• The Camino de Santiago Hiking Adventure – Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist

• The Camino de Santiago Hiking Adventure – Packing Checklist

• The Camino de Santiago Hiking Adventure – Printable Itinerary – PDF

Arrive in Lugo before 4:00 PM on Day 1. The bus ride from Santiago de Compostela Airport to Lugo (SCQ) is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Please ensure your international flight arrives on Day 1 in the morning or beforehand. Below, you will find transportation options from the airport to Lugo:

• Bus

There are several buses departing directly from the Santiago de Compostela Airport to the center of Lugo every day.

You can also take the bus from Leon, Oviedo or Madrid to Lugo.

https://www.alsa.es/

• Train

By train from Madrid to Lugo:

https://www.renfe.com/es/es

Group Rendezvous Point

• Date: Day 1
• Time: 5 PM
• Location: Meet your guide and group in the lobby, Hotel Mendez Nuñez (Rua Da Raina. 1, CP 27001 Lugo).

• You can arrange for a taxi and make your way to the airport (expect to pay around 20 Euros)
• Your departing flight out of Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) can be scheduled mid to late afternoon.
• The airport is 17.22 km (10.7 miles) from your hotel. If you wish to explore the city on your departure day, your luggage can be stored at the hotel for the day as needed.

Drop-Off Point:

• Date: Day 9
• Time: 1 PM
• Location: Your Day 8 (last night’s) hotel – Praza Quintana (for the September departure) and San Francisco(for the October departure).

Palacio Del Carmen is also recommended. It’s quite easy to find spontaneous accommodations in Santiago but most albergues and hostels will only permit you to stay one night.

Megan and Zale | ****Now Boarding Travel Specialist

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. For these reasons, we encourage you to consider arriving a day early, which will also help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

• Passport

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Important: A copy of your passport must be emailed to the Wild Women Expeditions office by 130-days pre-trip.

• Visa

Visitors from certain countries require a visa to enter. Please check with a Spanish embassy or consulate.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

For trips where we have a bus driver, a gratuity of around 15 Euros per person (at the end of the trip), would be appropriate.

It is customary to leave a tip to thank waiters and other service providers. At restaurants, bars and coffee shops, it is customary to leave 10% of the total amount of the bill; if the service was very good, you may wish to leave up to 15%.

• Rooming Arrangements

Our trip prices are based on a twin share (minimum of two women per room), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner. No single rooms are available on this adventure.

• Private Upgrade

Subject to availability. If you have already indicated this preference on your registration form, you will be emailed a quote once availability is confirmed. If you are interested in this option, but didn’t indicate this on your form, please email us at support@wildwomenexpeditions.com with your request.

• Camino Restrooms

There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants along the Camino route that are available for toilet breaks. There aren’t many sections of the route where you will have to cross your legs for more than 5 km (3.11 miles). Most bars and cafes allow you to use their toilet providing you buy a coffee, pastry or beer from them.

Of course in times of emergency and if you feel comfortable you can do your thing on the route. Of course for men, this is much easier, but for women, you will need to find a bush. And if you are doing a number two, please do not put it in a plastic bag and leave it or hang it in a tree. If desperate times call for desperate measures, bury it and be kind. Do not leave evidence of your business and do it far enough off the track.

• Internet / WiFi / Cell Coverage

Some accommodations will have WiFi (although it is often just in the lobby / public areas) and others will not but you can find free WiFi in the bars and restaurants in the town or village that you are in. We generally stay at historic hotels, which often have thick walls so WIFI rarely works in the rooms.

In most of the albergues, hostels and hotels, or bars and restaurants that have WiFi, you will need to key in a password in order to get online. It will be posted up somewhere, or you will have to request it.

Using a Spanish SIM card from providers such as Yolgo, Orange, Movistar and Vodafone, is one of the easiest way to make calls. You can purchase SIM cards with pay-as-you-go credit which will cost you from around €10 euro. You can purchase very inexpensive phones locally, or you can bring your own unlocked phones.

• Potable Water

Purified water is provided throughout the expedition.

On the Camino route you will find several public water fountains and taps to refill your water bottle. Signs will indicate “agua potable” if the water is monitored and safe to drink.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

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A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their Medical Travel Insurance or personal expense.

Getting Fit

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

• Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

• Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.

• Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

• Hill Training.

The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.

• Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

• Practice ‘backpacking’.

Grab your backpack (or borrow one) and head for the hills! If you’re bringing your own backpack, practice adjusting the various straps so you know how it feels in different positions. We aren’t multi-day hiking every day, but you’ll be carrying a day pack almost everyday, so it’s well worth a bit of practice. Backpacks sit differently and so change your centre of balance when it’s full of gear so make sure you put a few pounds of weight in it in training.

• Break in your hiking boots.

Blisters and sore feet are no fun at all! So make sure that while you’re getting yourself ready you’re doing the same for your boots. Start by just wearing them around the house, then down the road, and walking the dog. Then ideally do a couple of decent length weekend hikes to prepare them for what is to come.

• Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

• Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

• Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.