Once in a while, I see the question pop up on forums and message boards asking if you need to be religious to be able to walk the Camino to Santiago. This is not the case. Let’s expand on this answer and cover the religious and spiritual questions. In the Middle ages walking to Santiago De Compostella was done to make up for your sins, and seek religious help or guidance from Saint John, Saint-Jean, or any of his other ways to spell the name. People traveled on foot, on horseback, and even on their knees to make up for what they did in the past. Today however it is…

To prove and get your certificate on any of the Camino de Santiago hiking routes you have to make sure you collect stamps in your passport. In this blog post I share where to get it, how to take care of it, and other tips. The Pilgrim Passport identifies you as a Pilgrim, with it you can get access to the different albergues and other perks of being a Pilgrim. Such as food, water, and trail magic along the way. It is of vital importance that you get your Pilgrims Passport and that you protect it from the elements. Let’s get started on all the tips and questions for the…

The Camino de Santiago is in (nearly) all cases, not a rugged wilderness adventure where you need to bring a tent, sleeping mat, and the whole shebang. You will be staying in hostels or albergues along The Way. Or in an emergency in a fire station or church. It is however recommended to bring a sleeping bag. Here is why. A good night’s rest is essential on any day, but when hiking all day every day it becomes even more important. Sleep heals your aches and pains and muscles so you can do it again and again. Depending on the Camino you’re going to be walking you will spend anywhere…

The Camino de Santiago is a popular hiking trail that spans across Europe, depending on where you start. The most popular one that is also busiest is the Camino Frances or the French way. This article is all about how to make sure that you keep your valuables safe on any Camino you decide to walk. Any pilgrim will have valuables on them that they need to keep safe, from the most important thing, your Pilgrim passport, to that one pair of sunglasses that you love. Although in my experience on both the Camino Portugues and Camino Frances you don’t need to clutch your valuables to your chest all the…

The Camino de Santiago is not a wilderness hike, if you do it like me, you end up every day slightly intoxicated (or a lot) along the ancient hiking route. Here is a recollection of the Beer, Wine, and Spirits along the Camino de Santiago. Doesn’t matter when you are reading this article when you are about to start planning for the Camino de Santiago or already walked it. I hope this article can provide some entertainment and headaches whether you walked the Camino already yes or no. After a long day of walking, the heat of the sun burning you, the aches and pain that come with walking every…

BIC lighters are a great reliable way of making fire on hiking trips. In particular, the BIC mini is the choice for many backpackers out there. Here is how you make them easier to use with Gloves, cold hands, or in general. By removing the safety on the sparker. This is a project that only requires one tool, a Victorinox Classic, or to be specific, the screwdriver that comes with it. Since it is a nice slender shape the screwdriver fits perfectly underneath the BIC lighter. And can be used to get rid of the safety really easily. So grab your BIC and Victorinox Classic and follow along with the…

Hiking boots are the traditional footwear for any hiker, with time they themselves have evolved and there are more alternatives then ever. Lets cover them. Doesn’t matter where you go shopping for hiking boots, be it on an online store or in a traditional hiking / outdoor store. The first thing that greets you when you walk into their footwear department is the long wall of different hiking shoes and boots. In this article I hope to shed some light on the different choices that await you. And how you can make the choice for your hiking footwear. Quick jump guide What kind of hiker are you? What trails will…

Staying clean and healthy is not only better for you and your fellow pilgrims, but also has a big impact on how your Camino is going to go. In this article I will go over the different tips and tricks that I picked up on the Portuguese Coastal Camino to Finisterre and in many different hikes in the past. As I am a guy I may forget some girls needs, so I called in some help from an awesome German girl who did the same Camino as I did. More on the female perspective later, or jump to that part in the jump guide down below. Quick jump guide Showering…

Hiking is a wonderful sport and activity that can teach you a lot about yourself. Everybody can do it and start in any location. Here are my eight reasons to start long distance hiking. All hikers have different reasons to start hiking, but it all boils down to a few key reasons. When walking a Camino to Santiago de Compostella you will be sometimes asked what your reason is for walking the way. In the beginning I didn’t really have a reason. But the more I got asked the question along the way the reasons became more clear to me. And I hope for you they will to. Peace and…