16 Best Camino de Santiago Gifts for Pilgims [2023]
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Do you have a pilgrim friend or relative who absolutely loves the Camino de Santiago in Spain? If yes, then this list will provide you with the best Camino de Santiago gift ideas to pick up before their pilgrimage—or to commemorate it once they’ve returned home.
Or maybe you’re the pilgrim and you want some ideas for presents you’d love to receive before your next Camino! Perhaps a new backpack or a shell bracelet?
Whatever Camino gift you’re after, no worries. As a Camino enthusiast and fellow pilgrim who has walked the Camino Frances, I’ve got you covered! From essential gear for the trip to online Spanish language courses, here is a list of incredible Camino-inspired gifts for pilgrims.
1. Hiking Backpack
One of the most important pieces of gear any pilgrim needs is a high-quality, lightweight frame backpack like this one from Osprey. They will use this pack to carry their belongings on the Way (as it’s called in English) for 12+ miles per day, so it darn well better be comfortable!
Your backpack also becomes a part of you, somehow. Don’t ask me why, but I truly cherish the Kelty Redwing I walked the Camino with. Thus, it’s not only practical but a very special gift.
Since backpack fit is so specific, I do recommend you let your pilgrim friend choose which backpack she would like to purchase. Refer her to our backpack guide to get started.
Once she knows which pack she wants, you can buy it as a gift, or simply give her an Amazon gift card.
2. Camino Memorabilia
Nothing is more fun than a piece of travel memorabilia that reminds you of your trip every time you use it.
Etsy has some really great options to explore such as prints and hats. But, we like these simple leather keychains. I have one, and every day when I look down at it, I’m reminded of my time on the Camino and everything it took to accomplish such a monumental task.
Certainly, any pilgrim would love one of these key chains as much as I do!
3. Guidebooks
Since pilgrims love to consume all things Camino de Santiago, the Camino de Santiago: Sacred Sites, Historic Villages, Local Food & Wine (Travel Guide) by Beebe Bahrami is a wonderful fount of information and makes a perfect gift.
Pick up this travel guide, and he can read all about the cultural side of things before he leaves—churches, archaeological sites, food to try, festivals, etc.
For the trail, however, we recommend the Brierly or Village to Village Guides since they are lightweight and filled with tips for day-to-day Camino life. These make a more practical gift, if that’s what you’re going for.
Having trouble deciding? Read our Camino de Santiago guidebook review.
4. Camino de Santiago Books & Movies
Camino de Santiago books and movies make great Camino de Santiago gifts.
The opportunity to live the Camino through someone’s else’s eyes is such a joy, whether you’ve walked your own or not. We even wrote a post with our favorite Camino de Santiago books to inspire pilgrims. Check it out.
For movies, you can’t go wrong with, “The Way.” This moving film by Emilio Estevez stars his real-life father Martin Sheen and is a Camino fan favorite, for sure. Even better, offer to watch it with them while indulging in Spanish tapas and wine together! For more Camino film recs, look here.
5. Shell Jewelry
Shell jewelry is all the rage along the Camino, for both women and men.
On Etsy, you can find all sorts of unique Camino jewelry: beautiful shell necklaces, earrings, or bracelets adorned with shells or St. James crosses.
These leather bracelets are particularly popular and make a great gift as a wearable reminder of the Camino.
6. Travel Notebook & Pen
If your loved one is a writer, a gorgeous faux leather-bound journal is a perfect present. Jotting down one’s thoughts along the Way is so helpful for both reflecting and sharing experiences.
We love these refillable travel journals with faux leather covers, but if you want to go with something with the Camino shell motif, there are also simple options like this notebook.
An extra set of pages and a sleek pen will come in handy, too!
7. International Data and/or Wifi
As much as pilgrims want to unplug, international data and/or wifi is a total must for walking the Camino in our opinion. To explain, it’s necessary to have a basic international plan for things like alerting the police in case of an emergency, calling a taxi, booking accommodations, and updating your family and friends on your whereabouts.
Now, how she chooses to stay connected is her choice. Here are a few options you could offer to pay for:
International Data Plan
A temporary international data plan can easily be added to just about any phone for a month. Or, if you have T-Mobile, an international data plan is actually included already! In that case, propose upgrading to more data for the trip.
International SIM Card
Pilgrims can also purchase an international SIM card when abroad at a popular carrier such as Orange or Vodafone.
Travel Wifi
Get her an international portable WIFI hotspot device. TravelWifi offers flexible plans to accommodate any traveler’s usage so whether she just wants to update family or needs to do some work, she’s covered. Plus, if you buy the device rather than rent it, she can use this for years to come on future trips on multiple devices.
8. Spanish Language Classes
Does your friend want to brush up on their Spanish before they head to Spain? Although he can certainly manage without knowing Spanish (with lots of gesturing, for example), it’s always a good idea to learn some of the language.
I met Michele of The Intrepid Guide a few years ago and love her language courses. Her course, How to Master Spanish for Travel FAST offers a great guide through all the basics of the Spanish language.
A Spanish Phrasebook works as a simple gift too, or is a great accompaniment to a Camino gift basket, for example.
9. Camino de Santiago Buff
The magical piece of fabric known as a buff is a must for any pilgrim, male or female. Once you’re on the trail, you’ll see them everywhere! These stretchy wonders are so versatile and used for so many purposes such as wicking sweat from the forehead or keeping sun off the neck.
It’s really a no-brainer to get a buff for anyone who likes to travel or like, let alone pilgrims.
Since it’s a gift, we recommend you splurge a little, and get them one the Camino de Santiago designed Buffs.
They are guaranteed to love it (I do)!
10. Camino Patches
Yes, patches are still a thing in the backpacking world, or at least on the Way!
While Camino patches are a great way to identify yourself as a pilgrim, you can also get some meaningful patches for your friend.
To expand, the Camino can get lonely. It’s always nice to have patches that represent things or places that are meaningful to a pilgrim that will lift him up when he sees them such as a favorite bible verse patch or country flag. As a bonus, they are excellent conversation starters!
Don’t forget to pick up some iron on adhesive or a sewing kit, too.
11. Wool Socks
Wearing the right socks on the Camino is crucial. With all those long days, pilgrims can risk getting blisters if they wear the wrong socks.
Thus, you can never go wrong by gifting a quality pair of merino wool lightweight, micro crew socks. (Darn Tough, Smartwool, and Icebreaker all make super socks.)
By the way, Darn Tough socks are made in the USA and offer a lifetime guarantee. We love them so much that we replaced most of our socks with Darn Tough after our first Camino! Feel free to gift us a pair, anytime.
12. Personalized Waymarkers
The yellow arrow marks the way to Santiago de Compostela and is one of the most integral symbols of the Camino.
There’s also a saying that the Camino starts at your doorstep. So, why not get a lovely pine signpost marking the distance to Santiago for your friend’s front door?
This thoughtful gift is sure to wow and bring enjoyment for years to come!
13. Silk Sleeping Bag Liner
Most of the season on the Camino is pretty mild, meaning your friend will likely only need a sleeping bag liner.
Knowing she’ll be sleeping in hostels for a month, give her the very best by gifting a silk sleeping bag liner. These ultralight silk liners are hygienic, soft, and durably made with ripstop silk.
When you gift a silk liner, you’ll sleep well knowing your favorite pilgrim is comfy!
14. Fitness Tracker
Every pilgrim is acutely aware of how many steps and kilometers they take.
Since they allow him to track his steps, heart rate, and so much more both on the trail and during training, they make an excellent Camino de Santiago gift.
While I’m still a huge fan of Fitbit, there are many comparable options today including the Amazon Halo, Garmin, and more. Get whatever fitness tracker you think your loved one will love. However, I don’t recommend the rings, because fingers will most likely swell on the trek, rendering rings uncomfortable and useless. Get a watch with sturdy, adjustable band.
15. Kindle
If your pilgrim loves to read, get him a Kindle to read along the trail.
The Kindle has an option to come loaded with a Kindle Unlimited Membership trial, but you can always offer to pay for the membership beyond the Camino.
Also, some pilgrims choose to save the weight and forgo carrying a Kindle. In this case, they download the Kindle app and read on their phone. Gift an Amazon gift card with Kindle design so they can buy the books they want!
16. Hiking poles
Although trekking poles don’t seem all that “gift-y,” they are such an essential on the Camino that I definitely would love to be gifted a pair of nice poles!
Whether it’s an affordable pair of poles, money to buy a pair in Europe, or a luxury pair of Z-poles, these will certainly come in handy — on the Camino and for years to come!
Camino Gift Ideas: Last Words
Well, if you want your pilgrim friend or loved one to smile and feel supported on their Camino journey, take note. And, get a few items for him from my top picks for Camino de Santiago gifts.
A Camino de Santiago gift not only shows you’re taking an interest in his interests (like the Camino), it also gives him something that causes him to think of you often when utilizing your present. How sweet is that?
Let me know in the comments if you have received any of these gift or have other ideas for wonderful Camino gifts.
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