Camino de Santiago Training Plan
A progressive 12-week program that builds your walking endurance, breaks in your gear, and gets your body ready for 800km across Spain.
Week 1
Base BuildingWeekday Walks
3 × 3km easy walks
Long Walk
5km flat terrain
Pack Weight
No pack
Gear Focus
Order Camino shoes — start wearing around the house
Focus on building the daily habit, not distance
Week 2
Base BuildingWeekday Walks
3 × 4km easy walks
Long Walk
7km flat terrain
Pack Weight
No pack
Gear Focus
Wear Camino shoes on all walks; order merino socks
Walk at a conversational pace — if you can't chat, slow down
Week 3
Base BuildingWeekday Walks
3 × 5km
Long Walk
8km with gentle hills
Pack Weight
Empty daypack
Gear Focus
Test socks + shoe combo; note any hot spots
Apply Body Glide to any friction areas pre-walk
Week 4
Base BuildingWeekday Walks
4 × 5km
Long Walk
10km mixed terrain
Pack Weight
2kg (water + snack)
Gear Focus
Buy and test trekking poles on hills
Start stretching hamstrings and calves post-walk
Week 5
Load & ElevationWeekday Walks
4 × 6km
Long Walk
12km with hills
Pack Weight
3kg
Gear Focus
Full shoe break-in walks; 50+ km logged in Camino shoes
Add stairs or hills to weekday routes
Week 6
Load & ElevationWeekday Walks
4 × 7km
Long Walk
14km with elevation
Pack Weight
4kg
Gear Focus
Test rain gear on a wet day; adjust backpack hip belt
Your long walk pace should match Camino pace: ~4km/h
Week 7
Load & ElevationWeekday Walks
4 × 7km
Long Walk
16km varied terrain
Pack Weight
5kg
Gear Focus
Do a full gear shakedown — pack everything, weigh it
Practice packing and unpacking your bag efficiently
Week 8
Load & ElevationWeekday Walks
4 × 8km
Long Walk
18km with hills
Pack Weight
5.5kg
Gear Focus
100+ km in Camino shoes; test blister kit protocols
Walk in the morning to simulate Camino start times
Week 9
Peak & TaperWeekday Walks
4 × 8km
Long Walk
20km trail or hills
Pack Weight
6kg
Gear Focus
Final gear cuts — remove anything you didn't use in training
Practice navigating with Camino app or waymarks
Week 10
Peak & TaperWeekday Walks
3 × 8km
Long Walk
25km + 20km back-to-back weekend
Pack Weight
7kg (full Camino weight)
Gear Focus
Back-to-back days simulate Camino reality — this is your test
Note what hurts after Day 2 and address it now
Week 11
Peak & TaperWeekday Walks
3 × 6km easy
Long Walk
15km easy pace
Pack Weight
5kg (tapering)
Gear Focus
Final gear list locked — no new items from here
Reduce volume 30–40% but maintain walking frequency
Week 12
Peak & TaperWeekday Walks
3 × 4km easy
Long Walk
10km easy — celebration walk
Pack Weight
No pack — rest your body
Gear Focus
Pack your bag for real. Weigh it. You're ready.
Rest, hydrate, and trust your training. ¡Buen Camino!