What’s the Camino Primitivo?

​(and Why on Earth Am I Doing It?) My Ultimate packing list!

​I can hardly believe I’m actually about to do this. In just a few days, I’ll strap on my backpack, pick up my trekking poles, and walk 320 kilometers across northern Spain. Two weeks, one foot in front of the other, through mountains, villages, and all the weather the Camino gods decide to throw at me.

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So what is the Camino Primitivo, exactly?
It’s the original Camino route—the first path a pilgrim ever walked to Santiago de Compostela, way back in the year 814 AD. King Alfonso II made that journey from Oviedo to visit the newly discovered remains of St. James, and thousands of pilgrims have followed in his footsteps since.
The Camino isn’t just one route—it’s a whole web of pilgrim trails criss-crossing Europe. Some are flatter, sunnier, easier. The Primitivo? Not so much.
This one is a wild child.
It winds through the mountains of Asturias, where mornings can be 5°C mist and afternoons 32°C sun. It’s known as one of the toughest routes: one day you’re climbing to 1,200 meters, the next you’re dropping 700, then climbing back up again. Your quads never get bored.

So why did I pick this one?
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At first, it was pure practicality:

• 320 km — a full Camino route, start to finish, not just a “section.”
• 2 weeks — just enough time off to squeeze in a pilgrimage and still get back to teaching yoga and my VA work.

But then the universe laughed. Those classes I was rushing back for? Gone. One of my longest VA clients? Business sold, no more work for me. Suddenly, the Camino shifted. It wasn’t just about the schedule. It became about letting go, walking it out, and seeing what shows up when I stop clinging to plans.
And, of course, because the views are said to be out. of. this. world—rolling green hills, stone villages, forests so still you can hear your heartbeat. The kind of trail that makes you whisper, “holy sh*t, I’m really doing this.”

Which brings me to the next part: packing.
If you want to survive two weeks of mountains, sun, rain, and dorm life, you’ve got to be smart about what you carry. My dream goal? 6 kilos total. My first trial pack? 10.5 kilos. Classic.
So here’s exactly what I’m bringing (and overthinking) for my Camino Primitivo.

​Camino Primitivo Packing List: My Attempt at 6kg (And How It’s Going…)
My Packing Goal (and Reality Check)I went in with a very clear goal: 6 kilos total.

• 1 kg = my backpack itself (a 38L Decathlon).
• 5 kg = everything else.

Minimalist, light, free. Like a mountain goat with Wi-Fi.
Then I did my first trial pack. Drumroll, please… 10.5 kg. The second one: 8.5 kg. OK, that's it.
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Yep. Double what I wanted. So this blog is both my packing list and my confession. I’m still trimming, tweaking, and learning to let go. But here’s where I’m at.

My Camino Primitivo Packing List

I’m a huge fan of Decathlon*—affordable, practical, durable gear that doesn’t make me cry if it gets muddy, sweaty, or dragged through an airport. That’s why you’ll see so many of their items on my list. I’ve added the exact models where it makes sense, in case you’re as nerdy about gear as I am.

🎒 Gear

• Backpack: Wandelrugzak 38L MH500 (Decathlon, blue)
• Waterproof bag + zipper bags (for organization & rain protection)
• Trekking poles
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses 🕶️
• Summer hat 🧢

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🚶 What I’m Traveling In

• ¾ leggings
• T-shirt
• Sports bra
• Panties
• Small fanny bag (passport, cards & cash)
• Buff
• Fleece sweater

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🎒 Fanny Bag Essentials

• Passport
• Bank cards & cash
• Earbuds
• Lip balm
• A few tampons/pads

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👕 Clothes

• Hiking pants (convertible into shorts) – Afritsbroek MT100 (Forclaz)
• Skort (skirt/shorts hybrid) – Quechua NH500
• 2 quick-dry trekking t-shirts – Decathlon Hiking T-shirt NH500
• 1 Merino wool t-shirt – Travel 500 (Simond)
• 2 quick-dry tops
• ¾ leggings (traveling in)
• Stretch fleece sweater – Simond (traveling in)

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🧦 Underwear & Socks

• 2 pairs high trekking socks – Quechua Hike 100 
• 3 pairs Merino hiking low socks – Danish Endurance
• 2 sports bras
• 5 panties

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🧥 Jacket & Outerwear

• Puff jacket: Forclaz MT100 (Decathlon)
• Rain poncho

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😴 Sleeping Essentials

• Sleep liner
• Thin cotton scarf (multi-use, also pillow cover)
• Light quick-dry shower towel
• Short leggings (for sleeping)

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🧼 Toiletries & Misc

• Face cream (small)
• Vaseline (small)
• Travel-size shampoo & conditioner
• Travel-size shower gel
• Deodorant stick
• Razor
• Laundry soap + clothes pegs
• Toothbrush + toothpaste
• Soap (tiny leaf sheets)
• Hair ties
• Fan (yep, perimenopause hack 🌬️)
• Tampons/pads 🙂

🩹 First Aid & Health

• Blister bandages + prevention patches
• Anti-insect roll-on
• Post-insect soothing roll-on
• Multivitamins
• Muscle & joints gel
• Earplugs (for snoring bunkmates & noisy dorms)

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📱 Devices & Tech

• Power bank (10,000 mAh)
• Multi-plug charger + long cord
• Multi-cord (for charging different devices)
• Headlamp
• Kindle
• Selfie stick
• Tiny microphone (for videos)
• Phone stand
• External hard drive (because my phone is always low on memory)
• Notebook + pen
• Neck strap

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👟 Shoes

• Trail runners: Decathlon Kiprun TR2 (broken in all summer, love them)
• Slip-ons (for rest & showers)

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FoodNone. Zero. Nada.
This is Spain—we’re talking bread, cheese, wine, tortillas, tapas. Trust me, I’ll survive.

Final Thoughts (for Now)
So that’s my list. Will I end up closer to 6 kg than 8.5? We’ll see. I’m still in the editing phase. Packing light is an art, and clearly I’m still in kindergarten.
But here’s what I know: the Camino doesn’t care if you have 5 outfits or 2. It cares if you show up, put one foot in front of the other, and let the road strip you down to the essentials.
And honestly? That’s the real packing list:

• Curiosity.
• A sense of humor.
• Decent shoes.
• And maybe… just maybe… fewer bikinis (I am sure they make these +2 kg.)

​If you want to see how this all plays out—the mountains, the mishaps, the sweaty selfies, and whether I actually survive with “only” 10 kilos on my back—you can follow along in real time. I’ll be sharing daily stories and updates on Instagram and tracking the full journey step by step on Polarsteps.

​Come walk with me (virtually)—cheer me on, laugh at my packing mistakes, and maybe get inspired for your own adventure.

Instagram

Polar steps

​*Why Decathlon?I should probably confess: I’m a bit of a Decathlon fangirl. Their gear doesn’t just fit my budget—it fits my Invokee Passionate personality. I love trying new things, testing limits, and saying yes to adventures, and Decathlon makes that possible without me having to sell a kidney. Affordable, good quality, and reliable—that’s all I need when I’m hauling a backpack through mountains (or squeezing in “just one more” yoga top).