French Way: stages, gear and preparation up to Arzúa

Getting ready for the Camino is above all a matter of carrying little. One rule that helps a lot: your backpack should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight.

Here are the essentials, section by section, so you start on the right foot.

1. Gear: backpack and footwear

These are the two things your comfort depends on most. A mistake here can spoil your Camino.

• The backpack: It should be 30 to 40 litres. Make sure it has a hip belt (so the weight rests on your hips and not your shoulders) and that it is height-adjustable.
• Footwear: Never break in new boots on the Camino. They should be “worn in” with at least 50–100 km beforehand. Trail-running shoes are increasingly popular because they are lighter and more breathable than heavy mountain boots.
• Rest footwear: Rubber flip-flops are a must for the showers (hygiene) and to let your feet breathe when you arrive.

2. What to pack (checklist)

The key is to carry few garments, in layers, and wash by hand.

Ropa

• 2–3 technical T-shirts (breathable, not cotton).
• 2 pairs of trousers (one short and one long, or zip-off).
• 3 pairs of hiking-specific socks (seamless, to avoid blisters).
• 3 changes of underwear.
• A light jacket or fleece (depending on the season).
• A rain cape or poncho that also covers the backpack.

Toiletries and first aid

• All-purpose soap (for body, hair and washing clothes).
• Microfibre towel (quick-drying and compact).
• Petroleum jelly: Applying it generously to your feet every morning before putting on your socks is the best trick against blisters.
• Basic first-aid kit: blister plasters, needle and thread (to drain them), disinfectant, anti-inflammatories and sunscreen.

Other essentials

• Sleeping bag: Light (sheet-type in summer, a bit warmer in spring and autumn).
• Water bottle or hydration system (at least 1.5 litres).
• Earplugs: Vital to survive the snoring in shared hostels.
• Clothes pegs: To hang what you wash (sometimes there are not enough in the hostels).

3. Physical preparation and logistics

You do not need to be an athlete, but your body appreciates a gentle transition.

• Progressive training: Start walking a month before, increasing the distance and, above all, gradually adding weight to the backpack.
• The credential: It is the “passport” you stamp in churches, bars or hostels to certify your passage and get the “Compostela” on reaching Santiago. You can get it from Camino associations or at your starting point.
• Stage planning: Although flexibility is good, use apps (such as Buen Camino or Gronze) to know where the hostels, fountains and services are.

4. Final recommendations

• Documents: Always keep your ID card or passport and health card at hand.
• Cash: Although card payment is widespread, in small villages and some municipal or parish hostels only cash is accepted.
• The routine: Start your stages early to avoid the midday sun and secure a bed in the next hostel in high season.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: the flavour and the knowledge of the Camino

To make your experience complete, this is what awaits you when you start walking:

• Food: the Camino is a parade of flavours, from the Galician broth and pulpo á feira of the last stages to the pulses of Castile or the wines of La Rioja.
• Landmarks: medieval bridges, Gothic cathedrals and paths that have been walked for over a thousand years.
• Leisure: afternoons in village squares, swapping stories with other pilgrims, are the soul of the journey.
• Customs and culture: from the “Buen Camino!” greeting to leaving a stone at the Cruz de Ferro, there are traditions that go beyond the religious.

Many people start their trip in Santiago, which has an airport at Lavacolla and a high-speed train station. From there, the easiest way is to take a bus to Sarria, where the last 100 km of the Camino Francés begin: it takes a little over two hours.

So you can arrive in Santiago and go on from there to Sarria to start walking, or to Finisterre if you want to see the coast. These are the main connections: