Solo Female Walking the Camino de Santiago: Essential Tips & Advice

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First, what is the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago is a network of routes that wind through Europe and converge at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, located in Galicia in north-western Spain.

The belief that the cathedral holds the remains of the Apostle Saint James sparked the pilgrimage tradition during the Middle Ages.

Although the Camino was originally conceived as a network of religious pilgrimage routes, today hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life walk it for various reasons.

In fact, the Camino has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance in connecting people around the world.

Choose the most popular routes.

When walking the Camino de Santiago alone, safety is always the primary concern.

Throughout the network of routes leading to Santiago, few incidents tend to occur, and the paths are far from solitary as one might imagine.

You'll always have the opportunity to be surrounded by or near groups of fellow pilgrims, and many of them will be happy to welcome you if, for any reason, you don't feel safe.

To strengthen this sense of security, we recommend choosing the most popular routes for your first Santiago pilgrimage.

• The French Way is always a good choice, as it's the most-travelled route with excellent infrastructure and signage, making it easy to feel secure.

• The Portuguese Way – The second most popular route, it begins in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, though most pilgrims start from Porto, walking the Coastal Route.

It's an accessible route that doesn't pass through unpopulated areas, which always reinforces a sense of safety.

Like the French Way, it's also a highly rewarding route and comes highly recommended if you decide to undertake this journey alone.

• The Northern Way – This route follows Spain's northern coast from Irun (Basque Country) to Galicia.

It offers stunning coastal landscapes, charming villages, and a distinct experience from the French Way. The route length varies, but it's typically longer than other options.

• The Primitive Way – Considered the original route, it begins in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias in northern Spain.

As its name suggests, it largely bypasses traffic and modern infrastructure, offering a wonderful walk through nature.

This route includes some stages that might be slightly more challenging for beginners, so keep this in mind if you choose this option!

Remember that we at A piedi per il mondo can help you plan your best Camino experience 😉

Pick the best season to walk.

The Camino is open year-round. It's not a shop with opening hours.

It's available 365 days a week, 24 hours a day.

For this reason, we recommend first-time pilgrims walk in spring to enjoy nature and because it's when, along with summer and early autumn, most pilgrims are on the route.

Spring also offers pleasantly mild temperatures, as summer can bring quite high temperatures in some places!

Do your homework

When travelling with friends, you can rest assured that if you forget something essential, someone else will likely lend it to you.

However, when walking the Camino de Santiago alone, it's crucial to prepare well in advance.

To start, you can purchase the A piedi per il mondo guide "How to Organize the Camino de Santiago", which answers all the questions you might have before starting, including where to rest, eat, sleep, and information centres, plus much more.

Beyond our guide, we can help you organize your journey.

Remember that you can request a quote with no obligation.

Prepare well, but don't worry too much: along the way you'll always find fellow pilgrims or friendly locals willing to help with anything you need.

Plan your adventure: stages and accommodation.

We've already mentioned that guides are essential for preparing the Camino, as it's important to know how many kilometres you'll cover each stage and their difficulty level.

The Camino can last several weeks, so good planning at every level is crucial.

You'll likely walk between six and eight hours daily, so good rest each night is essential to prepare for another day of walking.

In this respect, the Camino offers dozens of hostels and hotels along all routes to welcome weary walkers.

If you don't want to worry about where to sleep each night, contact us for a free consultation so we can organize it for you, always offering the best facilities.

The importance of a light backpack

One of the most common beginner mistakes is carrying an overly heavy backpack. Believe me, you won't want to carry such a load for eight hours a day.

Make a list of essentials and then pare it down to include only what you truly need. We have an excellent article about what to pack.

Get physically prepared for trekking

Even if you choose an easier route without steep climbs or hilly terrain, you'll still walk for hours daily carrying your backpack.

For this reason, it's wise to take time to prepare physically for the journey, especially if you're not an active person.

You can start training at home and even do short hikes carrying the gear you'll use on the Camino.

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a dedicated training programme before you depart for the Camino.

Including mountain climbs in your training will help you tackle more challenging terrain with ease.

The better you prepare physically, the more you'll enjoy the journey. But don't worry: you'll improve your fitness during the walk itself, and if you encounter difficulties, remember why you set out on this adventure.

Avoid walking at night

As mentioned, walking the Camino de Santiago alone is generally safe, but it's not advisable to do so at night.

You may find sections where you walk completely alone, and if you need help or assistance, there's no one to turn to (though if you book with us, we're available 24/7 by phone to guide you).

Additionally, even though the route is well-marked, signs might not be visible at night, risking you losing your way.

Most pilgrims follow similar schedules, generally starting in the morning, and it's wise to stick to these hours, especially on your first solo Camino.

Get to know the locals. They don't bite!

One of the most enriching aspects of this adventure is the warmth of local people. Walking alone, perhaps far from home and during a particular life phase (as many pilgrims do), can create moments when you feel lost and isolated.

In such moments, the kindness of strangers means so much.

They're known for being incredibly welcoming to pilgrims, so don't hesitate to approach them if you need help, directions, or recommendations for places to visit.

It doesn't matter if they don't speak your language – trust me, you'll understand each other!

Embrace your emotions

Walking for hours daily for weeks can be, and will be, an intense experience – and I mean that beyond the physical aspect.

You probably started this journey to escape daily worries, to discover what you want in life, and to escape negative emotions.

But here's the thing: you can't run from yourself, even if you walk many kilometres daily. Instead, you'll have the opportunity, as never before, to spend hours simply walking, reflecting, and experiencing a range of emotions.

I encourage you to welcome this moment.

At first it may feel uncomfortable, but over time it can help you clarify your emotions, truly listen to your needs, and start a new chapter in your life.

Acknowledge your fears and overcome them.

If you've never done anything like this before, you probably feel scared and anxious, questioning whether you made the right choice diving into this adventure.

We remind you that feeling afraid before starting something new and adventurous is normal. Acknowledge your fear and remember that it's okay.

Initially the fear may be intense, but you'll be surprised how quickly it fades when you focus on being present in the moment.

Savour the journey

Walking the Camino de Santiago alone can be a challenge, but don't let the unique aspects of this physical and personal journey prevent you from fully enjoying the experience.

We assure you that when you return home, you won't be the same person 😉

And as we mentioned earlier, if you want to walk the Camino but have doubts (those reflected in this article and more), contact us to address all your concerns and let our experienced hands and feet help you organize your journey perfectly.

Thank you for reading, and happy trails!

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