YOU on the Camino de Santiago – Details, episodes & analysis

YOU on the Camino de Santiago, that’s why we are here.

You, taking your first steps on the trail, full of excitement and anticipation, and perhaps feeling a little anxious about what lies ahead.

Imagine, you are in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, or Porto, Portugal, or Oviedo, Spain, or wherever you will be starting your Camino walk. Backpack loaded, trail before you, and you, unsure of what is to come, yet somehow so determined to do this. researched, you’ve prepared, you’ve planned, you’ve packed, and you have tackled another of many hurdles: you have gotten yourself to your starting point.

Can you see it? Can you imagine yourself there? Imagine yourself full of emotions, maybe a little jet lagged, possibly hungry and wondering where to find breakfast. You probably know your destination for the day, but you’re not entirely sure how to get there.

You look around you and – thankfully – you are not alone: there are other pilgrims! They, like you, are eager to connect, make friends, and perhaps most important, not walk out of town alone.

How did you get there, to Saint Jean, or Porto, or Oviedo, or wherever you will be starting your Camino journey? How did you decide when to go, and which route to walk, and where to start on your chosen route? How did you end up there on your own, or with the group you will be walking with? How did you work out your budget or how far to walk that first day, and every day after? How do you know where to sleep and where to find food?

See, that first step you are going to take on the trail, leaving Saint Jean Pied de Port, or wherever, is by far and away, not the first step of your Camino journey.

I am here to talk with you about those first steps and all the steps you need to take to get you to your starting point and on your Way.

The goal of this podcast takes you from idea . . . to saying YES! . . . to your first steps on the Camino trail. Whether you will walk in Spain, France, or Portugal, this podcast gives you a planning roadmap and practical tips, plus heartwarming and helpful stories from others who, like you, are getting ready for their first-ever pilgrimage on the Camino.

HI, I’M NANCY REYNOLDS, GUIDE AND LONG-TIME PILGRIM ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IN SPAIN.

Are we meeting for the first time? Yay! Welcome to the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast! I’m glad you’re here. It will be my pleasure to walk with you as you plan and prepare to walk your chosen Camino route.

In case you’re wondering who I am and why I have so much to say about the Camino, you can learn more here.

GET YOUR FREE COPY OF THE CAMINO PLANNING ROADMAP

Ready to get the big picture view of how to plan and prepare for your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago? Here it is! Simple follow this link: https://pages.thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap

BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST

Would you like to share your experience of getting ready to walk the Camino de Santiago and receive some personalized guidance on your planning and preparations?

If you have not yet walked a Camino and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please let me know you are interested here.

I hope you enjoy the podcast!

~ Nancy

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

What is the Camino de Santiago?

Do you remember when you first heard about the Camino de Santiago? Maybe it was from a friend who had walked it, or a newspaper article. Maybe you saw the movie, “The Way”, with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, and something stirred deep inside. Something awakened within you, and you felt the pull to know more.

In this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast we are going to wander around in some basic questions:

• What is the Camino?
• Why do people walk the Camino?
• What does it mean to “do” the Camino?
• And what is it like, what is the experience of walking the Camino?

And we will get personal – why would you walk the Camino? What experience are you seeking?

How do you get started with planning a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago? Where do you start the task of mapping out your pilgrimage?

How do you know what you need to do to get ready to walk the Camino de Santiago???

The Camino Planning Roadmap is your guide! Available at https://thecaminoexperience.com/ and here.

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Pilgrim Kathy Gets Ready to Walk the Camino del Norte in 2023

What does it mean to be brave for yourself? As Pilgrim Kathy prepares to walk the Camino del Norte in 2023, she shares about her regrets, fears, and being her own super hero.  

We also cover a wide variety of practical pilgrim-centric topics, such as travel insurance, checking a bag on the airplane, how and when to find food on the Camino, and the contributions the hospitaleros, or hospitality hosts, make to the pilgrims.

How Many Pilgrims Complete the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela Each Year?

And as promised, here is the website where you can follow the statistics for pilgrims reaching Santiago and receiving the Compostela certificates.

Laundromats in Santiago de Compostela

And also as promised, here are the addresses for those two gorgeous laundromats in Santiago:

Rúa das Hortas, 10 and Rúa de San Clemente, 18 15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña

YOUR Camino Experience

What is in the way of you making your Camino dream a reality? Let’s talk about your Camino Experience.

Related: Check out this Facebook group to learn more about the Camino del Norte and to ask questions.

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

When you imagine yourself on the Camino, who is there? 

Are you on your own? Is your spouse or partner there with you? Are you with a big group of your favorite people, perhaps family, perhaps not?

The question of who are you doing this with is, I think, broader than it appears at first glance. That’s because there are so many parts to getting ready for and walking the Camino, and so many points at which you may want or need someone to do it with you.

This episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast has a lot of detailed information to assist you as you determine with whom you will walk the Camino. Click here for the promised lists of questions and other resources discussed in this episode.

Are you somewhere in between wanting to walk the Camino on your own and wanting to start the walk with a few people?

The Camino Experience might be exactly what you are looking for! Learn about starting your pilgrimage with the Camino Experience here.

Related: In case you missed it, Pilgrim Amanda shared her plan for walking the Caminho Português with a friend. She shared with us the questions they are talking about before they leave home, to help make the journey go smoothly.

P.S. This episode is dedicated to my dear friend, Heidi Fowler, who is blessing me by bearing witness to my journey and allowing me to bear witness to hers.

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Someday-Pilgrim Kimberly Talks About the Idea of Walking the Camino de Santiago

From the kindness of strangers to gaining an expanded sense of community to being connected to centuries of history - there is so much to be discovered and experienced by walking the Camino de Santiago.

Join me for a poignant and uplifting conversation with Kimberly as she explores the possibility of someday being a pilgrim on the Camino in Spain or Portugal, in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast.

UPDATE: The fabulous albergue mentioned at the end of this episode - Vagabond Vieiras - is no longer a donativo albergue. You can now reserve your bed and pizza dinner in advance on booking.com. Or simply turn up as you walk through the beautiful Valcarce valley.

Say YES! to Walking the Camino

How do you take your dream of walking the Camino de Santiago someday to actually taking your first steps on the trail? Check out The Camino Experience to learn how to go from "yes, I want to do this!" to making that dream a reality.

Be a Guest on This Podcast

For all of you first-time or someday-pilgrims, would you like to be a guest on this podcast? I would love to hear from you! Let me know you are interested here.

Related: Looking for stories about pilgrims who have already walked the Camino?

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Where do pilgrims sleep on the Camino? And What is an Albergue?

In this episode I give a full run-down on the what, the where, and the how-they-work of the pilgrim’s hostels, or albergues, on the Camino. And I explore the other sleeping options, in case sleeping in shared dorm rooms isn’t for you.

What about the idea that the albergues are the heart of the pilgrim community, and that true pilgrims stay only in the albergues? We will look at that, too, in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast.

Camino Resources

Here are my favorite websites that have up-to-date lists of albergues:

 - Gronze

 - Eroski Consumer

Here are the most popular Camino Apps:

 - Camino Ninja (not available in some places, and not updated since summer 2022)

 - Wise Pilgrim

 - Buen Camino

Ready to Upgrade from the Albergues?

Discover the Spanish Parador Hotels

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

Correction:

According to the list of albergues handed out by the Pilgrim's Office in Saint Jean Pied de Port, roughly 40% of the albergues on the Camino Francés are open all year (not roughly half, as mentioned).

Related: What else do you need to know about staying in the albergues?

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Where do You Find Food on the Camino?

What is available, when is it available, and how much does it all cost?

On the first day of my first Camino walk, I walked 17 kilometers powered only by pastries. Why? Because I had no idea where and, more importantly, when to find food in Spain.

Eating on the Camino can be an exciting adventure and a culinary journey in and of itself.  Some days you will wade through a gourmet extravaganza provided by some very creative kitchens.  Other days you will find yourself in a culinary wasteland, where the only goals are to stave off hunger and find some basic nutrition.

Either way, you won’t go hungry.

You may have heard that the Spanish diet is heavily oriented towards meat and bread. Where does that leave the vegan and vegetarian eaters? And what if you require a gluten free diet? Well, good news, things have been evolving in Spain, and there are now plenty of food options for everyone. You do have to work for it some, but it is completely doable. And I will include some tips for all of you in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast.

İBuen provecho!

Resources for Vegans and Vegetarians

Happy Cow: Website & app

Facebook groups:

 - Vegetarians and Vegans on the Camino

 - Camino de Santiago – Veg, Vegetarians and Vegans

Related: More details on eating and drinking on the Camino de Santiago, please!

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

How much does it cost to walk the Camino?

How does the amount you spend for your pilgrimage influence, or even determine the experience you will have on the Camino? Or from another perspective, think of the experience you want: how much will that cost?

The costs on the Camino are what they are, and in episodes 14 and 15 I shared with you what I paid for food and accommodations on the Camino Francés in 2022. That second question, though, is meant to suggest that you can spend however much – or little – you want on the Camino, in order to have the experience you want.

Your on-the-ground Camino expenses are largely made up of two categories: where you sleep and where and how you eat. When people ask how much does it cost to do the Camino, I think this is usually what they are asking about, so I am going to talk about those expenses first.

Then, I will look at how much your travel expenses might be, to get to the Camino and to your starting point, and then back home again. And finally, I will talk about those expenses that come before you get on the plane or train to go to the Camino, what I call preparation costs, or pre-travel expenses.

There is a fair amount of detail coming your way in this episode, so you may want to have handy a pen and paper to make some notes. Also, you may want to open the webpage with the sample budgets I put together for you, so you can refer to them as we go.

When you look at the sample budgets, you will notice that in order to put together your Camino budget, you will need to know a few things. For example, you will need to know how many days you expect to be on the Camino, how many days you want at you starting and ending points, and if you will continue on to Fisterra or Muxia after you reach Santiago.

There are a few other things you will need to know, and I will walk you through those in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Learn more about Eating on the Camino

Learn more about Sleeping on the Camino

Shop for flights, buses, trains, and taxis with Matrix ITA Software here.

Compare and shop for travel insurance policies on Squaremouth here.

Related: How can you save money while traveling (and not just on the Camino)?

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

Your Camino Plan

This is the final episode of Season One of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast, and I want to thank you for tuning in each week, and for joining me on this journey to make your Camino dream a reality.

And when I say thank you I am sending that message out around the world. Do you know why?  People are tuning in from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and a few more – 44 countries in all. My global heart is so happy to have you here with me.

Thank you.

I hope you are finding this podcast helpful, useful, enjoyable . . . or at least interesting. What have you taken away from this season? Favorite top tips, most useful topics, new ideas for your Camino journey. What are your Camino plans? I would love to hear from you. I have an easy to remember email address where you can send me a note. It’s [email protected].

In This Episode

In this episode I share with you what I am working on for you for next year, and then I give you a wrap up of Season One. By now you should have a pretty solid Camino plan coming together.

I also give you a preview of Season Two and ask for your input on which topics are most important to you as you plan and prepare for your upcoming Camino pilgrimage.

Here are all the links I mentioned in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast:

  > Tell me what you want for Season Two, which starts in late January

  > Donate to the podcast production fund (or buy me a coffee or two!):

  > Be a guest on this podcast

  > Find out why you would start your Camino walk with The Camino Experience

Related: Never miss an episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast. (You can also subscribe on your favorite podcast player.)

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

7 STEPS TO TRANSPORTING LUGGAGE ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

One of the most frequently asked about topics in the Camino Facebook groups and on the online forums is the luggage transport services on the Camino. You have probably heard pieces of information on this topic but I bet you've been left with some questions. In this two-part episode, we are going to cover this topic from end to end.

You might have some questions like: 

• How does it work?
• What can I send with the transport services?
• Is it safe?
• What company should I use?
• Do I have to book in advance or can I just wing it?
• Is it easy to set up or is it complicated?
• I don't speak Spanish so how's that going to work?
• What if I have things I won’t need while walking?

Here is the whole story, broken down into seven easy to manage steps. It is so much information that breaking it into two smaller episodes seemed to make sense. Part One has steps 1 & 2, and Part Two has steps 3 through 7.

UPDATE: There is a new company serving Refuge Orisson starting in April 2024. Orisson will accept transported bags only from this company: Donkey Service

ALL THE DETAILS ON CASA IVAR, CORREOS, AND MORE

Here is a link for the details on some of the luggage transport companies plus information on shipping and storing items in Santiago de Compostela:

JOIN MY EMAIL LIST

And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).

BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST!

Let's spend some time together talking about your Camino dreams and answering your most urgent questions. Let me know you are interested here.

READY FOR PART TWO?

Here are steps 3 through7 on how to use the luggage transport services on the Camino.

Related: How do you select your backpack for the Camino?

#youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast