Camino de Santiago Summer Packing List

Summer on the Camino means heat, not weight. From June to September you can walk with a 5–6 kg base weight — the trade-off is that sun protection, water capacity and electrolytes become non-negotiable.

Summer conditions at a glance

• Meseta (Burgos–León): 30–40°C, almost no shade, long gaps between villages.
• Galicia: 22–28°C, humid, afternoon showers even in August.
• Coastal Norte and Portugués: 22–27°C with sea breeze and strong UV.
• Crowds: peak season — book private beds ahead in the last 100 km.

Summer clothing kit

• 2 light merino or synthetic tops + 1 long-sleeve sun hoody
• 1 pair hiking shorts + 1 pair light trousers for evenings and churches
• 3 pairs thin merino socks + 3 underwear (quick-dry)
• Wide-brim sun hat and UV-rated sunglasses
• Ultralight rain shell (100–200 g) — for Galicia only
• Camp sandals that double as shower and evening shoes

Heat-specific gear

• 2 L water capacity (bladder or two 1 L bottles)
• Electrolyte tablets — one per 2 hours of walking in the heat
• SPF 50 sunscreen and SPF lip balm
• Cooling buff or bandana you can soak at fuentes
• Silk sleeping liner instead of a sleeping bag

Summer walking strategy

Leave at first light, take a long lunch stop from 13:00 to 16:00, and consider splitting Meseta stages into shorter days. Trail runners beat boots in the heat because they drain and dry. For exact monthly temperatures see the month-by-month guide.