A Day in the Life on the Camino: What to Anticipate

Finding a routine and rhythm along the Camino started way before arriving in Portugal. For me, I pictured myself doing these things and planning for how the average day would go while I watched YouTube and TikTok. The simplicity of the daily routine was very appealing. Taking care of basic needs like personal cleanliness and eating, paired with the physical focus of walking, felt like a back-to-basics for me. I was looking forward to what I thought would be a more relaxed routine.

A Relaxed Routine?

As I said, I envisioned a more relaxed routine, but what would I experience while on the Camino? The daily schedule was a bit more romanticized than I expected. Sometimes performing the basic functions of showering, laundry, and eating a meal took more time than I thought it would, similar to normal life routines.

Keith and I discussed this while on the trip and I think the biggest discrepancy came down to the urgency at which I moved. It wasn’t that we walked much slower than others, but I liked to stop for pictures, to enjoy the scenery, or to relax at the cafes. This all just added up over the day. Other pilgrims seemed to push through mile segments quicker, take shorter breaks, and then enjoy more time during their evenings, which is when I noticed the difference. I just expected “more time” in the day overall.

Looking back, I can appreciate our pace though. I’m glad we didn’t rush through the day only to have extra time in the evening. Many of my favorite memories are from the times that we weren’t worried about the clock, spent additional time at a cafe or in a church, or just enjoyed the experience as a whole.

An Average Day on the Camino

Here is a general outline of what most days looked like along the Camino de Santiago.

Impact of Hurricane Kirk

During our Camino, there was a lot of rain due to Hurricane Kirk. This made laundry and drying out our gear quite difficult, especially shoes. Most of the time you can handwash clothes and leave them outside to dry. There wasn’t one day where we were able to do this. If we did handwash, we always needed to find a laundromat to dry in the morning because everything was still soaking wet. From what we’ve read, this is highly unusual. Also remember, electric dryers are not typical in Portugal and Spain, so finding this luxury meant locating a laundromat and spending time waiting for our clothes.

The hurricane rain also impacted our start time, rest time, and ability overall to walk at times. We watched the radar carefully to avoid the worst parts of the storm. There were times we needed to hide under a bridge, in a cafe, and even in a church to avoid the heavy rainfall.

Sightseeing Along the Camino

Much of our sightseeing time was built into our walking time. As we ran across historical sites, churches, parks, gardens, etc., we’d stop and take a break or wander around while having a snack to enjoy the culture along the Camino. There was so much to see that there were times when we had to skip a site or quickly snag a photo and keep moving along. Even though I carried the Camino Portugues Guide book for nearly 200 miles, we didn't use it because there just wasn't a lot of extra time. I assumed I'd take it out at destinations to learn more about the location or site. It was a good resource while planning and now to refer back.

Churches and the Camino

For years, a great number of pilgrims have walked to the cathedral in Santiago for various reasons. Some were hoping to atone for sins and some were seeking forgiveness. Others were asking for a miracle or to give thanks for answered prayers. While others were on the path praying for loved ones. Whatever the reason, the Camino can provide the spiritual experience one might be looking for.

With numerous churches along the Camino route, pilgrims are invited in for the religious connection. Many times you'll want to stop to obtain your stamp, take photos, receive a blessing, etc. The churches were always a highlight of the day. Many were quite large, with elaborate and ornate features. Others were small with oftentimes rustic interiors. Each church was sacred, and unique, and embodied the spiritual journey of the Camino.

Camino Trail "Art"

Along the route, there are opportunities for trail "art" to be seen and donated. There was a specific mound of rocks that I wanted to place a "stone from home." As I was doing practice hikes, I had it in the back of my mind that I needed to choose a stone from the Wasatch Mountains. Keith and I were out hiking one day and a couple stopped us. They gifted us a rock they found in the shape of a heart. I put it in my backpack and hiked with it while preparing physically for the Camino. This would become a symbol of generosity, love, and accomplishment that I wanted to leave along the trail.

Plants, Animals, and Parks

There were plenty of opportunities to stop along the trail to watch animals, get a closer look at plants, and enjoy the natural beauty of both Portugal and Spain. By walking, you are moving at a much slower pace and able to notice these places. I was always surprised by the various parks, some were super tiny and included unusual plants and trees. Others were quite large and in the center of a town. It was always a surprise to stumble upon these places when you least expected it.

Tips for Planning Your Routine

• Plan your routine around what works best for you. Some pilgrims were up and walking much earlier than us. I’m not an early riser so this would have detracted from the trip for me.
• Allow for flexibility. Some days will likely be longer than others and you’ll have to give up something. Some days it was the option for laundry and some days it was the time to relax in the evening.
• Keep an eye on the time. Restaurants and cafes may have different hours than you are used to and have mid-day closures.
• Pack snacks! I kept a sweet and a savory snack with me at all times. We also kept electrolytes with us for those longer days.
• Plan for specific locations or activities you want to spend more time with.
• Not every day has to be the same. We followed the schedule above about 80-85% of the time.

Upcoming Post

Next week we will answer some common questions our family and friends have asked us about the Camino de Santiago; Would you do it again? Did you feel safe? How was the language barrier?

How do you prioritize your time while traveling? Do you add in buffer time for relaxing or do you prefer a packed schedule? How do you think your daily schedule along the Camino might look different? Let us know in the comments section below.👇 💬