Walking the Camino de Santiago takes some thoughtful preparation, especially when it comes to your gear. Below is a practical rundown of what most pilgrims find useful to carry.

Gear and clothing

• A well-fitted, durable backpack sized to your trip length
• Broken-in hiking shoes or boots with solid arch support and cushioned soles
• Breathable, moisture-wicking clothing that layers easily for shifting temperatures
• Waterproof outerwear — a rain jacket, rain pants, and a poncho for sudden downpours
• A seasonally appropriate sleeping bag or liner
• A fast-drying travel towel

Health and hygiene

• Compact toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo
• Sun protection and bug spray
• A small first-aid kit covering blister care, adhesive bandages, and pain relievers

On-the-trail essentials

• Trekking poles to ease pressure on knees and joints during long descents
• A reusable water bottle or hydration bladder
• Portable snacks like trail mix, dried fruit, and energy bars
• A route map or pilgrim’s guidebook
• Your passport or national ID
• A phone or camera for documenting the journey

A note on weight

Pack weight makes or breaks the experience — overpacking leads to sore shoulders and slower days. Stick to essentials only. Many pilgrims also use luggage transfer services that move their main pack ahead to the next stop, letting them walk with just a light daypack holding water, snacks, and anything they’d need during the day’s stretch.

There’s no single “correct” backpack size for covering 25 kilometers in a day — it really comes down to a few key variables: how long you’ll be out, what the weather’s doing, how much gear you’re bringing, and what feels comfortable on your own back.

That said, most hikers find that something in the 30–40 liter range hits the sweet spot for a demanding day hike like this. That’s typically enough room for the basics: water, snacks or meals, a first aid kit, a map or GPS device, and a layer or two for changing conditions.

Planning to camp overnight or cook along the way? Then you’re in different territory. Once you start adding a tent, sleeping bag, stove, and food supplies, a 30–40L pack won’t cut it. For multi-day treks or gear-heavy outings, look toward the 50–70 liter range instead.

One rule holds no matter which size you land on: pack smart, not heavy. Overpacking — even in a bigger bag — puts unnecessary strain on your shoulders and back over the course of a long hike. Stick to what you’ll actually use, and your body will thank you by kilometer 20.

Burgos

Holy Week turns the towns along the Camino de Santiago into something that stops you mid-stride. If you happen to walk the route in the days leading up to Easter, you’ll find the usual rhythm of the road interrupted in the best possible way.

In cities like Burgos, León, and Santiago de Compostela itself, processions take over the streets most evenings from Palm Sunday through Good Friday. These aren’t tourist spectacles — they’re organized by local brotherhoods, some of which have been running the same routes for centuries. Members walk in long robes and pointed hoods, carrying elaborate floats called pasos that depict scenes from the Passion. The floats are heavy — some weigh several tons — and they’re carried on the shoulders of teams working in tight shifts. The physical effort is visible and deliberate.

The processions move slowly, accompanied by drums and brass bands playing music that sounds nothing like a celebration. It’s somber, repetitive, and surprisingly loud in narrow stone streets at midnight. If you’re standing in a doorway watching one pass by lantern light, it’s hard not to feel the weight of the occasion.

For pilgrims on the Camino, Semana Santa adds a layer of meaning to an already loaded journey. The route is explicitly a pilgrimage, and the holy week timing makes that dimension impossible to ignore. Churches that are usually quieter fill up. Towns that sleep early stay awake.

Practically speaking, some businesses close during Holy Thursday and Good Friday, so it’s worth carrying extra food and water. Accommodation in larger cities books out well in advance. But if you can arrange it, walking during this week puts you in the middle of something old and genuinely alive.

Santiago de Compostela

Holy Week turns the towns along the Camino de Santiago into something that stops you mid-stride. If you happen to walk the route in the days leading up to Easter, you’ll find the usual rhythm of the road interrupted in the best possible way.

In cities like Burgos, León, and Santiago de Compostela itself, processions take over the streets most evenings from Palm Sunday through Good Friday. These aren’t tourist spectacles — they’re organized by local brotherhoods, some of which have been running the same routes for centuries. Members walk in long robes and pointed hoods, carrying elaborate floats called pasos that depict scenes from the Passion. The floats are heavy — some weigh several tons — and they’re carried on the shoulders of teams working in tight shifts. The physical effort is visible and deliberate.

The processions move slowly, accompanied by drums and brass bands playing music that sounds nothing like a celebration. It’s somber, repetitive, and surprisingly loud in narrow stone streets at midnight. If you’re standing in a doorway watching one pass by lantern light, it’s hard not to feel the weight of the occasion.

For pilgrims on the Camino, Semana Santa adds a layer of meaning to an already loaded journey. The route is explicitly a pilgrimage, and the holy week timing makes that dimension impossible to ignore. Churches that are usually quieter fill up. Towns that sleep early stay awake.

Practically speaking, some businesses close during Holy Thursday and Good Friday, so it’s worth carrying extra food and water. Accommodation in larger cities books out well in advance. But if you can arrange it, walking during this week puts you in the middle of something old and genuinely alive.

The Camino de Santiago spans over 1,200 years of living history, and while it remains deeply rooted in its Romanesque and Gothic heritage, it continues to evolve as a dynamic and contemporary cultural space. Alongside the centuries of memories carried by countless pilgrims, modern artistic expressions have found a natural home here, engaging in a vibrant dialogue with the present day.

Street art has become one of the most visible examples of this creative energy. In recent years, bold and large-scale murals have brought colour and life to the towns and villages lining every Jacobean route. From modest pieces featuring religious themes and uplifting phrases — such as those found in Rabé de las Calzadas, near Burgos — to entire building facades transformed by powerful imagery and striking monumental figures, these works invite passers-by to pause and reflect.

Artistic installations can be found in both large towns and smaller villages throughout the Camino, and in several locations this creative scene has grown into a significant draw for visitors, adding a new dimension to the pilgrimage experience.

What has emerged along the Camino goes beyond conventional street art — it might better be described as Jacobean muralism: a distinct creative movement whose works draw directly from the spirit, history, and traditions of the pilgrimage route itself.

These murals are far more than painted walls. They serve as a visual expression of the living culture that has grown up around this ancient path over the course of a thousand years. Some pieces retell the legendary stories tied to the Camino, while others explore themes of spirituality or pay tribute to figures of significance connected to the route. Taken together, they form an ever-evolving open-air gallery that reflects both the individuality of each artist and the remarkable diversity of the people who walk the Camino every year.

Clear air in Trabadelo August 21, 2025

The Camino Francés route that passes between Astorga and Ponferrada has been reopened as of August 21st, 2025. Cleaner air along the way has permitted pilgrims to continue their journey forwards. This announcement comes from the Centre for the Protection of Natural Resources and Civil Protection in Castilla Y León. Smaller camino routes nearby remain uncertain at this time and it is recommended to check staus updates before beginning any stage.

Camino Wildfire smoke in Trabadelo

Due to high concentrations of smoke that make affect health, the Civil Protection of Castilla y Léon announced that as of August 17th, 2025, no passge will be permitted on the section of the camino between Astorga and Ponferrada. Those pilgrims needing to pass through to Ponferrada will be required to do so by bus from Astorga. Local accomodation providers must, to the best of their ability, assist pilgrims on the way by asking them to stay an extra day.

This notice is in effect for only one day, but with such fluid conditions, it may require extentions to these restrictions.