Walking the Camino de Santiago with children isn’t just possible, it can become one of the most meaningful experiences a family will ever share. The key isn’t the distance, but the planning.
Every year, thousands of families walk the Camino with their children. Some carry babies in hiking strollers; others walk alongside six, eight, or ten year olds who amaze with their stamina and curiosity. What they all have in common is that they came well-prepared. If you’re thinking about embarking on this adventure, here’s everything you need to know.
Benefits of Walking the Camino de Santiago as a Family
To enjoy the Camino de Santiago with children, the most important thing is to tailor the experience to the whole family’s pace. But beyond the logistics, there are good reasons why this adventure can become a memory you’ll cherish forever.
A Different Kind of Vacation
The Camino offers a unique way to travel as a family. No rush, no set plans, plenty of time to spend together, discover new landscapes, and experience each stage as a little adventure. For children, it’s often an experience they’ll never forget.
Moderate effort
Walking the Camino with children also teaches them something very valuable: that with perseverance, challenges can be overcome. It’s not about pushing them too hard, but rather about letting them discover, step by step, that effort pays off. Each stage they complete builds their confidence in a way that few other activities can.
Internalizing Values
Throughout the journey, children gradually internalize values such as perseverance, cooperation, and solidarity, without anyone explicitly explaining them. By experiencing these values as a family in a real-life context, these lessons become much more deeply ingrained.
At what age can children walk the Camino?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and we’re the first to admit it. What we do recommend is waiting until your child is at least 3 years old: by then, they can walk, they’re aware of their surroundings, and they’ll come home with some memories.
If your child is under 6, bring a hiking stroller. Not as a backup plan, but as part of the plan from the start. Having one makes a big difference in the experience.
Starting at age 6 or 7, most kids can hike on their own for short stretches, always taking breaks and without pushing the pace.
Which route should you choose for the Camino with children?
Not all routes are equally suitable when traveling with children. Infrastructure, terrain, and the availability of services make a big difference.
The most popular and best-equipped option. With frequent hostels, services at every stage, and an easy-going route, it’s the natural choice for families with children.
If you choose this route, at The Way Tours we’ll take care of selecting child-friendly stages, accommodations, and luggage transport so that all you have to worry about is walking.
The final 100 km of the French Way. Ideal if you’re short on time or have young children: comprehensive, manageable, and full of the magic of the Camino.
It’s one of the routes we organize most often for families at The Way Tours, precisely because it combines the best of the Camino with very manageable logistics.
Preparing Children for the Camino
We’ve been organizing the Camino for families for years, and we always tell them the same thing before they set out: preparation doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s essential. These are the three things that matter most to us.
Go on some hikes together a month or two before you leave
Start with short walks and gradually increase the distance. You don’t need anything fancy: the important thing is for the child to get used to the physical exertion without getting frustrated.
That last weekend before you set out, try to go on a longer hike. It will give you peace of mind to arrive at the Camino knowing how everyone is handling it.
First of all, footwear
This is the advice we give most often and the advice that’s most often ignored. Boots or sneakers should be broken in weeks in advance, not on the first day of the Camino.
Have your child wear them to school, to the park, everywhere. We’ve seen far too many times how a blister on the second day can ruin the whole experience and it’s something that’s easily avoided.
Their backpack, their adventure
Let your child carry their own backpack, they’ll love feeling like a pilgrim just like the adults. Just make sure it’s light.
The rest of the luggage isn’t their problem: on all our family tours, we handle luggage transport between stops so that you and they only have to worry about walking.
The best time of year to travel with children
Any time of year is good for walking the Camino, but when you’re traveling with children, the timing matters more. We recommend spring or fall: pleasant temperatures, beautiful scenery, and none of the summer crowds. For little ones, walking in good weather makes all the difference.
That said, keep in mind that in Galicia, rain is part of the deal, especially in the fall. A good raincoat for everyone is a must.
Summer is an option, but you have to be careful about the heat, especially on the plateau of the French Way. If you can only go in July or August, the Portuguese Way is a much cooler option and just as beautiful.
Is it worth booking an organized tour?
Yes. We’ve organized the Camino for many families, and we always say the same thing: when traveling with children, having everything arranged in advance completely changes the experience.
Accommodations booked in advance, luggage transported on its own from stage to stage, daily routes planned to be manageable… all of this eliminates logistical stress and leaves you free to truly enjoy yourselves.
At The Way Tours, we take care of everything: we choose stages suited to your children’s ages, select the accommodations, and manage every detail so that all you have to think about is walking together.
