Packing is the most intimidating thing about preparing for the Camino de Santiago. What you bring, and what you don’t bring, is extremely important since you will most likely be carrying all your stuff on your back. The more stuff you bring, the heavier your pack will be. One or two extra pounds may not seem like a lot, but it makes a difference when you’re walking 15+ miles a day.
I was very unprepared when I decided I was going to walk the my first solo Camino de Santiago on the Coastal Portugues route. I reached out to a few friends and family who had walked the Camino and read countless blog posts about the best items to bring. I made weekly trips to REI to try out various backpacks and shoes, trying to figure out what would work for me. I’m glad I did the research and took the time I did, because I felt very prepared when I stepped foot on the trail.
Everyone’s Camino is different, so everyone’s packing list will be different. This Camino de Santiago packing guide is geared towards women. Please use this list as inspiration for your own Camino, but you know yourself the best. Bring what you know you’ll want to wear and use everyday.
My Backpack
I walked my solo Camino de Santiago with the Osprey Sportlite 25L. This backpack is small compared to others I saw on the Camino. However, it was perfect for me and my needs! As a chronic overpacker, the small size forced me to bring only the essentials. Most importantly, the bag was comfortable and fit my body PERFECTLY. I highly recommend trying out a few different backpacks before choosing one to walk with!
My Shoes
I walked with Altra Women’s Lone Peak 7, which I broke in for a month before. The wide toe box on this shoe makes it so comfortable! Again, try out a few pairs of shoes before settling on a pair. Buy them, go for a long walk, and if they don’t feel right return them. This is the most important decision of your Camino de Santiago packing list! I tried on 10+ shoes and bought and returned 3 different pairs before deciding on these ones.
I also brought a pair of Teva Hurricanes, but ended up not using them for the hike. I only used them after my hike and on days off to give my feet a break from the hiking shoes. I wish I had just brought a pair of flip flops, since they would have been much lighter than the Tevas.
My ESSENTIAL Essentials
Besides my backpack and shoes, these are the things I used almost everyday! Some of them I hesitated bringing but now I can’t imagine having walked the Camino without them, which is why I’m sharing them on this list.
Rain Poncho or your Preferred Rain Gear
Even if you are walking during “dry season”, BRING A PONCHO. I walked my Camino in early May. Based on what I read about the weather in May, I was expecting a couple rainy, spring days, but it ended up raining 10 out of my 16 days on the Camino. I was so grateful for my poncho.
If you decided to take a poncho, choose a large poncho that will fit over your bag. I noticed most people on the trail used a combination of a rain jacket, rain pants and a backpack rain cover, but I liked having a large poncho that fit over my bag. It kept me completely dry up to my knees, and it was warm enough that I didn’t mind if my legs and feet got a bit wet.
I opted for an inexpensive poncho, linked here, because I knew there would be a chance I would want to throw it out after my Camino, as I wouldn’t need it for the rest of my time in Europe. It ended up getting a hole in it, so I did throw it out after my Camino. Opt for something more expensive if you want a good quality poncho that will last past your Camino.
Sunhat
I used my sunhat everyday, rain and shine. It protected my face from the sun, of course, and it helped to hold up my poncho and shield my face from the rain. I love this Adidas one that has lasted on countless trips!
Fanny Pack
I always had my fanny pack around my waist because it provided safe & easy access to essentials & valuables. I could easily pull out my wallet or Camino credential without having to take off my backpack. And when I stopped at a restaurant to use the bathroom, I felt safe leaving my backpack outside while having all my valuables in my fanny pack.
What I kept in my fanny pack
- Passport
- Camino credential
- Wallet
- AirPods
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
UV Parka
I didn’t use this that much since it was raining most days, but on the sunny days I was so happy I had this pocketable UV parka from Uniqlo. This parka weighs almost nothing and folds up to pocket size. It’s super light and breathable, but adds a layer of UV protection from the sun.
Comfy Pants
I wore these pants every single day when I finished walking. They are comfy, cute and fold up small. Personally, I knew I didn’t want to wear the same pants I was hiking in. I wanted to have another pair of pants that I could use as pajamas, but also be able to wear them to dinner after my hike. These pants from Uniqlo checked all the boxes for me. (If I walked in summer, I would have brought comfy shorts instead)
Vaseline/Aquaphor
Rub vaseline on your foot everyday before you start walking to prevent blisters. Sounds weird, but I did this everyday and didn’t get a single blister or hot spot!
Painkillers
I hate to say it, but your body will hurt and painkillers may be what you need to make it through the hike. Especially during the first few days, your body will be adjusting to the weight of your backpack and the shock of walking so much everyday. Advil saved me on the long days!
Small Packable Backpack
Although I didn’t use my small backpack everyday, I was happy I had it to use on the two days off that I took, and on days where I went exploring after my hike. I used it to walk around town or pick up groceries. I also used it on the one day that I decided to ship my bag to my next albergue. If you plan on shipping your large bag everyday, definitely have a small backpack with you to use on the trail. I used one similar to this.
Everything Else
Clothes
- 1 pair leggings
- 1 pair biker shorts
- 1 sports bra
- 3 quick dry shirts (1 tank, 1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)
- 1 pair comfy/cute pants
- 1 comfy shirt
- 1 pajama shirt
- 1 bathing suit
- 3 pairs wool socks
- 5 underwear
- 1 fleece jacket
- 1 UV parka
- Sun Hat
- Sun glasses
Travel Size Toiletries
- Face wash
- Body wash
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Moisturizer
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush & paste
- Hairbrush
- Sunscreen (face & body)
Electronics
- Adapter
- Phone charger
- Portable charger
- Camera & charger
Other things
- Tissues (doubles as toilet paper)
- Microfiber towel (many albergues don’t provide towels)
- Sleeping bag (if staying in public albergues, which often don’t provide sheets
- Laundry detergent sheets
- Journal
- First aid kit
- Blister plasters (didn’t use)
- Travel cutlery set (didn’t use because I didn’t carry food with me much, but if you plan to then bring this)
Here’s the moment me and all my things made it to Santiago de Compostela! I hope this packing guide helps you decide what to bring on your pilgrimage. Buen Camino!
