Staying Safe on the Camino de Santiago: 35+ Practical Tips

Thousands of people walk the Camino de Santiago every year and, for most of them, it will be a hassle free journey but, even with so many people walking one of the many Camino routes, it’s still natural to be worried about how to stay safe, particularly if you’re walking solo and, perhaps more so, if you’re walking solo as a woman.

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Is the Camino de Santiago Safe?

On the whole, yes. The Camino de Santiago is one of the safest long-distance walks you can undertake whether you’re walking the popular Camino Francés or one of the lesser travelled routes such as the Via de la Plata.

Crime rates along all the routes are low but, of course, nowhere is 100% safe. Having said that, don’t be put off walking the Camino. It will be one of the best adventures of your life.

Is the Camino de Santiago Safe for Solo Travellers?

While it’s true that travel of any kind has its challenges when you’re on your own you’ll find that, on the Camino, you’re never really alone. You’ll frequently find yourself in the company of other pilgrims and the locals in the towns and villages along the way are used to pilgrims and will always be ready and willing to help if you need it.

If you are really concerned about walking solo you could consider joining a group walk but it’s likely that, especially on certain parts such as the last 100 kms from Sarria to Santiago, you’ll always have company.

A large group of pilgrims walking through a forest on the Camino de Santiago — A large group of pilgrims on the Camino Francés

If you’re planning to walk the Camino Portugués and want to connect with other pilgrims before you set off come and join the Camino Portugués Planning Facebook group.

If you’re sensible and take the same precautions as you would at home you can have a trouble free Camino. In this post I’ll give you over 35 tips to help you stay safe on the Camino.

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Pre-Camino Safety Tips

Book flights that arrive during daytime hours where possible. If you are arriving at night, you might prefer to take a taxi to your first night’s accommodation rather than use public transport after dark.
If you have to catch a connecting flight try and leave plenty of time between connections so that you don’t end up stranded somewhere unexpected.
Watch out for pickpockets at airports and on public transport from the airport to the city centre. Wherever you are keep your wits about you and your belongings close. If someone asks if you need help to carry your bag just say no.
If you need to look up directions to your accommodation don’t check your phone in a public space. When you look lost or distracted you’re seen as an easy target so try and pop into a shop or café if you need to get your bearings.
If anyone tries to ‘befriend’ you and asks if you are travelling alone you can always say that you’re meeting your friend or husband if you feel uncomfortable in any way.
Think about learning a few words of Spanish and/or Portuguese to give you a confidence boost on the Camino. This post has some of my favourite ways to learn Spanish for the Camino.

Personal Safety Tips

Share your plans with family and friends. Let them know where you intend to walk to each day and update them when you arrive in each new town. When I walked the Camino Portugués solo I made sure that my partner was able to see where I was at all times by using the Find my Friends app on my phone.
Don’t overshare with strangers. If you’re documenting your Camino on social media try not to do it in real time if your account is open to the public. I usually post with a day or two delay on all except my private accounts.
Stay connected. If your mobile phone doesn’t have free data roaming in Spain or Portugal you can buy an eSim. Airalo has data packages covering Spain and Portugal individually, or you can buy a Europe-wide package.
Stay charged. It’s all well and good having plenty of date on your phone but not if you run out of battery. You can buy a portable charger that won’t take up much weight in your pack. I have a similar powerbank to this one so that I can easily charge my phone during the day if my battery starts to get low – usually from taking too many photos!
Make a note of the local emergency information. In fact, store it in your phone now so you don’t forget in the excitement of preparing for your Camino! The emergency number in Spain and Portugal is 112. It’s free to call and the operators do speak English so never let language concerns stop you from making an emergency call. If you do need to report an incident do it immediately rather than waiting until you reach your destination.
Download the AlertCops app to your phone. This app lets you report any incidents and puts you in contact with the relevant authorities in Spain.
Be aware of your surroundings but don’t be overly anxious. Just as you would at home, stay alert. This is important whether you’re on isolated sections of the trail or if you’re in a bigger city.
Don’t walk with your headphones in and don’t walk along looking at your phone. If you do want to listen to music or a podcast along the way think about only using one earbud so that you can still stay relatively alert to your surroundings.
Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right then act on that feeling whether that means moving on from the situation or asking for help. If you don’t feel comfortable with another pilgrim on the trail then stop for a break and let that person walk on ahead of you.
If you’re staying in a dorm room and feel uncomfortable, whether that’s because you have a bed next to someone you don’t know or are the only woman in your room, ask to be moved to another bed or a different room.
Know your limits. If you plan to drink alcohol make sure you don’t have too much. If you’re drunk your inhibitions will be lower and you won’t recognise any potentially dangerous situations. It’s too easy for a drunk woman to become a target of unwanted attention.
If you’re out in a bar only drink what you’ve ordered yourself. If you’re drinking in an albergue only have drinks that you poured yourself or that were poured by someone you know and trust.
Try to avoid walking alone in the dark. You’re probably not going to be out late (in fact, most municipal albergues have fairly early curfews) but, if you are, try and walk back to your accommodation with someone else. The same goes for if you decide to set off early in the morning before sunrise.
Stay visible. If you are walking in the dark make sure that you wear some form of reflective clothing. You can buy reflective tape to sew onto your backpack so that you can be seen in the dark.

A dark street in the old town of Santiago de Compostela lit only by lamplight — Wear something reflective if you’re going to be walking before sunrise

Protecting Your Belongings

Only bring what you really need and leave any unnecessary valuables at home. I did bring a camera and my iPad with me but I took off most of my jewellery before I left home – apart from anything, my fingers often swell when I walk for extended periods so I knew it would be uncomfortable to keep my rings on. If you’re really concerned about unwanted attention you could wear a simple band on your wedding finger, whether you’re married or not.
Use a money belt. If you’re sleeping in large dorm rooms you might want to consider wearing it at night to keep your valuables close to your body while you’re sleeping.
Bring a ziplock bag. If you plan to be sleeping in shared rooms you can put your valuables in a waterproof bag and take them with you while you’re in the shower.
Don’t leave your bag unattended. In albergues you’ll usually have a locker but you might want to bring a small padlock with you just in case. If you’re walking solo and have to go to the toilet during the day either take your backpack with you or ask a trusted fellow pilgrim to watch it for you. However, don’t leave your passport, cards or cash in your pack – this is where the money belt comes in handy. As an extra precaution, don’t carry anything valuable in the outer pockets of your backpack.
Don’t carry too much cash. You can pay by card in most places so just carry a small amount of cash for coffees and snacks during the day. You can easily get more from an ATM if you need to.
Make a note of your passport details just in case you lose it. You can either keep it as a photo on your phone or a photocopy that you keep somewhere separate from the passport itself.
In a worst-case scenario if someone does try to steal from you don’t put up a fight. It’s really not worth it so just hand over your belongings.

Osprey Tempest 30 backpack placed against a Camino de Santiago way marker — Only carry what you need and leave any valuables at home

Staying Healthy on the Camino

Staying safe on the Camino isn’t just about looking after your belongings, you need to look after yourself too.

Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. You can either use a water bladder that fits into your backpack or carry a reusable bottle that you can refill along the way.
Eat plenty and eat well. You’ll use a lot of energy on the Camino so make sure to stop and refuel along the way. Eating well in Portugal and Spain is actually pretty easy so make the most of pilgrim meals and restaurants offering a menu del día – usually a three course meal with drink included for a relatively cheap price.
Look after your feet. Make sure that your walking shoes have been well broken in and that you’ve tried and tested whatever socks you’re planning to wear. If you do find yourself getting a blister stop and take care of it straightaway rather than leaving it until later because by then it might be too late.
Wear sunscreen. Even if it’s cloudy you can still burn so carry a small bottle of sunscreen with you that you can reapply regularly throughout the day.
Listen to your body. If you’re feeling tired, stop for a rest and a snack. Even fifteen minutes to rest your feet will be worth it. If you need to take a rest day, do it and, if you’re walking with others, don’t be pressured into doing more than you’re capable of.
Carry a first aid kit even if it’s very basic with just plasters, alcohol wipes, antiseptic cream and painkillers. You can easily replenish it along the way as even the smallest villages have pharmacies.

A pilgrim's rest area on the Central route of the Camino Portugues — Stop for a break as often as you need

Weather and Other Hazards

While it’s possible to walk the Camino year round there are certain times of year that are definitely more enjoyable than others. Spring and autumn are both good times to walk the Camino but you can get rain at any time of year so it’s better to be prepared.

Check the forecast regularly. The weather can change in an instant. In fact, I’ve set off in glorious sunshine and ended the day in a downpour, and vice versa. I just use the app that is preloaded on my phone but websites like AccuWeather or The Weather Channel are useful.
Dress in layers. It’s likely to be cool (or cold) in the mornings when you start walking but you’ll soon heat up. It’s easier to add and remove layers as the temperature changes than to be either too hot or too cold if you’re only wearing one layer.
Check the terrain. Even if you’re walking the Coastal route of the Camino Portugués there are still some steep and rocky sections – it’s certainly not all flat walking on boardwalks.
Watch out for dogs. When you’re walking through rural landscapes it’s likely that you’ll come across a farm dog or two. Luckily most of the ones I met were behind fences but if you do come across a stray keep them at arm’s length. Hiking poles can come in handy here to keep some distance between you. Often they’re all bark and no bite but if you do get bitten get to a pharmacy as soon as you can. Thankfully rabies isn’t an issue in Portugal or Spain but you may need a tetanus injection or stitches.
Look out for insects. When my friend and I walked the Coastal route of the Camino Portugués we were unlucky to be stung by a swarm of wasps. Their nest had been disturbed by a group of pilgrims ahead of us so a few of us walking past were all stung. Depending on the season you’re walking you might also want to carry mosquito repellent. There may not be the threat of malaria in Portugal and Spain but mosquito bites are painful and annoying. Wearing long sleeves and long trousers helps keep them away from your skin.

A muddy path on the Camino de Santiago — Mud – just one weather hazard to consider!

Safety Gadgets for the Camino

You obviously don’t want to carry any excess baggage if you can help it but you might want to think about some of these to keep you and your belonging safe on the Camino.

Luggage padlocks – an extra layer of security particularly if you’re staying in albergues and sharing dorms with strangers.
Money belt – handy to keep your valuables on your person at all times.
Air Tags – good for keeping track of your bags so you know where they are at all times especially handy if you’re using a luggage transfer service
Whistle – many backpacks come with a whistle attached to the chest strap including the Osprey Tempest 30 backpack which I used. However, if your backpack doesn’t have one built in they’re easy to attach.
Personal alarm. If you don’t have a whistle you can attach a small personal alarm which will emit a piercing noise when activated.

Travel Insurance

I can’t stress this enough, don’t travel without insurance. You might not need it (and hopefully you won’t) but things can go wrong so you need to make sure that you’ve got sufficient support in an emergency situation. You might consider it an unnecessary expense but, honestly, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

While healthcare in Spain and Portugal is relatively inexpensive it’s better to be prepared and have insurance that covers you for medical treatment, loss of your personal possessions, and, if the worst comes to it, emergency repatriation.

I personally use Globelink International which is for UK and EU residents. If you’re based elsewhere EKTA offers various levels of cover for trips worldwide.

Final Thoughts on Staying Safe on the Camino

A lot of what I’ve written is common sense and, hopefully, stuff that you do at home anyway.

Walking the Camino de Santiago is one of the best experiences you can have so, while it makes sense to be cautious, try not to let any anxiety take over. Thousands of pilgrims walk it annually with no issues so be aware, be prepared, and trust your instincts.

Do you have any other safety tips to add? Let me know in the comments below or come and join the Camino Portugués Planning Facebook group and share with us there.

Buen Camino!