de Santiago as a family

Rebecca Brown - 27 Sep 17

The four of us are a rather active bunch – we try to go skiing every year, the boys love to run around and they’d much rather play footie than watch TV, and we try to make it a point to do something unique and active every year. Now that they have grown up a bit, Alex and Mat keep pestering us about these most wild trips, going surfing in Hawaii being on the top of the list.

I have to admit, we have always wanted them to turn out like us, never still, always on the go, always looking for the next adventure. I didn’t think I’d be worried as much as I am about their safety (it might have to do with the fact that both of them have so far broken an arm), but we love that they spend most of their time outside the house and enjoy themselves doing so. The two of us are also fitness junkies, Rob was a fitness instructor before we got married, and I still go diving every chance I get.

Having said all this, it will not come as a surprise that we decided to take things up a notch this year, and go on the Camino de Santiago. The Caminos are pilgrimages to the town of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and you can choose a bunch of different ways to get there. The point is, you walk all the way, which can be anywhere between 100 and 1000 kilometers. We ended up walking about 200, and it was an amazing holiday. The kids are full of stories to tell in school, they now consider ten kilometers to be a short stroll, and they have built up some serious stamina, as have we. Here are our Camino experiences:

Do your research

The first thing you need to agree on is a route – this can be the crucial part of your trip. Something too long can tire you out too much, something too short may not live up to your expectations, and so on. The four of us did a lot of digging on Camino forums, and read up on everything we could before we sat down to make our choice. The boys were all for the Northern Way, but we ended up going for a stretch of the French Way, and we were very glad we did.

Logistically, this made the most sense, as we needed to fly just a bit, and we could save some time this way. The road is also the most frequented by Camino walkers, and we knew we wanted to be where all the buzz was.

Our advice here is to check out all your accommodation options, and make sure you have places planned for resting. Book ahead if need be, and have a few backup options as well.

Walk slowly

We also advise setting up a plan for each day, in terms of miles to cover. Don’t set yourself up for too much too early, and stick to it. Knowing how much there is to go will help keep everyone motivated, and you will always be able to tailor you plans if need be, as long as you have them in place in the first place.

Also make sure you have fun activities planned for the road. Whether it be games to play, or music to listen to, even audiobooks, as long as you know you have something to do other than walk. This will all come in useful in the evenings as well, when you finally bunk down for the night.

Final thoughts

We’d also advise traveling in the fall or spring, as the weather will be better, which can make a huge difference. It will not be too hot, and you might get a bit wet, but the rains are not too bad this time of year. Make sure you pack a lot of sunscreen though, no matter what time of the year it is, and have hats and sunglasses at the ready. Don’t forget the importance of hydration either!

As for the packing, you will need to focus mostly on the shoes and the jackets, the rest can be easier to find. Spread the weight evenly, and help each other out if need be. Make sure the kids have their own packs as well.

I do hope you decide to walk the Camino – our merry bunch returned home tired, but rejuvenated, and we wish you the same amazing experience we had!

Rebecca Brown

View profile for posts, events and more info