If you're a woman, traveling alone is usually something that invites both excitement and fear. The idea of going on an adventure can be appealing, but we've all heard some unpleasant stories or have friends who have had bad experiences that might have turned us away from it.
I myself fell in love with solo travelling quite unexpectedly – after a tough break up, with a trip for two all planned out and paid for without any chance for a refund, I decided to take the leap. That first time I went to Paris, but I loved it so much I decided to take at least one solo trip every year. The experiences were all great, but one of them has truly transformed me and it stands out from the rest—my journey on the Camino de Santiago.
If you’ve been eager to walk it alone and are wondering what you’ll need to prepare, let me give you some of my favourite tips.
Choose the right route
It’s hard to go wrong when choosing routes because every single one of them is beautiful, but they all offer different experiences. The Camino Francés and Camino Portugués are the most popular routes that are bound to have a lot of pilgrims walking them, but they are very long and usually require about a month to cross.
Since they’re so well-travelled they’re both very safe, and you’ll meet a lot of cool people from all around the world and have the opportunity to socialize. If you don’t have much time, then perhaps you could start your journey in Sarria (in Galicia) and walk the last stretch of the road that can be covered in about 7-10 days. There are a lot of options to consider and they stretch across Spain, Portugal, and France, so it’s easy to find a starting point and modify the whole trip so it suits your level of physical fitness and the time you have at your disposal, as well as your current place of residence.
You won’t really be alone
Even if you pick a less popular route, it’s unlikely you’ll ever really feel lonely. Most pilgrims stay in albergues (they are like hostels that are specific to the Camino de Santiago), so you’ll have plenty of company and you’ll probably meet a friend or two. You will also walk well-travelled areas that are perfectly safe and usually always have someone available you can turn to for help.
Pack accordingly
Packing is the tricky part of Camino preparations, but as long as you have a proper list you won’t have much trouble. I kind of resent packing and having to keep an eye on too many things, so I take a minimalistic approach that generally works well on these types of journeys. Pack some very basic clothes, make sure to bring a ton of sunscreen, and only wear comfortable shoes or walking sandals. Seriously, shoes are the most important bit here. As for any “luxuries,” my personal recommendation is to bring a book (or an e-reader). Catch up on your reading and enjoy the pleasure of leading a very simple life, even if it’s only for a little while.
A few more safety tips
The same common sense that you’d use on other solo travels applies here – tell your loved ones where you’re going and give them your itinerary, and always keep your important documents and your money very close. You can use a money belt for this purpose and keep it underneath your shirt. Stay close to other people, preferably families with children or a group of like-minded women, and be polite to everyone around you. As long as you keep your wits about you and trust your instincts, you’ll be fine.
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