Camino Blog

Tips, guides, and stories to help you prepare for your pilgrimage

53 articles

the lie of traveling light: a meditation on the things I couldn't leave behind
Stories

the lie of traveling light: a meditation on the things I couldn't leave behind

A reflective essay examining the gap between ultralight packing advice and emotional reality, exploring the small objects pilgrims carry that serve no practical

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

August 11, 2026 · 9 min read

the question i kept asking myself between león and astorga: what am i walking toward?
Stories

the question i kept asking myself between león and astorga: what am i walking toward?

A reflective personal narrative exploring the psychological shift that often happens in the final third of the Camino Francés, when the initial excitement fades

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

August 4, 2026 · 11 min read

The first 100 kilometers: how your body negotiates with the Camino
Stories

The first 100 kilometers: how your body negotiates with the Camino

A reflective personal narrative exploring the physical and mental transformation that happens during the crucial first week of walking—the blisters that form an

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

July 28, 2026 · 12 min read

How to Size and Fit a Backpack for the Camino de Santiago
Gear

How to Size and Fit a Backpack for the Camino de Santiago

Torso length, hip belt placement, load lifters at 45 degrees, and the sternum strap. How to fit a Camino backpack so your hips carry the weight.

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

July 27, 2026 · 13 min read

camino francés vs. camino portugués: choosing the route that matches how you want to walk
Guides

camino francés vs. camino portugués: choosing the route that matches how you want to walk

A direct comparison exploring the distinct personalities of Spain's two most popular routes—terrain, crowds, accommodation availability, coastal vs. inland expe

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

July 21, 2026 · 12 min read

The Camino Shoe Guide 2026: What I'm Actually Walking In
Gear

The Camino Shoe Guide 2026: What I'm Actually Walking In

Six months of testing trail runners. Honest notes on the Cascadia 19, Ghost Trail, Topo Terraventure 5, Mount to Coast T1, Norda 001 and Altra Timp 6.

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

July 19, 2026 · 15 min read

the conversation that changed everything: what a stranger in Sarria taught me about letting go
Stories

the conversation that changed everything: what a stranger in Sarria taught me about letting go

A personal narrative exploring a pivotal encounter with a fellow pilgrim in the final 100 kilometers, reflecting on how brief connections on the Camino can shif

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

July 14, 2026 · 14 min read

The Camino doesn't care about your schedule: why your carefully planned itinerary will change
Stories

The Camino doesn't care about your schedule: why your carefully planned itinerary will change

A reflective essay challenging the over-planning instinct many first-time pilgrims have. Explores how weather, body, community, and unexpected moments reshape t

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

July 7, 2026 · 12 min read

The albergue experience demystified: a first-timer's guide to communal pilgrim living
Guides

The albergue experience demystified: a first-timer's guide to communal pilgrim living

A flowing prose guide covering the unwritten rules, rhythms, and realities of staying in pilgrim hostels. Addresses check-in protocols, bunk bed etiquette, snor

Quinton Wall

Quinton Wall

June 30, 2026 · 13 min read