How Fit Do You Need to Be for the Camino de Santiago?
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
If you're thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago, one of the first questions is usually the same one everyone asks before they book:
"Am I fit enough to actually do this?"
The honest answer is: probably yes. And most people who complete the Camino are surprised to discover that. They're not ultra-marathon runners or seasoned trekkers. They're teachers, retirees, accountants, and parents in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond who trained sensibly, paced themselves well, and came home with one of the best experiences of their lives.
At Tierra Trekking Co., we've helped hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders complete the Camino, including plenty of first-time long-distance walkers who had exactly the same doubts you might be having right now.
So here's what fitness on the Camino actually looks like, and what you need to do to get there.
The Camino Rewards Consistency, Not Athletic Ability
The most common misconception about the Camino is that it's some kind of extreme physical challenge reserved for serious hikers. It isn't.
Most Camino routes follow rolling countryside, Atlantic coastline, vineyard paths, pine forests, and quiet rural roads. Some days are genuinely demanding, especially on routes like the Camino Francés or Camino del Norte, but the vast majority of walkers complete the journey by doing something simple: taking it one day at a time.
You don't need to:
Run marathons or carry a heavy pack
Walk enormous distances every weekend beforehand
Be an experienced trekker
What actually helps:
Being comfortable walking for several hours at a time
Building your legs up gradually before you leave
Choosing the right route and itinerary for your level
Having realistic expectations about pace and recovery
What Fitness Level Should You Aim For?
A good goal before your Camino is to be able to comfortably:
Walk 15 to 20km in a day
Walk on consecutive days without your body falling apart
Handle some hills and uneven terrain
Feel reasonably recovered after a good night's sleep
Notice what's not on that list: speed. The Camino is not a race. Most walkers travel at a relaxed pace with plenty of coffee stops, long lunches, and time to actually look around. The pilgrims who tend to struggle most are not usually the least fit. They're the ones who start too fast, pack too heavily, or skip training altogether.
How Far Will You Walk Each Day?
This depends on your route and how your itinerary is structured.
Typical daily distances:
Camino Portugués Coastal: 18–25km per day
Camino Francés (Last 100km): 18–24km per day
Full Camino Francés: usually 20–30km per day
Camino del Norte: usually 20–30km per day with steeper, more demanding terrain
At Tierra Trekking Co., we design our itineraries with manageable stages specifically for Australian and New Zealand walkers, not the punishing distances you'll sometimes see in generic guidebooks.
Which Route Is Right for You?
This is our most recommended route for people walking their first Camino.
The terrain is generally flatter than the French route, the Atlantic coastline is spectacular, and the food and accommodation infrastructure is excellent. It's quieter than the Francés, which means a more relaxed atmosphere, and the daily stages are very manageable for most walkers.
Starting in Sarria and finishing in Santiago, this section gives you the full classic Camino experience: pilgrim villages, bustling cafés, the yellow arrows, all in a compact and achievable format. There are more hills than the Portuguese Coastal, but with proper preparation, this route is absolutely within reach for most first-time walkers.
How to Train (It's Simpler Than You Think)
Start about 2 to 3 months before you leave. The training itself is straightforward.
Walk regularly. Three to four times a week, gradually increasing distance. Include some hills. Wear the actual shoes you'll use on the Camino and do not save them for Spain.
Build toward:
Weekend walks of 15 to 20km
Back-to-back walking days (the most important thing to simulate)
Carrying a light daypack
Walking in warm weather where possible
You don't need a complicated program or a gym membership. Consistency matters far more than intensity. If you can get to the point where a 15km walk feels unremarkable, you're ready.
What About Older Walkers?
Many of the best Camino walkers we work with are over 60.
Older walkers often perform exceptionally well, not despite their age, but because of how they approach it. They pace themselves. They stop when they need to. They choose their route carefully, listen to their bodies, and focus on enjoying the journey rather than racing through it.
We regularly see Australians in their 60s and 70s complete the Camino successfully. The key is choosing the right route, building in adequate rest time, and working with someone who understands how to structure an itinerary for a walker rather than an athlete.
So, Are You Fit Enough?
If you can walk regularly, train consistently in the weeks before you go, pace yourself on the trail, and choose an itinerary that matches your level, there's a very good chance you can do this.
The Camino is far more achievable than most people imagine before they start. Thousands of ordinary people complete it every year, many of them Australians and New Zealanders who had exactly the same doubts you might be sitting with right now.
The question isn't really whether you're fit enough. It's whether you're ready to find out what you're capable of.
Plan Your Camino With Us
Tierra Trekking Co. specialises exclusively in Camino journeys for Australian and New Zealand walkers. We take care of route selection, daily itineraries, accommodation, luggage transfers, and on-the-ground support in Spain and Portugal, so you can focus on the walk.
If you're not sure which Camino route suits your fitness level, get in touch. We're always happy to talk it through.
Hi, I’m Ben
I’m the founder of Tierra Trekking Co and I’ve personally walked multiple Camino routes across Spain and Portugal.
I started Tierra Trekking Co to help Australians and New Zealanders experience the Camino with better support, better planning, and honest advice from someone who genuinely knows the trails.
If you’re unsure which Camino route is right for you, feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to help point people in the right direction.
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