10 First-Time Camino de Santiago Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

The 10 mistakes almost everyone makes on their first Camino

Every year, thousands of pilgrims walk their first Camino de Santiago. And every year, the same mistakes repeat themselves: impossible backpacks, destroyed feet and no bed in August. The good news is that all of them are avoidable. Here are the 10 most common, ranked by the damage they cause.

1. Carrying a backpack that's too heavy

The number one mistake, by a long way. The golden rule: your pack should not exceed 10% of your body weight. If you weigh 70 kg, that's 7 kg maximum including water. Everything you throw in "just in case" you'll be cursing on the first uphill.

Fix: use our [Camino packing list](/en/blog/camino-de-santiago-packing-list) and be ruthless. There are pharmacies, supermarkets and laundries on the Camino — you don't need to carry a whole house.

2. Breaking in your boots on the Camino itself

Brand new boots + 20 km a day = guaranteed blisters. Footwear needs a minimum of 100 km of use before you start.

Fix: buy your boots or trail runners 2 months beforehand and wear them on every training walk. If your shoes look new on day one of the Camino, you have a problem.

3. Not training at all

The Camino isn't a race, but walking 20–25 km a day for consecutive days takes a toll on a sedentary body. Tendinitis tends to show up on day three or four — exactly when you can't stop.

Fix: 6–8 weeks before you go, walk 3–4 times a week, gradually building up to at least one 20 km outing with a loaded pack.

4. Not booking accommodation in high season

In July and August, the Sarria–Santiago stretch is the most heavily walked in Europe. Public albergues don't accept reservations and fill up before 1 pm. Some pilgrims end up sleeping in sports halls.

Fix: book private accommodation weeks (or months) ahead, especially if you're in a group. In key villages like Palas de Rei, places with private rooms go fast. Check [where to stay in Palas de Rei](/en/where-to-stay-palas-de-rei) and book direct, with no commissions.

5. Skipping breakfast and mismanaging water

Setting off on an empty stomach to "save time" catches up with you at the 10 km mark. And in summer, running out of water between villages can ruin your stage.

Fix: always eat something before you leave (even leftover fruit and bread), carry 1.5 litres of water and refill at every fountain. Having a kitchen in your accommodation is gold — you can prep breakfast the night before.

6. Treating blisters badly

Popping a blister and carrying on without further care is a recipe for infection. Equally bad: covering it with a plaster without cleaning it first.

Fix: wash with soap and water, disinfect, drain with a sterilised needle leaving the skin in place, and cover with a blister-specific dressing. Better still, prevent them: vaseline on your feet every morning and seamless socks.

7. Doing stages that are too long in the first few days

The excitement of day one pushes people to walk 30 km in one go. The body gets its revenge on day three.

Fix: start with 20–22 km stages and only increase if your body responds well. The classic [Sarria to Santiago 5-day itinerary](/en/blog/sarria-santiago-5-days-itinerary) is designed exactly with this in mind.

8. Not carrying cash

In rural Galicia, many bars, albergues and stamp machines only accept cash. And there isn't an ATM in every hamlet.

Fix: always carry €50–100 in cash and withdraw money in the larger towns (Sarria, Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Melide, Arzúa).

9. Ignoring the weather forecast

In Galicia it can rain in any month of the year, and the summer sun is harsher than it looks in the humidity.

Fix: check the forecast every evening, and always carry a waterproof jacket or poncho (yes, even in August), a cap and sun cream. Our [best time for the Camino guide](/en/blog/best-time-camino-de-santiago) explains what to expect month by month.

10. Obsessing over finishing and forgetting to enjoy the journey

The saddest mistake of all: turning the Camino into a race against the clock. The best stories happen during the stops — the conversation with another pilgrim, the octopus in Melide, the nap under an oak tree.

Fix: plan sensible stages, arrive while there's still daylight, and leave room for the unexpected. The Camino isn't the destination — it's the journey.

Start your first Camino with everything in your favour

A comfortable base eliminates half of these mistakes: you sleep well, eat a proper breakfast and set off rested. At Casa Andaina, right on the Camino Francés as it passes through Palas de Rei, we offer 3-bedroom apartments from €140/night and the full house for 10 from €250/night, with two equipped kitchens, WiFi and heating. Book direct with no commissions: +34 982 204 131.