What Walking the Camino with Our Kids Was Actually Like

A family of four (ages 8 and 11), Sarria to Santiago, 7 days in late June.

Day 1 — Sarria → Portomarín, 22 km

Too ambitious. We learned that day. The 8-year-old hit the wall at km 15 and we ended up doing the last 5 km in stop-start, snack-fueled increments. We started Day 2 with a shorter plan and never went over 18 km again.

Day 2 — The morale system

We instituted "café con leche stops" every 5 km and let each kid pick the destination village. Suddenly they were navigating instead of trudging. Game changer.

Day 3 — Bag transfer saved the trip

We booked Correos at the front desk of the albergue. €6 per bag. Walking with 3 kg instead of 8 kg meant the kids could actually enjoy the path. Don't be a purist — your family Camino is not the same trip as a solo 20-something's.

Day 4 — Blisters and the breakdown

Our 11-year-old hid a hot spot for two days because she "didn't want to slow us down." By the time we found it, it was a quarter-sized blister. Check feet every single rest. Don't ask "do your feet hurt?" — actually look.

Day 5 — Magic

Walking through eucalyptus forests in the early morning mist, the kids fell silent. Then they started spotting Camino arrows on their own. This is the day they became pilgrims, not tourists.

Day 6 — Sleep deprivation hits

By night 5 the snoring + dorm life caught up. We booked a private pension. Best €70 of the trip.

Day 7 — Santiago

They ran the last 500 meters into the Praza do Obradoiro. They got their Compostelas. The 8-year-old asked when we could do another one. We're booking the Inglés for next year.

If we did it again

• Start with 12 km days, not 22.
• Book bag transfer from day one.
• Alternate albergues with pensions every 3 nights.
• Pack twice as many snacks as you think.
• Bring a small reward for Santiago (a Camino shell necklace each).