Description
If the Camino de Santiago has come into your awareness, it’s because it is meant for you.
Perhaps you know someone who has walked the Camino and they can’t stop talking about it. Maybe the Camino is on your list of things you might do someday. Whether you’re new to the Camino or have already booked your flight to Spain, Before the Camino will help you start off on the right foot and make the most of your pilgrimage.
But first, a warning. This is not your typical travel guide or Camino book.
It doesn’t cover logistics or weather. You also won’t find recommendations on where to stay or what to eat. That is better discovered on the Camino itself. This guide isn’t a summary of other people’s experiences either – not even my own.
Instead, Before the Camino offers a unique take on preparing, packing, and planning you won’t find in other guidebooks. It’s for those who want more than just a holiday.
Sure, you could plan your camino like any other vacation trip, with every detail mapped out in advance. But the Camino can be so much more than a holiday. Before the Camino offers a roadmap for a pilgrimage, one of adventure, self-discovery, and transformation.
Before the Camino goes beyond logistics to explore the essence of a pilgrimage. Inside these pages, you’ll still get tips on how to train, what to pack, pilgrim etiquette, and Camino traditions. But you’ll also get so much more – the tools to prepare physically and mentally for the journey of a lifetime.
Whether you start in Spain, Portugal, France, or elsewhere, Before the Camino is the perfect guide for experiencing the pilgrim way.
Here’s what others are saying about Before the Camino:
“Before the Camino is a very inspiring, practical and easy-to-read book. Highly recommended to those preparing for their first experience on the Camino. Karin Kiser has done a great job and all in just 70 pages.” – Salvador Garín, Los Amigos del Camino de Santiago, Centro de Estudios Jacobeos, Estella / Lizarra, Spain
“Karin Kiser offers thoughtful guidance to help pilgrims prepare for the Camino. Through her book they’ll find the freedom and encouragement to get out and have their own story unfold.” – Faith Walter, Co-Founder, Pilgrim House, Santiago de Compostela
“Today we live in an accelerated and competitive pace. Man forgets he is human, becoming an imitator of the machine. When we allow ourselves to walk the Camino de Santiago, we embrace a human experience. The mind relaxes, the senses awaken, and good things happen. We also understand the importance of slowing down. Karin Kiser, an experienced pilgrim and ‘hospitalera,’ discovered this tool for the mind – the Camino. Her pocket guide, Before the Camino, is indispensable for providing guidance on a true pilgrimage experience. Highly recommended.” – Alberto Barbosa, Associação dos Amigos do Caminho de Santiago de Viana do Castelo, Portugal
“Before the Camino is not a typical travel guide. You will find recommendations on how to train, what to carry in your backpack, and how to plan your pilgrimage. Above all, Before the Camino is a guide that invites you to reflect and ask yourself questions. The book prepares you for what’s to come: an outward journey along the Camino as well as an inner journey to yourself.” – Rebeca Fernández Hermo, El Camino con Correos
“In Before the Camino, Karin Kiser provides a concise, compact, and remarkably comprehensive guide for preparing for your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Skipping the totally subjective subjects of timing, footwear, and packing lists (upon which no two pilgrims are in full agreement), Karin gives the guidance that will help prevent the person who desires to be a pilgrim from accidentally becoming a tourist. The guidance to set aside the things of home so you can fully embrace the present pilgrimage gives you is absolute gold.” – Fr. Steven G. Rindahl, Warriors on the Way
“Karin’s Before the Camino handbook serves as a comprehensive, practical guide for anyone contemplating the life-changing pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a beginner, this book provides essential information to ensure that your journey is physically, mentally, and spiritually rewarding. I loved every minute of it – and it will be my go-to guide for all my future Caminos.” – Dan Mullins, singer/songwriter and host of My Camino the Podcast
