ESSENTIAL CAMINO PLANNING TOOLS

The Camino Planner 
(Free)

This is an amazing interactive itinerary planner that indicates the distance between villages and towns along the camino route. It lists almost every hamlet, village, town or city along The Way. You simply click on a starting point and a finishing point and it tells you exactly the distance that you will walk between those two towns. If you do not follow the popular Brierley Guide (see below) which details the author's preferred walking plan (I found it much too gruelling), this is the perfect planner for you. For me it was a Godsend because using it in conjunction with an up-to-date accommodation guide, I was able to plan a walking schedule that didn't kill me!

Pilgrim Tips & Packing List
Camino de Santiago (Purchase)

I highly recommend this book written by a woman who has walked over 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) on European pilgrimage routes, and has volunteered as a hospitalera in over 20 pilgrim refugios in Spain. It answers the countless questions that besiege us once we have made that life-changing decision to walk the camino. The first part of the book provides information about the different aspects of the life of a pilgrim and the second addresses each bit of equipment that all or most pilgrims will need. The third section, the appendix, provides links to customizable documents, both pdf and doc, which you can download, edit, print, and use to make your own personalized packing list. Additionally you will find many useful addresses, useful websites, and some interesting texts.

Accommodation Guide (Free)

​This is a great list for accommodation along the camino route. Its in Spanish, but you have a translate option. I bookmarked it and referred to it every day, using it together with the camino planner. There are lists of albergues, hostels and hotels, with telephone numbers so that you can book ahead (you can only really book hostels, hotels and some albergues).


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The Brierley Guide 
(Purchase)

This is a very in-depth guide, popular with pilgrims walking the camino. Its a wonderful all-in-one planning tool. The book provides plenty of historical information regarding the hamlets, villages, cities and towns along the route. It also contains accommodation lists, maps and photos for the reader to enjoy. You'll also get a pretty good idea how flat or hilly the terrain is, helping you to prepare accordingly. There are no electronic versions of the books available at the time of writing this (please let me know if this changes), and some people have advised that  it is a good idea to order the book well before leaving for the camino. 

Profile Map of the Camino Frances (Free)

This is a great document to download because it gives you a picture of the type of journey you have ahead, whether you are going to be walking uphill, downhill, climbing steep mountains and whether the descents will be steep or easy. Many pilgrims print this off and carry it with them. You don't have to follow the stages that this document suggests; its just great to know what to expect when it comes to walking on any given day. You can download it for free and store it electronically.

Guide to All Albergues on the Camino Frances (Free)

Most pilgrims carry this in their packs, or they access it electronically. It has a list of albergues in every place along the camino and includes information on costs and utilities available in the albergues. It also gives an indication of whether there are shops available to purchase your snacks for the walk, bars and restaurants, ATM's, banks, fountains and medical facilities. It provides information about distances walked and distances between towns. I recommend that you download this. It always comes in handy.

​Self-Guided Walking and Cycling Tours for the Camino (Purchase)

Rayo Active Travel provide you with a personalized e-book that looks like a Smart Phone. It provides GPS trail maps, distances between towns, informative videos and articles on towns visited, service locator so that you don't have to search for shops, pharmacies, etc. It has a 24 hour emergency assistance line, a Spanish translator tool, internet access, a camera and more...

Great FAQ's for All Things Camino with Forum for Pilgrims (Free)

This is a great site on which you can connect with other pilgrims past and present. You can ask all sorts of questions, express your fears, relay your experiences, and you will get plenty of positive feedback from forum members. If you do not like solitude, its a great place for calling on others who are walking at the same time as you. Many people have found walking partners this way. They also have a FAQ section where you can go if you don't want to register. Many log in while they are on the camino and share their experiences. Most useful is when pilgrims warn those who are a few days behind them of any problems up ahead. If you like interacting with others and feel you want advice from other pilgrims who have walked many times, then register for free and make some good friends!