A Household Journey On The Camino de Santiago: How To Make It Enjoyable And Secure For Children

The Camino de Santiago is far more than only a vacationer journey or a pilgrimage route; it’s a life-changing expertise that may convey households collectively in a singular and unforgettable manner. By strolling the Camino de Santiago, your loved ones won’t solely uncover Spain’s breathtaking pure landscapes but additionally find out about its wealthy cultural and spiritual heritage. 

In case you are contemplating embarking on this journey together with your kids, this text offers some sensible suggestions to make sure a protected, gratifying, and memorable journey. Let’s get began!

Choosing the proper route alongside the Camino de Santiago

Some of the essential elements of planning your loved ones journey on the Camino de Santiago is choosing essentially the most appropriate route. There are a number of potential routes, however some are extra child-friendly than others.

The most effective routes for kids 

On this regard, we suggest:

• The French Manner: That is the most well-liked and well-known route, the place you’ll encounter different households with kids. It has glorious infrastructure, companies, and hostels. You possibly can choose to stroll from Sarria to Santiago, a journey of roughly 68.4 miles (114 kilometers), with day by day distances not exceeding 12 miles (20 kilometers).
• The Portuguese Manner: This route begins in Tui and is barely much less crowded. The whole distance is round 118 kilometers, however the strolling phases are shorter and have fewer elevation modifications, making it ideally suited for kids. Moreover, it’s surrounded by beautiful surroundings.
• The English Manner: Ranging from Ferrol or A Coruña, this is among the shortest Camino routes. Though it’s much less crowded, it’s well-marked and has an excellent vary of lodging. It’s comparatively flat, making it a straightforward possibility for kids.

Beneficial day by day distances

For youngsters, it’s best to stroll between 6 and 9 miles (10 and 15 kilometers) per day. This permits them to benefit from the surroundings and relaxation adequately. Remember that every little one has their very own tempo, so it’s best to regulate distances as vital.

Camino packing necessities

Preparation is essential for this sort of journey. To make sure a snug and protected journey on the Camino de Santiago, take note of the next record of important gadgets:

• Applicable footwear: Ensure every member of the family has snug, well-fitted climbing boots. Good footwear helps stop accidents and blisters.
• Appropriate clothes: Carry light-weight, snug, and breathable clothes, together with additional layers for cooler nights. Don’t forget to pack a rain jacket for everybody.
• Mild backpacks: Select backpacks which can be appropriately sized for kids to allow them to carry their important belongings.
• Primary First Help Package: Embrace a small first support equipment with bandages, ache relievers, insect repellent, and any vital medicines to your kids.
• Meals and snacks: Carry a provide of fruit, nuts, and vitality bars to maintain your kids energized all through the journey.

Making climbing enjoyable for teenagers

Strolling the Camino de Santiago as a household could be an academic and enriching expertise for kids. Listed here are some concepts to make it gratifying:

• Statement video games: Encourage your kids to fastidiously observe the natural world alongside the route. Ask them to create a listing of issues to identify, similar to various kinds of crops or animals. The primary to finish their record wins!
• Storytelling: Every night, after a day of strolling, share a narrative associated to the locations visited or one of many legends surrounding the Camino de Santiago. This may hold them engaged and assist them join with the historical past of the route. One fashionable younger grownup journey e-book is “Stroll: James Bacon’s Secret Mission on the Camino de Santiago.” Amazon carries a number of different titles appropriate for various ages.
• Cultural participation: Go to small museums, cathedrals, and cultural landmarks. Your kids might additionally participate in native actions, similar to craft workshops or cooking courses, permitting them to find out about Galician tradition and enrich their expertise.
• Excursions: Plan further actions similar to canoeing journeys, exploring close by villages, or incorporating brief climbing trails into the route.

The place to Keep alongside the Camino de Santiago

Choosing the proper lodging is essential for guaranteeing a profitable household journey. Listed here are some ideally suited lodging choices for households:

• Household-Pleasant hostels: Many hostels alongside the Camino supply personal rooms for households, making them a handy possibility.
• Resorts and guesthouses: It’s possible you’ll want to remain in inns that provide household rooms and child-friendly companies. Some even have play areas.
• Tenting: If your loved ones enjoys journey and nature, tenting may very well be an excellent alternative. Nevertheless, keep in mind that tenting is barely permitted in designated areas licensed by native councils. You could e-book camp spots prematurely. Additionally, guarantee your kids are ready for this expertise.

Security and well being issues

As anticipated, security and well being are prime priorities when touring with kids. Listed here are some tricks to stop fatigue, accidents, and deal with emergencies.

• Keep hydrated: Guarantee everybody drinks loads of water all through the day. Carry reusable water bottles and encourage common hydration. 
• Take frequent breaks: Plan common relaxation stops the place kids can recharge. Search for shaded areas or parks.
• Look ahead to indicators of fatigue: Pay shut consideration to your kids. In the event that they present indicators of heatstroke or exhaustion, regulate the itinerary as wanted. Bear in mind, it’s extra essential to benefit from the journey than to push by means of discomfort.
• Know the route: All the time have a map or navigation app readily available. Familiarize your self with the route, potential exit factors in case of emergencies, and the areas of the closest well being facilities.

In case you resolve to stroll the Camino de Santiago with your loved ones, know that it’s a rewarding expertise that may strengthen household bonds and create unforgettable recollections. 

Nevertheless, it requires planning, preparation, and a few flexibility to make sure everybody, particularly the little ones, enjoys the journey. Contain your kids within the journey preparations and encourage them to discover, be taught, and luxuriate in each step of the way in which. 

Don’t hesitate any longer: begin planning your subsequent household journey on the Camino de Santiago.

Laura Garcia, an avid hiker primarily based in Spain, shares her recommendation for households strolling within the legendary Camino de Santiago pilgrimage path on behalf of sponsor Viajescaminodesantiago.com.