This Camino de Santiago packing list will give the adventurous pilgrim everything you need to pack for the Camino. Use this post and the FREE printable packing list to help you find the right clothing, hiking boots, first aid gear and backpack along with useful links to Camino planning resources.
Congratulations on your decision to walk the Camino! You will have a great experience– I certainly did (twice)! To help you prepare for your adventure, I’m offering this Camino de Santiago packing list. It will tell you what you need….and what you don’t…in order to have a successful pilgrimage. This list is updated regularly with feedback from recent pilgrims.
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Top 4 Tips for Your Camino de Santiago Packing List
- Go light. Saint Francis managed to do it over 800 years ago and you can be sure that he wasn’t loaded down with a heavy pack. Using this advice on what to pack for the Camino de Santiago to help you determine your bare essentials.
- Spain has stores, so don’t stress. If you forgot something, just buy it in one of the larger towns along the way.
- Bring (or buy) something to share. The kindness of strangers is alive and well on the Camino. You can help others by sharing snacks, first aid supplies or giving out a fun little item.
- Bring a token from home. My family sent me with a bundle of letters and notes of encouragement. They were very comforting on the more difficult days.
Read More: Gear isn’t the only thing you’ll spend money on. Do a complete Camino budget with this cost calculator that includes a FREE spreadsheet tool.
(Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll get a small commission.)
Where Do You Buy Camino Gear?
Most of my hard core Camino gear came from REI. They have knowledgeable staff and a ridiculously generous return policy. I’ve also purchased clothing from Columbia, because I’m old and tubby and their clothing has a generous cut. Kuhl has some totally genius hiking pants, which I rant about below. I also used Amazon to source some of my quirky things like gear ties.
The Ultimate Camino de Santiago Pack List
The 4 Most Popular Items on this Packing List
These four items are the most popular things on this packing list. I’m putting them right here up top so that you can think about whether you need them too.
- Permethrin: If you coat your backpack and bedding with this insect repellent, it should keep any bed bugs at bay for up to six weeks. Some people have no trouble with bed bugs, yet people like me get eaten alive. Wouldn’t you rather not risk it?
- Water Resistant Toiletry Bags: You can keep your toiletries, charger cords, first aid kit and misc items organized and dry with these bags.
- Go Toob Travel Bottles: Great for storing your travel liquids. I’ve used these bottles on six continents. They hold just the right amount of shampoo/conditioner, last forever and they never leak.
- Compeed Blister Bandages: Don’t let your blisters get out of hand! If you apply these bandages right when you get a blister, it will cushion it, giving it time to heal. Read the instructions carefully because they don’t work like normal Band-Aids. If you buy a “starter supply” in advance, you’ll be covered in case you have issues on the first few days. If you don’t need them, share them with another pilgrims.
Camino Packing List: Clothing
3 Tops | 3 Bottoms | Hat | Warm Layer | Gore-Tex Wind Breaker | 2 Pair Shoes
- Tops: At least one long sleeve shirt and two others in a mix of tanks and/or short sleeves. Get all of them in a moisture wicking, easy dry fabric, like these from Under Armour or Columbia.
- Bottoms: Trail pants, hiking shorts, yoga or capri pants.
- Underwear: 2 bras, 3 pairs underwear, 3 pairs walking/hiking socks. I like the Fox River padded crew socks or the Thorlo padded walking socks.
- Outer wear: Fleece pullover or some warm under-layer. Gore-Tex wind breaker.
- Footwear: Gore-tex hiking boots and sport sandals, like Tevas or flop flops. Flip flops are better for showering. Tevas are better for walking around in the evening if you need a break from your hiking boots. You don’t need both.
- Head Gear: Hat and/or a Buff.
Camino Clothing Tips
What to pack for the El Camino de Santiago is dependent upon season. This warmer weather list works best for May to September. Substitute more long pants and long sleeves for cooler weather. Even though I walked in during the warmer months, it can still be chilly in the morning and I wore my fleece pullover frequently. There can be rain, particularly in Galicia, any time of the year, so a rain resistant jacket is a must.
Don’t be cheap about your performance wear. Buy shirts and shorts from a trusted brand, like REI. I learned the hard way when my discount shirt took on a funky smell that wouldn’t wash out and which dogged me across northern Spain. My new favorite hiking pants are the Weekend Tights from Kuhl. These pants manage to find the sweet spot between practical and cute and THEY HAVE ZIPPERED POCKETS. Why do so many brands think that women don’t need secure pockets? It’s a mystery, but when Kuhl comped me the pants, I logged 150+ miles walking in them and I’m a convert!
Choose your footwear very carefully. I’m currently a fan of the Hoka One Trail Runner. It’s light enough not to weigh you down but offers a lot of heel support. That said, every foot is a snowflake and you have to make your own choice about what works for your feet. Purchase from a reliable provider who offers a generous return policy and then put at least 50 miles (80/k) on them before hitting the Camino.
Read More: I did the Camino solo and so can you! Get inspiration from me and four others who tackled the Camino solo.
Camino Packing List: Toiletries
Shampoo/Conditioner | Lotion | Sunscreen | Deodorant | Small Soap | Toothbrush | Toothpaste | Liquid Laundry Soap | Toiletry Bag
- Hair: Small bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Small comb.
- Body: Small body lotion, small SPF face lotion, deodorant, sunscreen, small bar of soap (in a small ziploc bag).
- Teeth: travel size toothpaste, toothbrush.
- Clothes: small container of Trek & Travel liquid laundry soap.
- Toiletry bag: I like using Go Toobs for my liquids– they pack well and don’t leak. I also like a clear plastic, waterproof toiletry bag, like this one, which also comes with several smaller bags that you can use for first aid items or whatnot. They weigh hardly anything and the clear plastic makes it easy to find your stuff.
Tips for Toiletries
Take as much as you truly need but consolidate where you can. My hair requires a conditioner or it goes all Medusa. But you may be able to get away with less, like using a bar of solid shampoo for head and body. When I requested feedback on this list, one person suggested that I eliminate the laundry wash because many albuerge wash basins have soap. I’ve opted to leave it in because not ALL wash basins have soap and I shared mine with others.
Read More: If you are flying into or out of Madrid, check out this guide for a three day itinerary while you are there.
Camino Packing List: First Aid and Medical Supplies
Personal Medications | Blister Care | First Aid Tape | Anti-inflamatory | Anti-Bac | Glide | Lip Goop | Tissues
- Personal medications.
- Blister care: Compeed brand blister bandages. 1-pkg small, 1 pkg medium. Buy them now from Amazon or at any local farmacia when you arrive.
- First aid tape. I use this to prevent blisters by taping my trouble spots and protecting them before blisters take hold. Metolius brand is used for rock climbing and it stays on, regardless of sweat.
- Small bottle of Motril/Advil. I took 2 every day after walking to keep the soreness down.
- Anti-bacterial such as Neosporin. The small individual use packages are handy and don’t take up much room.
- Hemorrhoid cream, Vaseline or Glide. Chafing happens.
- Lip goop/Chapstick.
- Travel size package of tissues.
Medical Supplies Tips
It is a wise idea to scan your prescriptions in case you need a refill on the road. Some people advise against Compeed and you do indeed need to read the label carefully and use them as directed. Keeping your feet clean and lubricated is the best way to avoid blisters in the first place, but I have very sensitive feet and despite my best efforts, they always pop up.
Have you considered travel insurance? It’s useful not only for trip cancellation but also has options for medical emergencies and injuries. Check out travel insurance plans with Allianz.
Camino Packing List: Electronics
Unlocked Smart Phone | Chargers | Ear Buds | Plug Adapter | iPad or Camera Optional
- Unlocked smart phone. Wireless is easy to find on the Camino. However, I found it handy to get a local SIM card for those times when I wanted more security or privacy.
- iPad (optional). It’s handy for reading books in the evening and can serve as a quasi laptop.
- Chargers for the above. A plug adapter that works in Europe, like this compact one from Flight001. A 2-plug USB charger is useful for charging multiple devices at once, or for sharing a plug with a fellow pilgrim.
- Ear buds.
Electronics Tips
If you are from the US, T-Mobile offers decent global data with all their plans. If not, then get a SIM at the Madrid airport or nearest large town that you transit. Protect yourself from data theft when you are on the road by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). You can find out more about VPNs here and get a free 30-day trial here.
Read More: Read about why, despite my difficulties on the trail, why I’m going back for another round on the Camino.
Camino Packing List: Misc Essentials
Stuff Sacks | Sleeping Sack | Small Tote | Permethrin | Duct Tape | Small Knife | Pack Towel | Pillow Case/Wrap | Ziploc Bags | Gear Ties | Pilgrim Credential | Passport | Shell | Tokens From Home | Albuerge List | Camino Guide Book
- Compression stuff sacks or packing cubes. The 4 litre watertight bags from Sea to Summit will compress your clothes down to a very small bundle and they are waterproof.
- Silk sleeping sack, such as this one from Sea to Summit…or a very light sleeping bag.
- Pillow Case (or small wrap/scarf). This performs the multi purpose of a pillow case and something to sit on while eating on the fly.
- Small totebag for carrying around valuables in the evening.
- Permethrin insect repellent spray for clothing. Bed bugs are a real thing. If you use this to spray the inside of your pack before you leave, you’ll prevent the little bastards from moving in on you. Good for up to 6 weeks.
- Small roll of duct tape. Useful for repairs and re-sealing food packages.
- Small Swiss Army knife or the TSA-friendly Leatherman PS multi-tool which has scissors, pliers and other useful tools but doesn’t have a knife blade.
- Pack towel.
- A few gallon and quart sized ziploc bags. Good for holding snacks and wet items.
- Gear ties and/or a carabiner. Both are great for hanging laundry from the drying line and dangling stuff from the back of your pack.
- Pilgrim Credential.
- Passport.
- Something with a shell emblem to hang on your bag. It identifies you as a pilgrim.
- A small rock or other token from home to leave at the Cruz de Ferro. I took along sea glass from the California coastline.
- Printed list of all albuergues and favorite albuergues. This list is more complete than the guidebooks and also has information on distances between stages and the services offered in each town. I had an electronic copy of this stored on my iPad but each day I would grab a few of the physical pages to cover the next few days. It helped me plan how far I wanted to walk each day. You can also pick up a copy at the SJPdP pilgrim office.
- Camino guide book by Brierley. Per my previous bullet, you don’t need this for albuergue advice. But the guidebooks are great for providing information on the historical and cultural sites that you will see along the way. In fact, load up on great reads with my Camino book list.
Camino Packing List: Choosing Your Pack
A Camino de Santiago packing list wouldn’t be complete without a discussion of backpacks. I took a 35 litre Gregory bag (which is the pink one in the picture above). A 35 litre pack sounds small but it held everything on this packing list with room for snacks, or rather, large wedges of Spanish cheese. I would have died on the Camino without the cheese.
Here are some things to consider when you purchase your own pack:
- Small pockets on the hip padding (good for storing the phone, an energy bar and pages from the guidebook.
- Rain cover (or pack a cheap rain poncho).
- Sized for your gender.
- Secret interior pocket good for holding the iPad.
- Easy to reach water bottle holder.
Tips for Managing Your Pack & Keeping it Light
Whichever bag you use, be sure to try it on first and do training walks with a fully loaded bag. You don’t want to find out on the Camino that it rubs you in the wrong spot.
Be committed to keeping your bag light. I took all of the above stuff and still managed to keep my pack around 14 lbs (6.4 kilos), before snacks and water. Pack it several times before you leave and each time, make a point of removing something.
If you already have larger (60L) bag go ahead and use that but don’t overfill it. You really only need what is in this Camino packing list. If you are already backpacking around Europe with a larger bag and want to do the Camino, then I suggest that you offload some of your unnecessary gear and ship it ahead to Santiago. The luggage storage information can be found here.
Resources for Camino Planning & Inspiration
- Camigas Facebook group – Thanks ladies, for giving me feedback for this current edition of the list.
- The Camino Forum community. They have lots of resources and a place for asking questions.
- St James Way walkers Facebook group.
- Get more inspiration and plan your pilgrimage with this list of 31 books on the Camino.
Please let me know if you find other useful resources and I’ll add them.
I hope that you find this Camino de Santiago packing list useful. Please contact me or comment below if you have any questions.
Buen Camino!
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Mie says
I just came home and can only recommend going and also this list: you need less than you probably think! The lighter your pack, the less risk of blisters is my experience. And yes, on the camino frances you can buy all you need, when/if you need it, so no need to bring a pharmacy of “just in case”.
Instead of the buff, I took a big, light scarf, that I used fornears and neck on cold mornings and tied in different ways as a skirt or dress or just shawl in the afternoon (leggings underneath, they were my third pair of bottoms).
Carol Guttery says
Thanks for the feedback- great idea on the scarf. I’ve heard of some women using a Turkish towel as a towel/wrap/scarf. It wouldn’t work so well as headgear but otherwise does the requisite double duty. You can find them here: https://amzn.to/33Ug9fL
judywalks says
Not all products can be put in my 10-years-old GoToobs. They used to have a long list on their website of products that didn’t agree with the GoTube material. The list is no longer on the GoTube website. They may have changed their formula so that it is no longer a problem. Test things ahead of your trip. Or, it may not matter for a short trip.
Stephanie says
Hi there! Thanks for sharing this with us. I do think this is for the shorter 100km walk, am I correct? I’m intending to walk the 800km of Camino Frances in 1,5 month, do you have any packing lists for that one maybe? Or know where I can find those. Thanks in advance!
http://www.budgetbucketlist.com
Carol Guttery says
This packing list will for for any distance of the Camino. You only need three days of clothes and the other stuff listed here, so whether you do 100/k or 800/k, the pack is the same. In fact, the longer you walk, the more you realize that you don’t need a lot of stuff. The Camino is clarifying that way. That said, if you chose to do the walk in colder weather, you’ll need to add colder weather gear.
Jay Campbell says
You should bring socks too????
Jose says
this is a great post about the Camino de Santiago! From my point of view, doing and walking the Camino de Santiago is one of the best way to know Spain and get close to its diverse culture. Right now I am running a Camino de Santiago website Santiago Ways (https://santiagoways.com/en) to provide great info to pilgrims who are interested in walking the Camino de Santiago. It would be great that if you want to do the Camino de Santiago once again you could contact us in order to provide you with great value information. 🙂
W are here to help you.
Brenda says
So great to have this info from someone who has experienced the walk – reassures me that I’m taking just what I’ll need. Did you take water bottle or hydration pack?
Carol Guttery says
I took a water bottle because I don’t like the hydration packs. There are many small towns along the way and all of the cafes will kindly let you refill your bottle, so I never ran out.
Pilgrim Camino de Santiago says
Such a good post about the Camino de Santiago! It really is a unique journey and a different way to learn and embrace Spain and its diverse culture. I’m currently working on a project called Pilgrim (https://www.pilgrim.es/en) to help Pilgrims on their Camino with info and services. If you ever decide to do the Camino again send us an email and we’ll be happy to help you 🙂
Suzanne says
Thanks so much for your list and for the answers/comments to the questions from future pilgrims. I’m going on a destination 60th birthday party with 3 friends in October 2018. I’m thinking of adding some mini mitts and some form of extra ear covering so you might want to add that to the list for the off high season hikers. Did you find your wool socks dried overnight or did you have to hang them some how from your pack?
Carol Guttery says
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll add in some cool weather items in my next update. The hiking socks recommended here are polyprop, not wool. They dry fairly quickly — especially quickly if it’s nice outside and you can use the outside drying lines. I was pretty diligent about doing my laundry before napping, that way it would have the max time for drying.
Since you are with three other people, you can also use a wash machine, which saves time and offers the spin cycle. Many albuerges have washers and include soap for a very reasonable price. However, don’t expect dryers.
Carol Guttery says
The red jacket is a gore-tex shell from REI. I’ve also had similar jackets from North Face. Like all Gore-tex, it is breathable-ish, I’m not sure you need a full-on rain jacket, especially at this time of year.
Mireya Mata says
Hi Carol, thank you for your list. I’ll be hiking El Camino (Porto to Santiago) beginning next week. I’m undecided about a rain jacket. I found a light weight Marmot that packs into a pocket but I’m wondering if I’ll regret not getting one that is more breathable. What is the brand of your red jacket in your packing list? Was it enough or would you make a different choice? Thanks in advance!
Deb UpstateAZ says
I started SJPP fall of 2014 with hubby and made it to Logroño before acquiring a stress fracture.???? Planning hopefully to return (Spring ’18) to get my Compostela with my neighbor (another woman!) Regarding you list… I concure!!! Keeping in mind that the 3rd pants/shirt was what I slept in but could be seen in pubic if necessary. We wrapped our duct tape around our hiking poles. BTW the poles did double duty as drying racks more than a few times!!
Deb UpstateAZ says
Not that anyone wouldn’t automatically pack it anyway, but deodorant seemed to be overlooked! We also took light weight umbrellas, served also as a parsol and potential “partial privacy” when less than desirable conditions exist to cop-a-squat!
Carol Guttery says
How could I forget to mention deodorant. I certainly needed it. I’ll add it to the list. Thanks for the reminder
Shauna says
I will be hiking the camino del norte in a week! this packing list is very helpful. I am anticipating a little cooler weather since it will be on the coast. I have not really planned a whole lot except that I am starting in Bilbao and hiking for 2 weeks. Do you think I should plan out where I will be staying or figure it out while I am there?
Carol Guttery says
Figure it out while you are there. The Norte isn’t as busy as the Frances. I did the Frances during high season and even then only had trouble one night. By staying loose about where you stay, you can hike longer on days when you have more energy and go shorter if you are tired or want to spend extra time sightseeing. Buen Camino
GirlAstray says
Great list! Too bad I didn´t read one like this before I walked my Camino six years ago – would you believe I almost filled an 80 liters backpack? I had maybe 12 kg with food and water all the way. I mean, after throwing out or loosing a bunch of stuff. Well, at least I got into a better shape! 😉 pinning this.
Carol Guttery says
Yikes. My pack was super small. But I must admit that I threw out some of the clothes after as they got just a bit too ripe on the trail
JOANNE says
very useful list. I like the tip to take something cute. I also like the picture. Im not going camping so I don’t need a military style mega backpack…. hmmn I have one arriving in the post tomorrow… will go shopping and get something smaller and more manageable. really useful thank you x x
Carol Guttery says
For my the fit was important. So I bought one built for ladies and tried on several before choosing this one. I also was committed to keeping it light. Buen Camino
Anne-Christine Rice says
Hi Carol,
Thank you for this great list. Could you tell us how much you backpack weighed? It doesn’t look big on your back, it reassures me!
Carol Guttery says
Thanks Anne-Christine. My packed weighed 14 lbs before water and snacks. So maybe 16 lbs? It really did have everything I needed. Buen Camino
Kate Ross says
This is a great list, and I will recommend it to friends. Your clothing basics are pretty much EXACTLY what I took with me on my first camino in 2013, and I was one of the few people who didn’t have an overly-heavy pack, plus I used everything I brought. The only thing I would add to your list of must-haves would be a rain poncho that can go over your pack as well. Thank you for sharing!
Carol Guttery says
Thanks Kate. Good suggestion regarding the rain cover. My pack came with one but not all do. I’ll add it. Buen Camino
Melissa says
Carol,
I’ve never done anything like the Camino. I’m not in very good shape (overweight and retired), but I feel this adventure calling to me. Do you have any advice?
I was thinking of trying a short piece of the Camino (a weeks worth of time), just to get a taste of it. I would be going in late August or early September on my own.
The forum is a wealth of information and I have been reading, researching, and making notes. It seems as though everyone on the forum is either vastly experienced with the Camino or newbies that are in top physical form. I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew. I suppose I am looking for good solid advice.
Thanks, Melissa
Carol Guttery says
You would certainly want to train for the walk. But you could easily do that from home by starting small and working your way up to longer distances. If you have medical issues, you should talk to your doctor about it. You should also feel comfortable walking whatever distance per day that you feel you can handle. Some of these crazy peregrinos are pulling 18 miles every day. I averaged 14.5 miles per day. But I’m built for walking and I trained for it. My normal walking distances at home are ~4 miles.
If you choose to do shorter a distance, you can make the Camino experience your own. There are a few long town-less stretches, but most days, the towns were frequent enough to give you options. On my packing list post (link below), there is a link to a Camino Forum resource that shows all of the Albergues in the towns. That same sheet will also show you distances between towns. You could just pick a 1-week stretch with distances that suited you.
You could also consider doing it next year. And then make a fitness goal this year to increase your fitness level to be able to do a longer walk. Good luck and report back
https://wayfaringviews.com/camino-de-santiago-packing-list-women/
Angela says
Great list and tips! My mother-in-law & brother-in-law are on the Norte route right now. They walked the Camino last year. We hope to get there soon!
Carol Guttery says
I thought about doing it for years…and am so glad that I finally did it
Sara Broers says
What a fantastic packing list! Doesn’t look like you missed a thing!
Carol Guttery says
It was amazing to me how well my tidy little bundle served me for a month. But I must confess, my husband met me after the walk and he brought a supplemental bag with some cuter shoes, jeans and whatnot
LaDonna says
We used ponchos that could cover a backpack. Lots of heavy rain at times. Also used poles , pacer poles saved our knees and helped stabilize on slippery rocks Etc
Tillie says
This is awesome…thanks so much.