The Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint James, is a hike across Spain that is based on a 1000 yr-old Christian pilgrimage. While there are many routes that make up the Camino, the Camino Francés is the traditional path. It starts in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, and ends 800 km later in Santiago de Compostella, Spain, where it is believed the remains of St. James are buried. Completing the Camino had always been a bucket-list adventure for Market-Square-resident, Jamie Cappelli. 5 pairs of shoes and many blisters later, Jamie completed the hike in July 2017. He left Toronto with very little preparation and, after 7 weeks of walking 5-6 hrs/day every day, he learned his lessons the hard way. Jamie loved the trip and recommends it to anyone. He will be recounting the ups and downs of his trip so that future pilgrims do not have to re-learn his lessons.

1. The Camino de
Santiago
A Non-Pilgrim’s
Pilgrimage

2. JUNE 9
JULY 15

3. Pilgrimage to the
remains of
St. James the
Apostle
in Santiago de
Compostela

4. Santiago de Compostela
• Latin “Campus Stelae”
• Field of Stars
• Aligns to Milky Way

5. Credential del Peregrino
(“Pilgrim’s Passport”)
• Obtain “sellos” or stamps at
each stop

6. Compostela
(“Pilgrim’s
Certificate”)

7. Los Peregrinos
(The “Pilgrims”)
Certificate Minimum:
• Walking (100 km)
• Horseback (100 km)
• Bicycle (200 km)

8. Camino
Frances
and the
many Ways
of St. James

9. Camino
Frances
and the
many Ways
of St. James

10. Planning
your
Camino

11. Planning
• Budget
• Time
• Fitness
• Comfort
• Anxiety

12. Accommodation
• Albergues – € 5-15
• “Refugio” or “Municipal”
• Think “hostel”
• Run by “Hospitaleros” (volunteers)
• Can’t book in advance
• First come, first serve
• Noon-8am
• Snoring and smells
• Most social experience

13. Accommodation
• Pensiones – € 35-50
• ”Guest Houses”
• Think B&Bs
• Own room
• Own Bathroom
• Dinner/breakfast
• Security for gear
• Casa Rurale
• “Country Cottage”
• Eco Tourism (Galicia)

14. Accommodation
• Hotels – € 50-100
• Parador- € 100-300
• Historic buildings
• Former monastery, estates
• State-run
• Luxury
• Only 4 along the Camino
• Santo Domingo de la Calzada
• Villafranca del Bierzo
• Leon
• Santiago

15. Jamie’s Tips
• Do your own Camino
• Luggage transfer (€ 20/wk)
• 1 Maintenance
Day/Week
• Target Feast Days
• Splurge on Paradors
• Extend to Finisterre

16. Gear

17. Gear
• Luggage Transfer (20kg)
• Backpack
• Max 10% of Body Weight or 10 kg
• Waterproof cover
• Camelback reservoir (3L)
• Hiking poles
• Plastic tips for asphalt/cities
• Metal tips for trails
• Walking is 30% faster
• Assist downhill
• Spare socks, undies, t-shirt
• Sandals

18. Gear
• Hiking boots vs. Shoes
• Plan for foot-swell
• Gortex?
• Waterproof or breathability
• Sport Sandals
• Wool t-shirt
• Wool socks
• Buff Headwear

19. Jamie’s Tips
• Break In Shoes
• 100 km before Camino
• Splurge on Icebreaker
Merino Wool
• Socks and Sandals –
Get over it!
• Flip flops
• Foam roller

21. Foot Maintenance
• Isolate your heel
• Short toenails
• Foot-swell
• Moleskin
• Compeed
• Gel toe-separator
• Kinesiology Tape
• Body Glide

22. Jamie’s Tips
• Mid-walk
• Flip flops
• Change Socks
• Overnight Strategy
• Shower
• Disinfect needle
• Disinfect blister
• Needle and Thread
• Drain and Dry

23. Shave
your
head
and
start
walking!

24. Typical Day:
7-8am
20 degC
• Drop off Luggage
• Breakfast

25. Typical Day:
9-10 am
25 degC
• 5km/hr
• 10-15 km
• Tortilla di Patate
• Coffee

26. Typical Day:
10-12 noon
30 degC
• 20-25 km
• Lunch
• Beer, frozen mugs
• Bocadillo de Jamon y Queso
• French Fries

27. Typical Day:
1pm – 4pm
35-40 degC
• Check In
• Shower
• Laundry
• Siesta

28. Typical Day:
4pm – 7pm
30-35 degC
• Limp
• Tour town

29. Typical Day:
7pm – 10pm
25-30 degC
• Dinner
• Pilgrim’s Mass

30. Buen Camino - Highlights from the Trail

31. Cities - Clearly marked

32. …Trails Too

33. Week 1 Day 1
St. Jean Pied de Port

34. Basque Region and
Smuggler Culture

35. Spain Day 1
Roncesvalles, Navarre
”Valley of Thornes”

36. Week 2 - Red soil of the Rioja
Where the wine comes from

37. Burgos
and its cathedral

38. Week 3 - Meseta
“Table Top”

39. Meseta
Saskatchewan
on a series of hills

40. Week 4 - Léon
Christian Kingdom

41. Iron Cross
(Stone from Toronto Beach)

42. Week 5 –
Beautiful Galicia
Cuban connection

43. Sarria

44. Week 6
Last 100km
Christmas
Shopping

45. Santiago de Compostela
Wait – that’s it? It’s over?

46. Looking
for
answers
before
knowing
the
question

47. Could I do this?