How to Pack for the Camino de Santiago

Selecting a Backpack

Luggage transport will be provided while walking the Camino, so it is recommended that participants travel with normal luggage (transported) in addition to a day pack to carry the essentials that will be needed while walking.

For the day pack, you will want a pack that sets most of the weight on your hips and not your shoulders, and sized for your body type. We recommend that you go to a reputable outdoor retailer, tell them that you are walking the Camino and have them fit you.

Features to look for include a compartment with an easy-to-access pack cover, side or bottom zippers, side pockets for a water bottle (or an interior bladder space), a wide padded hip belt (ideally with pockets), and compartments to hold easy-to-access items like snacks and your pilgrim credential.

What Type of Shoes and Socks to Take on the Camino

The best shoes are the ones that keep your feet dry, supported and blister-free. Regardless of what you take, be sure to trail-test them with longer back-to-back walks before you go. Some people find that they need shoes one-half to one full size larger (or wider) than what they usually wear, in order to accommodate swelling. But your experience will be unique to you.

Most pilgrims take two pairs of shoes: a hiking shoe/boot/trail runner and a sport sandal/shower flip-flop. Trail runners are popular as they are sufficient for the rougher sections of the trail and they’re lighter than hiking boots. There are mixed opinions regarding whether you should take waterproof footwear. It is important to take into consideration the time of year we will be walking, March being a rainy season.

If you take a sport sandal, you can actually spend some of your time hiking in them.

For socks, most pilgrims use a mix of the following in either Coolmax or Smart Wool. Consider cushioning and how the sock supports (or irritates) your trouble spots. Here are the common combinations:

  • A light liner with an outer sock

  • A toe sock (such as the Injinji brand)

  • A double-layer sock (such as the Wrightsock brand)

Guidance on How Much Clothing to Pack

There is a general rule of thumb for how much clothing to pack.

  • One to wash, one to wear, one spare: This gives you an extra set of clothes (or a spare shirt, dress or bottoms) to wear in the evening or to bed.

For the list below, we are listing the “one to wash, one to wear, one spare” list, but you can adjust as you see fit. With the benefit of luggage transportation, it does provide flexibility for how many changes of clothes you bring since you won’t be required to carry it during the walk.

Weather in March

The average high and low temperatures in Spain in March range from lows of 40°F to 50°F, and highs of 55°F to 70°F.

Santiago de Compostela in March usually receives high rainfall, averaging around 5 inches for the month over an average of 18 days.

March presents a range of weather, from warm to chilly, dry to wet. Ensure that the clothes you bring accommodate for the variations in temperature/precipitation. One fully waterproof outfit is recommended for the rain. Expecting that most days will start out cooler with a slight increase in temperature throughout the day, layering your clothes is recommended.

Considering you will be walking in cooler weather, adding a warmer base layer, gloves, rain pants and Gore-tex shoes/boots is recommended.

The Basic Camino de Santiago Packing List

Here’s a printable PDF of this packing list.

Clothing

  • 2 short sleeve shirts

  • 1 light long-sleeve shirt

  • 1 warmer long-sleeve item (lightweight fleece pullover or down sweater)

  • 1 sleep or evening shirt (optional)

  • 1 pair hiking pants

  • 1 pair hiking shorts (or a second pair of pants)

  • 1 pair light pants for the evening (optional)

  • Rain jacket or rain poncho. If you take a poncho rather than the rain jacket, you’ll also want a light windbreaker

  • 1 brimmed hat or visor

  • 1 buff or bandana (can be used as a warm hat, headband and neck warmer)

  • Light gloves

  • 1 pair hiking boots/trail runners

  • 1 pair sport sandals/shower sandals

  • 2-3 pair socks

  • 2-3 pair underwear

Other Gear

  • Something for organizing and waterproofing the inside of your pack: packing cubes, compression gear bags, plastic bags

  • Headlamp

  • Water bottle or bladder

  • Backpack and rain cover

  • Walking poles (optional)

  • Journal, pens, tablet, e-reader (optional)

  • Bible

  • Rosary

  • Sunglasses, prescription glasses

  • Small toiletry kit with small portions of soap, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, deodorant, soap for washing clothes

  • Sunscreen

  • Foot powder

  • Partial roll of toilet paper or facial tissue

  • Something for attaching things to your pack or a laundry line. Can include: clothespins, carabiners, diaper pins, twistie gear ties, or a shower hook

  • Euros

  • Passport

 

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