My Tried and Tested Camino Portugués Packing List for Women

Deciding what to include in your Camino Portugués packing list isn’t easy, particularly if you’re going to be carrying your pack the whole way, rather than having it shipped forward for you.

You need to be sure you have enough of everything for the duration (although most things are easy to buy along the way), but not so much that you end up with a back injury.

You also need to consider the time of year you plan to go, and what type of accommodation you’ll be staying in.

Once I’d made the decision to do the Camino Portugués I joined various Facebook groups and started trawling the internet for advice on what to pack. I read dozens upon dozens of packing lists all with titles like ‘The Ultimate Camino Portugués Packing List’, ‘Camino Must Haves’, ‘The Only Camino Portugués Packing List You’ll Ever Need’, and ‘Camino Essentials You Can’t Leave Home Without’.

However, what I found with most of them was that there was no explanation as to why certain items were essentials that you allegedly couldn’t leave home without. It was more a case of ‘I took these items so you should too’.

So why, if there are so many packing lists already out there, am I writing another? Well, in this post I’m going to tell you exactly what I packed, and whether it was a hit or a miss so you can make your own mind up whether it has a place on your Camino, bearing in mind that everyone you’ll meet on the way has different needs. What’s essential for one person could be excess baggage for another.

Packing for the Camino Portugués definitely isn’t one size fits all!

Just as an example, some pilgrims (like me) choose to stay in private accommodation pretty much every night, while others stay in municipal albergues for the entire journey so, straightaway, they have different requirements. I knew I would have bedding provided so didn’t need to worry about bringing a sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner.

Apart from my backpack, shoes, and a few small random items, I didn’t buy anything else new. I already did a lot of running and walking before I decided to tackle the Camino so had plenty of sports gear in my wardrobe.

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My Camino Portugués Packing List

I walked the Central Route of the Camino Portugués in April/May 2022 and although the weather was warm during the day, the nights were often cold and I did experience rain on several days. If you’re going during the summer months you’ll need to be prepared for much hotter temperatures and, likewise, if you’re walking during the winter months, you’ll need warm clothing, so bear that in mind when reading this list.

The general rule of thumb with Camino packing is that your backpack shouldn’t weigh much more than 10% of your body weight but, of course, if you decide to have your luggage transported for you you’ve got a lot more leeway in terms of what you pack as someone else is doing the work of getting your belongings from A to B, so there’s no need to scrimp on toiletries or extra outfits.

Documents

Obviously you’ll have your passport with you but you’ll also need your Camino Credencial. Without your credencial you won’t be able to stay in municipal albergues and, perhaps more importantly, you won’t be able to claim your Compostela certificate at the end.

You can read more Camino lingo you need to know before you go here.

I initially kept my credencial in a plastic ziplock bag but, after a few days, I gave up and just slotted it into one of the pockets of my waist bag. It does look a bit dog-eared compared to other pilgrim’s credencials that I saw along the way but I’m not precious about it – the memories are on each page, even if those pages are a little dog-eared.

Luggage

There’s a huge choice of backpacks out there and they’re not cheap so it’s worth doing some research if you don’t already have one.

If you’re planning to ship your luggage between stages you don’t even need to use a backpack – I saw plenty of pilgrims ship suitcases and just carry a small daypack. In fact, when I walked the last 100 kms of the Camino Francés in May 20024 I used an Osprey Daylite Plus daypack. There’s a full review of this daypack to come but I really liked it and would recommend it for a small pack just to carry your daily essentials.

Backpack

My backpack was one of the few items that I had to buy. It’s recommended that you get properly fitted for your backpack, as it’s going to be a big part of your life for the time you’re on the road. I have to confess that I didn’t do this and bought my backpack online. However, in my defence I did a ton of research and it all worked out well in the end.

I opted for an Osprey Tempest 30L backpack. It looked tiny when it arrived and I did wonder if I’d manage to fit everything it but looks can be deceptive, and I actually had some room to spare, once all my gear was packed. Plus, it only weighed around 6kgs once it was full.

I love my backpack and have had plenty of use out of it since finishing the Camino. You can read my full Osprey
Tempest 30 review to see if it’s a backpack that would work for you.

Waist bag

I don’t think I’ve worn a waist bag since the 1980s and wasn’t keen to start again, but it’s true that fashion flies out of the window when you’re on the Camino, and I needed something to keep my essentials in.

I chose a purple one (to match my backpack!) with four zippered compartments so I had everything I needed (camera, purse, passport, credencial, etc) at hand. Although you can get expensive ones (Osprey, for example, has a range of waist bags) mine was a no frills one from Amazon.

My waist bag kept everything within easy reach and I can’t imagine doing the Camino without it. It meant, for example, that I could leave my backpack at the bar (under the watchful eye of the barman or a friendly local) while I popped to the toilet but still have my valuables safely with me.

Tote bag

I’m a big fan of a cotton tote bag so I stuffed one in my backpack as I thought it may come in handy on sightseeing days in Porto and Santiago before and after the Camino.

Have a read of these posts for things to do in Porto before the Camino and things to do in Santiago de Compostela after the Camino.

Not only was it useful when sightseeing, as I could pop my water bottle and other essentials in, it meant that when I was shopping for groceries I didn’t need to use a plastic bag.

Check out the Alison on Foot shop for a selection of Camino themed tote bags.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes were an excellent addition to my list as it meant everything was organised in my backpack so I could easily find exactly what I needed.

I had a cube for clean clothes, one for dirty clothes, one for shoes, and one for electronics, as well as my toiletry bag. They were just cheap packing cubes but they did the trick. However, you can get more expensive compression packing cubes that give you even more space in your backpack.

Using packing cubes meant that there was a place for everything and everything in its place so I didn’t need to waste time rummaging at the bottom of my backpack for anything. Obviously plastic bags would do the trick but, if you go down this route and you’re staying in dorms, pack your bags the night before so you don’t wake everyone else in the morning with unnecessary rustling!

Footwear

When I’m walking at home I wear my favourite Nike Revolution trainers – I’ve got quite a few pairs in different colours on rotation – and, although I do wear these when walking off road, I wasn’t sure they’d hold up to the Portuguese cobbles that I’d heard so much about!

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the choice of footwear – trainers, walking shoes, hiking boots, trail runners, walking sandals, waterproof, non-waterproof – the list goes on.

Walking Shoes

In the end I opted for walking shoes over hiking boots. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money in case I didn’t like them so bought some fairly bog standard Quechua walking shoes from Decathlon.

I bought them about a month before I left and probably walked about 100 miles in them before the Camino just to get used to them. I bought a size bigger than I needed as your feet swell up when they’re hot after being on the road all day.

Overall, the shoes were fine. I only got one small blister (on day three after walking constantly on cobbles) which I caught early and which didn’t give me any trouble for the rest of the Camino. I kept to fairly short days for the most part (between ten and thirteen miles a day) so that helped too.

The only thing I did find towards the end was that I should have replaced the insoles as they’d got flattened and my heels needed extra cushioning.

They did the trick though and got me from A to B with minimal discomfort. However, I recently bought a pair of Nike Juniper Trail 2 Next Nature trail running shoes which I absolutely love and which I’ll be wearing when I walk the Coastal route in September, as they fared me well on the Via Serrana and the final stages of the Camino Francés.

Sandals

I knew I wanted to take something to change into after every day’s walk and considered bringing my flip flops but decided that sandals would be better and offer more support to my tired feet.

I spent a lot of time looking at sandals until I found a pair that I liked. I’ll be honest, I’ve had an aversion to walking sandals since I first went backpacking in 1995 when it seemed that, within minutes of arriving on Australian soil, every backpacker suddenly strapped their feet into some form of velcroed abomination. But that’s just me and my vanity. They must be comfy or so many people wouldn’t buy them!

In the end I bought a pair of Izas sandals – they look good (especially compared to some I’ve seen) and are really comfortable so were ideal for sightseeing along the way as well. I had them in yellow but they come in loads of different colours.

I loved them and it was such a treat to slip into them after hours walking on cobbles. They also took up very little space in my backpack. I’ve worn them a lot since getting back from Santiago so they’re now looking past their best but are still really comfortable.

Socks

Who knew that deciding what socks to wear could cause so much discussion within the Camino community?

Many pilgrims swear by merino wool socks but, I’ll be honest, I just wore generic running socks although I have used 1000 Mile socks in the past. I took two pairs of running socks plus two pairs of walking socks (also cheap unbranded ones) as well as my favourite Injinji toe socks. The toe socks are designed to be worn as liners to help prevent blisters (so put on the toe socks with another pair of socks on top). However, in all the years I’ve had these I’ve only ever worn them on their own and have never had any issues with blisters.

I’ve been running for over twenty years and doing long-distance walking for longer than that so I know what works for my feet, and what doesn’t but it’s been a process of trial and error so I’d recommend trying different types of sock in the run up to your Camino. In that way, by the time you leave, you’ll have discovered what works for you and what doesn’t and you should, all being well, have a problem-free walk. Just make sure that they have plenty of cushioning in the heels and on the soles.

Clothing

Packing for the Camino is unlike packing for any other type of holiday – it has to be comfortable, lightweight, and quick drying. Forget looking glamorous – Camino style is all about function. 

Here’s what clothing was on my packing list, bearing in mind I walked in April/May.

Tops

I took two Kiprun t-shirts from Decathlon for wearing during the day. They’re really light and dry quickly so I could wash them at the end of a day’s walk and they’d be dry by morning.

I also took a casual cotton t-shirt to change into after a day’s walking and one long sleeve top for colder days.  

The Kiprun t-shirts were a hit but I could probably have left my other t-shirt behind as I only wore it once or twice as I mostly changed into my dress after walking (more on that later!). I did wear the long sleeve top quite a few times but, in retrospect, I would have preferred a zip up thin fleece instead as I think I would have got more use from it.

Bottoms

I took two pairs of calf length running pants. Both were from Marks and Spencer and really comfortable for covering long distances with no chafing whatsoever. Importantly, they also have a pocket on the thigh so that I could keep my mobile phone handy for the many many photos I took along the way.

I also had an ankle length pair which I wore on the colder days.

Jacket

I have a Nike jacket that, although not fully waterproof, is lightweight and keeps me dry enough in a light shower.

I’d considered taking a heavier rain jacket but, given that I was walking late spring figured that it would probably be too much in the way of excess weight on days I didn’t need to wear it.

I wore this jacket every day as the mornings were usually chilly. I’d generally take it off after an hour or two once I’d warmed up and, because it’s so light, it was easy to stuff into one of the pockets on my backpack.

Dress

I bought a basic navy blue cotton jersey dress to change into after each day’s walk and, I must admit, it was lovely to put something loose and lightweight on after my shower.

In fact, this was, without doubt, the best thing I packed. I wore it nearly every day and received plenty of compliments from other pilgrims who wished they’d thought to bring something similar.

I have to say though that, by the time I got home, I was a bit sick of the sight of it and it hasn’t been worn too much since!

Underwear

I took two sports bras for daytime use, one regular bra to change in to at the end of the day’s walk, and three pairs of cotton knickers that could easily be washed and dried overnight.

Obviously if I was using a luggage transfer service I’d take more but this was the bare minimum that I could get away with.

You can, of course, get merino wool underwear which is probably a great idea if you’re walking the entire Camino Francés but, for two weeks this was more than adequate.

Sun visor

I have a few sun visors which are great for keeping the sun (and the rain) off your face. Disclaimer, I was wearing these long before Ted Lasso came on the scene! A baseball cap would work just as well and is probably better if you’re walking during the summer months as it would keep the top of your head covered against the sun.  

Either way I’d recommend a hat of some sort as protection against the elements.

Buff

A buff was a last minute addition to my packing list and, to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would actually bother with it. However, on rainy days it was good to keep my head dry and, on the boat journey to Pontecesures on the Spiritual Variant I wore it around my neck to keep warm in the early morning chill.

They have a multitude of uses – I’ve also used it as a head band to keep my hair out of my eyes on windy days and, if you were walking the Coastal route on a windy day, you could use it to protect your face from the sand.

Swimming costume

Although I walked the Central Route I did start on the Senda Litoral from Porto and had visions of ending my first day with a dip in the sea. Unfortunately, that day ended with me getting wet from a rainstorm instead. I also visited Muxia and Finisterre at the end of my Camino but the water wasn’t quite warm enough to tempt me in, as inviting as it looked, so my swimming costume came home with me unworn.

Although I didn’t get to wear it I’ll definitely pack it again when I walk the Coastal Route and hope that I get to spend some time in the sea this time.  

Pyjamas

Many pilgrims choose to sleep in whatever clothes they’re going to wear the following day but, as I was staying in private rooms for the majority of the walk, I opted to bring a pair of pyjamas. They were very lightweight (shorts and vest) and took up very little room in my backpack.

Sunglasses

It’s easy to underestimate how strong the sun is, even outside of the summer months, so a pair of sunglasses is essential. I wore mine daily and the case fitted neatly into one of the hip pockets on my backpack so I could access them easily.

As I also need reading glasses I kept both in the same case to save a bit of space.

If you need to buy new kit my advice would be to not jump straight in and buy expensive gear immediately as, if you don’t like it or it doesn’t work for you, it’s been an expensive mistake. Buy cheaper items first and try them out for size. Sometimes expensive isn’t always best.

Walking Poles

Walking poles are another item that seem to divide the Camino community. I’d never used them until I started training with my backpack but was glad of them most days on the way to Santiago particularly on steep hills (both on the up and downhill stretches).

Don’t forget to get rubber tips especially if you plan to start walking early each day – the locals in the villages you pass through don’t need to hear the tip tap of your poles as you walk by their bedroom windows!

If you’re not checking in your bag on the way to your starting point a lot of airlines won’t allow you on the plane with your walking poles but you can easily buy them when you arrive in Portugal. I bought some new inexpensive poles when I arrived in Porto from Decathlon and then gave them away when I reached Santiago.

Wet Weather Gear

I was hoping that I wouldn’t get any rain while I was walking but knew that it was better to be safe than sorry and prepared for all weathers.

Backpack Rain Cover

The Osprey Tempest doesn’t come with a built in rain cover so I picked up a cheap and cheerful cover online which fitted into one of the pockets for easy access.

I only had to use it a few times but I was glad I had it. I also saw a fellow pilgrim use hers to cover her pack when we had to stow our luggage in a bus from Finisterre back to Santiago so they do have other uses if you’re on the fence about getting one.

Poncho

Rather than a raincoat and waterproof trousers, I opted for a poncho that covered me and my backpack and had to wear it a few times when the rain came down hard. Granted it’s not the most stylish thing I’ve ever worn but it kept me (and, more importantly, my pack) dry.

Altus ponchos seemed to be popular with other pilgrims but mine was from Decathlon and did the trick. It was much easier to quickly put on a poncho when it started to rain than it would have been to faff about with waterproof trousers so I’m glad I opted to bring one.

Hydration

Like walking poles, the question of how to stay hydrated on the Camino is another issue that divides pilgrims. Some say get a hydration bladder, some say use bottles that you can refill during the day. I took both!

Hydration bladder

Unless I’m doing a very short walk I always use a hydration bladder (living in southern Spain it’s vital during our long hot summers). Although Osprey make bladders specifically for their backpacks I bought a cheaper two litre bladder which was easy to refill without having to remove it from the backpack.

I find I drink much more water when I use a hydration bladder as it’s easier to just suck the water through the tube than have to keep reaching for a bottle.

Water bottle

I also bought my Chilly’s bottle with me which I kept in one of the side pockets of my backpack. I rarely used it while I was walking but, during rest breaks it was easy to use, and it was also handy to pop in my tote bag for sightseeing.

Along the way you’ll pass plenty of fountains where you can fill up your bottle or bladder. The tap water in Portugal and Spain is safe to drink so water purification tablets aren’t needed.

Toiletries

I’m not high maintenance by any stretch of the imagination but I have to admit that I wasn’t looking forward to having to pare down my toiletries to just the essentials.

I stay in hotels quite often and always bring home the toiletries, so I was able to pop small size bottles in my toiletry bag and, in the end, I whittled it down to these:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Shampoo. I just took two small hotel bottles and, because I was staying in private accommodation, relied on the fact that I could collect more on the way
• Soap. Again, I took a few mini hotel bars of soap. I usually prefer shower gel to soap but a small bar of soap lasts longer and takes up less space
• Deodorant. I took a small roll-on deodorant to save space even though I usually use sprays
• Tweezers
• Nail clippers. I made sure that my toenails were nicely painted before I left although they looked less appealing at the end as I didn’t take nail varnish for top ups!
• Comb
• Sunscreen. I picked this up in Porto when I arrived as I wasn’t checking in my backpack on my flight. Just be aware that it’s much cheaper in supermarkets than it is in pharmacies
• Face serum. I’m over 50 what can I say? There was no way I was going to go three weeks with just moisturiser
• SPF 50 moisturiser. Although I used suncream on my face during the day I also took a travel size moisturiser
• Lip balm. I never go anywhere without lip balm so I had three tubes plus a tinted tin. Possibly overkill but they’re so small I could pop one in each bag
• Hand sanitiser and hand cream. I always have a couple of tubes in my bag anyway and walking the Camino was no different
• Hair bands

I’ve read of pilgrims cutting off the handle of their toothbrush in their quest to keep the weight of their pack down but that seemed like overkill to me particularly for two weeks on the Camino Portugués (I may have felt differently if I was walking the full Camino Francés).

Although I used everything I took, I’ll make these changes next time:

• 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner rather than just shampoo or, if I can get it, I’ll try shampoo and conditioner bars
• Spray deodorant rather than a roll-on. Handy to spray on your clothes for those days when you’re clean but your clothes aren’t necessarily at their freshest!
• Tangle Teezer rather than comb. I didn’t bring it this time as it’s quite bulky but my hair was crying out for some TLC by the time I got home

First Aid Kit

My first aid kit was pretty basic as, living in Spain, I know that you’re never too far away from a pharmacy. Even the smallest towns usually have more than one.

My first aid kit consisted of:

• Compeed plasters
• regular plasters
• paracetamol
• ibuprofen
• antiseptic wipes (I had dozens of these from recent flights with Etihad Airways)
• Vaseline (I’ve never used Vaseline on my feet as blister prevention even when I’ve done long-distance events like the Parish Walk so I’m not really sure why I bothered packing it. I think it was a last minute ‘better safe than sorry’ addition.)
• Deep Heat Muscle Rub (just a few sachets I had from a goodie bag from the Great North Run)
• a needle and thread (actually a sewing kit taken from a hotel at some point. Again, I’m not sure why as I’m firmly in the ‘don’t touch blisters’ camp.)

I bought my first aid kit home mostly untouched. I used the Compeed plasters on my one and only blister, and one sachet of the Deep Heat when I had a shoulder twinge after a long day. Other than that, I didn’t use any of it.

However, I’d never go without a first aid kit as I’m living proof that there’s no guarantee that a second Camino will be as trouble-free as my first. In fact, you can read about my ill-fated second Camino Portugués and the mistakes I made here.

Electronics

I considered (very briefly) using the Camino as an opportunity to unplug and have a digital detox but it wasn’t realistic for me personally.

It probably looks like my electronics were overkill but, apart from the GoPro, I used them all daily.

• iPhone
• iPad. I downloaded my guidebook to my iPad to save space on carrying a physical copy. It was also easier to read than on my Kindle. I also prefer my iPad to my phone for catching up on social media – the bigger screen makes all the difference when you don’t have 20/20 vision anymore!
• Camera – I have a compact Panasonic Lumix TZ80 which didn’t take up much space and has a great zoom lens. However, phones generally have such good cameras nowadays that I don’t think I’d take my ‘proper’ camera next time
• Kindle. I didn’t do as much reading as I thought I would – I usually read in bed every night but the Camino wore me out!
• Travel adaptor/charger. I have one which has four USB ports so I could charge everything at once overnight
• Headphones. I have some Airpods Pro but decided to leave these at home as losing them would be costly. Instead I packed the cheap pair of wired ones that came with my phone
• Powerbank – small enough to carry in one of the hip pockets of my backpack and handy to have on long days when the battery of my phone was getting low
• GoPro – this was the only piece of kit that I didn’t use as it was easier to use my phone for taking any videos

While a digital detox is nice in theory I wanted to be able to keep in contact with my partner and family. As well, I wanted to be able to get the first drafts of my blog posts underway while I was still on the road and everything was fresh in my mind.

Miscellaneous

She wee

I’ve had a she wee for years but have never actually used it. However, I decided to pack it as I just wasn’t sure how often I’d be able to find a toilet on the way.

It remains unused! The distances I walked meant that there was always somewhere to stop for a toilet break.

Microfibre towel

Even though I was mostly staying in private accommodation where towels were provided I thought this might come in handy for those days when I had a dip in the ocean or for accommodation where towels weren’t provided.

In the end I only used it once when I stayed in a hostel and it was useless. It didn’t dry me properly at all so I ended up putting my clothes on while I was still damp. I wish I’d tested it before I left as, if I’d known how bad it was, I wouldn’t have bothered bringing it with me and would have just hired a towel. The only reason I would consider bring it on the Coastal Route on my next Camino would be for drying off after going in the sea.

Notebook and pen

I packed a small notebook which I kept in one of the pockets in the lid of my backpack. However, I hardly used it – most of the notes I made were on my iPad or voice notes on my phone. I wouldn’t bother bringing it next time. I’ll always have at least one pen on me though – old habits die hard!

What I didn’t take that other pilgrims recommend

From looking at other pilgrim’s lists and chatting to them on the way these seem to be popular items, particularly if you’re staying in an albergue rather than private accommodation.

• Sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner. The only time I think this would have come in handy for me was during one really cold night in Portugal
• Headlamp. Lights out is usually quite early in albergues and pilgrims often get off to early starts in the morning. I’m not an early bird though so wouldn’t get any use out of one
• Penknife (obviously only if you’re checking in a bag on your flight – don’t try and bring one through security in your carry on luggage)
• Ear plugs. Tales of loud snorers abound on the Camino so ear plugs are worth considering if you’re planning to stay in dorms
• Sleep mask. Handy for trying to sleep in dorms when the lights are still on
• Spare laces. This one has multiple uses beyond replacing a snapped lace including as a makeshift clothesline
• Vitamins
• Spork and collapsible Tupperware container. Handy for homemade lunches along the way
• Reflective tape or flashing light for early starts
• Clothes pegs and/or safety pins
• Travel cable and lock. Again, handy if you’re staying in an albergue and need to lock your bag to your bed although most have lockers
• Carabiners for attaching spare shoes or other items to your backpack.
• Whistle. My Osprey Tempest backpack has a whistle built into the chest strap so I didn’t need a separate one. Thankfully I never needed to use it but, personal safety is paramount particularly when walking as a solo female
• Pee Cloth. A sustainable alternative to carrying toilet paper for when you need to pee al fresco

If you’re not sure about a particular item then it’s a sign that you probably don’t really need it. In other words, when in doubt, leave it out.

Portugal and Spain aren’t third world countries so, if you run out of something along the way, you’ll usually have no trouble finding it in the towns and villages you pass through.

I hope you’ve found this helpful and if you have any questions please get in touch or join the Camino Portugués Planning Facebook group.

If you’ve already walked the Camino I’d love to hear what you found useful so pop a comment below and let me know.

Buen Camino!

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