Women’s Ultimate Packing List for the Camino de Santiago
Packing for the Camino de Santiago can be a little overwhelming at first. It’s also the most important thing to research ahead of your pilgrimage. I hiked almost 500 miles over 33 days along the Camino Francés last June, and here’s my recommended packing list for the Camino and tips.
How much should my pack weigh?
Many folks say your pack should be no more than 10% of your body weight. I call BS on that. Sure, it might be ok to consider as a general guideline, but as a 5-foot 2-inch woman, it felt impossible to hit this. My pack ended up weighing closer to 20 pounds with water, and I don’t weigh 200 pounds.
My advice is to keep your pack as light as possible, carrying only the essentials and keeping what you have to the bare minimum knowing that you can do laundry every day.
Do I have to carry my pack on the Camino every day?
The good news is if you need to carry a little more, there is an option to transport your pack ahead to your albergue each day.
For instance, I had friends do this on days they had really bad blisters and wanted to lighten the pressure on their feet. I also had a friend who was a content creator and had to work some while doing the Camino, so she had a laptop with her that she transported ahead each day as it would’ve been too much to carry.
On the Camino Francés, the companies Jacotrans and Caminofácil do this, typically for around 7 euros per day. You generally should book your next albergue in advance if you’re going to do this, and it’s a good idea to book your bag transfer in advance online as well (but it’s not absolutely necessary).
Do I need to buy everything in advance? Can I buy things I need in Spain?
Know that you absolutely can buy critical items once you start the Camino. Do your best, but if you forget something on your packing list for the Camino, you can likely buy it when you arrive.
Many towns have at least a pharmacy where you can buy first aid and medical essentials, sunglasses, body wash, hand sanitizer, etc. Some towns will also have some stores catered to pilgrims, selling shoes, Buffs, clothes, and more.
I had issues with my shoes and was able to buy a new pair in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, but I didn’t have access to a post office to ship my old boots home until I reached Burgos.
That said, not every town will have stores like this or even ATMs. While you’re hiking, It’s important to think a few days ahead and do some research on the towns to come so you know when you can stop. I recommend using the Wise Pilgrim and/or Buen Camino apps.
What should be on my packing list for the Camino?
Here’s my comprehensive packing list for the Camino de Santiago based on my experience last June. Know that if you hike in spring or late summer, you may need to bring a sleeping bag and some warmer clothes.
Hiking Gear
- 30-40L hiking pack (I used this 30L Osprey pack.)
- Pack rain cover
- Hiking poles
- Headlamp
Clothes and Shoes
- Two hiking shirts
- Two pairs of athletic/hiking shorts
- One pair of hiking pants
- One long sleeve sun shirt
- Two sports bras
- Three sets of hiking/athletic underwear
- Three sets of Merino wool hiking socks
- Three sets of hiking sock liners
- Athletic dress (This is optional, but I loved having something small packed that I could wear in town that wasn’t my hiking clothes and gave me flexibility with laundry too.)
- Rain jacket
- Fleece pullover
- Hat
- Buff
- Sunglasses (I like Goodr because they are lightweight and good quality for a low price.)
- Hiking shoes (I personally loved the Hoka One Speedgoats and got them in a half size up because my feet swelled up so much.)
- Hiking sandals (I am a big fan of these Chacos and hiked in them with socks for a portion of the Camino.)
- Flip flops for the shower (Don’t wear your street shoes in the shower.)
- Small swim suit (At least on the Francés route, there are several albergues with pools!)
Toiletries and Medical Supplies
- Toothbrush
- Travel toothpaste
- Travel deodorant
- Small sunscreen
- Sunscreen lip balm
- Regular lip balm
- Travel shampoo
- Travel conditioner
- Travel body wash
- Razor
- Hand sanitizer
- Body glide
- Extra hair ties
- Mascara
- Small makeup wipes
- Regular bandaids
- Compeed blister bandaids
- Blister prevention tape
- Small vaseline
- Ibuprofen
- Allergy medications if you need them
- Any other medications
- Nail clippers
- Hairbrush
- Hair ties
- Two packs of travel tissues
Miscellaneous
- Small wallet with 300 euros cash (I would replenish the cash as I went but didn’t want to carry too much at once.)
- Passport
- Phone and charger
- Camino pilgrim passport (collected at Saint Jean Pied de Port)
- Kindle and charger
- Smart watch and charger (I personally have and love the Garmin Fenix 7S.)
- Camino guidebook
- Fanny pack
- Quick dry camping body towel
- Sleeping bag liner
- One or two 1L Nalgene water bottles (I brought one water bottle and would just supplement with extra water bottles and sports drinks for longer hikes with less stops.)
- Outlet power adapter
- Headphones
- Ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper
- 10 laundry clothes pins
- 5L dry bag for laundry
- 10 safety pins
- Two S hooks
- Three carabiners
- Small paracord
- Two small plastic bags
- Several trash bags
- Rock from home for the Cruz de Ferro
- Emergency blanket
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