Dos and Don’ts on the Camino
Getting ready for your Camino de Santiago trip? Know your Dos and Don’ts on the Camino.
Wherever you go in the world, there will be certain cultural customs and ‘travel etiquette’ you should know about, and the Camino will be no different. There are certain conventions you will be familiar with, while other habits you might not be aware of. Customs might also change along the way as you travel across different countries, for instance, if you are starting your Camino in France and continuing across Spain to Santiago.
To help you get ready and immerse you in the local culture, we have put together a list of helpful Camino tips: Dos and Don’ts on the Camino de Santiago.
DO – Do on the Camino
Wish fellow pilgrims a Buen Camino!
Learn a few sentences in Spanish or any other Camino language such as Portuguese, Galician, Basque, or French…
Be adventurous and open to trying different foods and flavours.
Expect to encounter local festivals if you travel in the summer, even in the tiniest villages.
Be flexible with meal times, as different countries have different timetables and restaurants, for instance, open at other times.
Take your camera to capture the best moments of your trip.
Engage with the locals if you can string a few sentences together in Spanish, French, Portuguese… and other Camino languages. *You can free download our Camino language ebook to print and take with you.
Try the ‘tapas’ and ‘pincho’ culture in cities such as Bilbao, Burgos, and Santiago… some of them are given for free with your drink!
Learn about the history of the towns, villages and regions you will be passing.
Check the hours of light for the time of the year you are travelling: you might be surprised dawn and dusk arrive much earlier (or later!) than where you are coming from. This will allow you to adapt your walking day to the hours of light.
DON’T on the Camino
Forget to stamp your Pilgrim Passport along the way (twice a day if you are starting in Galicia), to be able to claim your Compostela certificate or other Camino certificates.
Expect locals in small towns and villages to understand or speak English.
Be surprised if locals talk to you even if you don’t speak the same language. Sign language goes a long way! And much can be said with a smile.
Count on having dinner before 8 pm if you are in Spain, as most restaurant kitchens don’t open until late for full dinner (get into the pinchos/tapas in the meantime!).
Feel you have to keep up with other walkers or cyclists: this is your own Camino, and the best way to do it is at your own pace.
Assume coffee on the go will be widely available: Spaniards and Portuguese don’t like to take their coffee in a rush but prefer to sit down and enjoy their caffeine with a bit of a chat.
Hope to hit the shops at lunchtime, a sacred time in countries such as France, Portugal and Spain. Stores tend to close at lunchtime as people generally go home to eat with their family, as lunch is, for many, the most important meal of the day. Head for the restaurants or bars at that time instead! Shops will reopen for the afternoon and remain open until late.
Miss the Pilgrim Mass at Santiago Cathedral, whether you are doing the Camino for religious/spiritual reasons or not. If you’d like to see the Botafumeiro in action, Friday at 7 pm is the time to go!
Did you like our Dos and Don’ts on the Camino? Do you have more Camino tips and cultural notes you’d like to share with us? Let us know!
For more Camino tips or information on Camino routes or book your Camino trip, contact our travel specialists.
