Camino de Santiago preparation: how to get ready to walk the Portuguese Way
The Camino de Santiago draws thousands of people every year: a week or two on foot, new friends and time to think. The Portuguese Way from Porto is one of the most popular options. Good Camino de Santiago preparation covers conditioning your body and feet, choosing footwear and recovering between stages.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of historic routes leading to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. For many people it’s their first multi-day hike: every day on the road, every night a new bed. The good news is that you can prepare without a gym, simply by walking a lot.
Camino de Santiago, Portuguese Way: what is this route?
It’s a route from Portugal to Galicia along a central or coastal trail through towns, vineyards and the coast. The most popular starting points are Porto and Tui on the Spanish border. The coastal and central options meet in Redondela and continue together from there (CaminoWays).
Camino de Santiago: how many days does it take?
From Porto it’s about 259 km (161 miles) and roughly 12 days of walking; from Tui it’s about 115 km (71 miles), which fits into a week (CaminoWays). Plan for at least one rest day.
How to prepare to walk the Camino de Santiago: physical preparation
Start 10–12 weeks ahead and gradually increase the distance and the weight of your backpack. The main goal is for your feet and footwear to get used to long walks several days in a row.
- 3–4 walks a week, with long ones at weekends of up to 15–20 km (9–12 miles), as the CaminoWays training plan advises; in the final month, two long walks back to back carrying the backpack weight you’ll actually take.
- Add squats, step-ups and calf stretches — more in our article Preparing for a mountain hike.
- Break in your footwear in advance: new boots or sneakers at the start are a common cause of blisters.
How do you avoid blisters on the Camino?
Blisters come from friction, moisture and heat. Dry feet, the right socks and attention to the first signs of rubbing solve most problems (Follow the Camino).
- Shoes half a size larger, seamless socks and a spare pair for your midday break; if you feel a “hot spot,” stop right away and cover it with a blister plaster.
For multi-day walking, many people pack the X39+X49 set: according to the company, X39 supports energy and recovery, and X49 supports endurance. And in the evening after a stage, IceWave comes in handy — according to the company, it’s designed for comfort in movement. According to the company, the patches do not penetrate the skin.