clue what I was doing. I had just heard about it, watched a few YouTube videos, and

decided to go for it. So, full of excitement, I started packing my backpack, just ten

hours before my flight. Confession: I always pack last minute. I’m learning (slowly)

that it’s not the best idea.

I didn’t really have a map or an app, but I knew the Camino was marked with yellow

arrows and I could follow other pilgrims. Fair enough. But then reality hit as soon es

as I started. I packed way too much stuff and I don’t really know the direction.

When I got to the first pilgrim campsite, I was exhausted. My backpack was way too

heavy 11 kg! No chance I could carry that for days. That same night, I emptied out

all my stuff and reflected if I truly need all this stuff. Did I really need a fourth towel?

Five T-shirts? Nope.

One thing I learned on the Camino is that we don’t need much to be happy. I know, it

sounds like one of those clichés from self-help books, but it’s true, I learned it. After

sorting everything, I got my pack down to 8 kg: three T-shirts, two pants, a sleeping

bag, and just the essentials for hygiene. Every pilgrim hostel has a washing machine

and dryer, so it’s easy to do laundry every two or three days.

So please, learn from my mistake and pack light. There are plenty of shops along the

way. But if you’re walking the coastal Camino in Galicia, be ready,there are way

fewer supermarkets than in Portugal.

On my way to Viana do Castelo, I stopped at a pilgrim café and met two kind fellow

travelers. I asked if I could take a picture of their map, but instead, they told me about

the Gronze Maps app. Game changer. It’s free and has the full Camino

itinerary, though only in Spanish. It shows all pilgrim hostels and even divides the

route into stages, marking the difficulty of each. Super helpful. 

Other apps I found useful: Camino Ninja and Buen Camino. Before meeting those

Spanish pilgrims, finding my way was tough , Google Maps does not show the

Camino route. If you’re going, take some time to plan. Think about where you want to

stop each day, what destinations you want to reach. But don’t over-plan, leave room

for the adventure!

A pilgrim once told me, "Trust the Camino, it will give you the answers you’re looking

for, or the opportunities you need." And honestly? I believe it.

So Buen Camino to all Pilgirms

Lisbongirl