(Advice) They walked the Camino de Santiago as a family and share their experiences

Plan, but not too much!

“We had a maximum of three weeks. So, our choice fell on the path Portuguese: walking along the Atlantic coast would allow the children to enjoy the beach almost every day. Before leaving, we estimated the number of days we would need to reach Santiago de Compostela, added a few days in case of possible injuries, need for rest, etc., and then booked the plane tickets. The only other thing planned in advance: our first night in Portugal in a hostel in Porto, the starting point of our journey.

Once there, our idea was to get up early and take a break every two hours. Honestly, that was never the case. Pretty quickly, the rhythm imposed itself on us: wake up, breakfast, check your feet (to combat pressure points, blisters and other discomforts) and tidy up until 10 a.m.; walk about six kilometers; short break for a drink or an ice cream and go to the toilet; then six more kilometers before lunch break.

One very hot day, we decided to walk only half of our daily distance and set up camp at a campsite with a swimming pool. We stayed there until the next afternoon so the kids could spend time in the pool. A few days later, all in good shape, we ended up walking nearly 24 kilometers before choosing a spot to pitch the tents. You have to know how to listen to yourself.”

Logistics designed for children

“Throughout the trip, everyone carried their own backpack. The children’s backpacks contained their clothes and personal belongings (toiletries, medications, etc.), not to mention the sleeping mats and light sleeping bags that we had taken care to bring. At 11 years old, Adrian also occasionally carried some of the groceries. His bag weighed between 3 and 4 kg on average. Caroline, 10, had a smaller backpack in which she had chosen to replace her sleeping mat with her mother’s sleeping bag. She occasionally carried provisions, mainly bread, which was easy to attach to the bag.

We decided to take two tents. This was, in our opinion, the best solution: one tent for the boys and one tent for the girls.

Of course, we had bought new hiking boots a few months before the trip and made sure to wear them in beforehand to do them.”

Beautiful encounters

“About 80 kilometres from Compostela, we crossed paths with José, a Dutchman who was walking the Portuguese Way in the opposite direction. He had many stories to share about the way. The children listened to him with stars in their eyes. During the conversation, we realised that José had no more money and the children each gave him two euros from their own kitty, so that he could buy a sandwich. We continued to chat, then José went to get two walking sticks. He gave one to Caroline and the other to Adrian. The children were so happy and grateful that they decided –after we accepted– to each give him an extra five euros. José, moved to tears, recommended that we spend the night in a beautiful donative hostel.”

Why take your children?

“We wanted our children to discover the special bond that pilgrims have. For them to discover the joy of giving and receiving on many levels, that’s the‘spirit path.

We believe that our children have grown as people. They now know that they have great mental strength. This strength that they can rely on if life becomes difficult or boring. Caroline and Adrian completely agree that walking the Portuguese Way has been a wonderful experience. For them, the best things about the way have been cooking and eating in nature, and sharing moments with their family. They have also both gained confidence, especially thanks to the grateful remarks, respect and admiration for these two young children, from many people we have met along the way.

Vinzent and Henriette’s last advice

“It is recommended that you adjust the expectations you had at home. Both in relation to your own expectations, those of the other participants, and the trip as a whole. Be realistic and enjoy every moment with your loved ones. Doing this as a family creates strong bonds and is a very special experience.”