Why You Should Walk The Camino

While researching the Camino de Santiago I noticed that most of the blog posts and videos were about the actual experience of walking, how to prepare, and helpful tips. All of the information was great and much appreciated. But what I was often asked by others was “why are you doing this?” or “why do people do that?” Those are fair questions. So I’m going to give a few answers because there really is no one reason to walk the Camino. Ultimately my goal is to convince anyone on the fence to book that flight and start walking.

About the Camino

The Camino de Santiago is an ancient pilgrimage tracing its origins to the 9th century. Catholics throughout Europe walked to Santiago de Compostela where the bones of St. James the Apostle are believed to be buried. 

Today the Camino is an assortment of routes originating in France, Portugal, or Spain. Walking an entire Camino can be as long as 800 kilometers (500 miles) and take a month to complete. You can however become an official pilgrim (one who walks and completes the Camino) if you can prove you’ve walked at least 100 kilometers. 

Camino options

In June of 2026 my friend, Jennifer, and I walked the Camino Frances and began in Sarria, Spain. We walked 115 kilometers to Santiago over nine days. There are so many ways to do the Camino. You can choose your starting point, total miles to walk, and miles to walk each day. It’s very customizable. 

For centuries pilgrims have walked during the day and slept in an albergue, essentially overnight accommodations along the many Camino routes. Some are solely hostels while others offer a range of options including private rooms. We opted for private rooms the entire route, which is pricier, but to me, totally worth it. You may backpack the entire route, have your luggage moved each day, or choose a combination. Like I said, the Camino is very customizable. We had our luggage moved each day and only walked with a day pack. 

Finally, you may pre-book all your accommodations and luggage transfer (like we did), or find accommodations as you go. If you’re walking during the busy summer season, pre-booking is recommended.

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8 Reasons why you should walk the Camino de Santiago

So now that we got some of the logistics out of the way, let’s talk about why you should walk the Camino.

Explore rural Spain

This was my third trip to Spain, a country I’ve come to love. The food is simple, the pace is slower, and the history quite different from its Northern European neighbors. Yet both of my previous trips were to large cities (Barcelona and Madrid), so I was eager to see the countryside. Anywhere in the world, city and country life are quite different and each provides a unique perspective on a culture.

We spent our time in the province of Galicia in the North of Spain. Rolling hills, tiny villages filled with stone buildings, herds of cattle, and endless green forests surrounded us on the Camino.  It’s a region known for cheese, shellfish and seafood, and padron peppers.  

Even when we walked beside a road there were few cars. It was easy to hear the birdsong, wind, and footfall of fellow pilgrims. This is the longest stretch of time I’ve ever spent in a rural area and I loved it.

Slow down

If you live in an urban area like me, you get used to a certain pace of life. We frequently describe ourselves as “busy” and are typically rushing around to do something. There’s always a phone, computer, or television nearby to distract us.

The Camino offers a chance to slow down and disconnect. Walking takes much longer than driving, but it also provides the time to admire the scenery up close. Jennifer and I often stopped to take photos or simply admire another gorgeous view. We’d debate what was growing in the field or what type of trees we were seeing in the forest. To give you some perspective, we took nine days to walk what could have been a 90 minute drive. Now that is slowing down!

Meet other pilgrims

It’s hard to choose my favorite thing about the Camino, but meeting other pilgrims was at the top. In our modern day world people are often on their phones and missing opportunities to connect with other human beings. Rarely do you strike up a conversation at the grocery store or the post office–you have email and social media to keep you occupied.

The Camino culture welcomes conversation; while walking, at a cafe, or over dinner. I had my first conversation with another pilgrim while waiting to check in for my flight at Los Angeles International Airport. And those continued until dinner on our last night. We met pilgrims from around the U.S. and the world. A woman from Belize was on her third Camino and generously gave us tips for the next few days. We met two women from Australia along the route and had dinner with them in Santiago. At one of our hotels we met a lovely couple from Belfast and spent over two hours getting to know each other. We will never see them again, but it doesn’t matter. They were all an important part of my Camino.

Time for reflection

Walking for several hours a day is a wonderful way to find time and space to reflect. There are no emails to return, meetings to attend, or errands to run. In between conversations with other pilgrims you have long periods of quiet. 

I found myself fully relaxing into the Camino on day four. I no longer worried about travel arrangements, future plans, or reviewed a never ending to do list in my head. I found myself completely enjoying the surrounding views and listening to the sounds of rural Spain. It was during this period that I realized how much I had needed this time. I also realized I needed to find a way to replicate this experience at home.

Many people walk the Camino after a tragic or difficult life experience. I now understand that. The miles upon miles of walking provide an opportunity to reflect on what has happened and give thought to what life will be like after the Camino.

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Deepen your faith

I’ll be completely honest here, the Camino did not deepen my faith, but I include it because this does happen for many people, especially Catholics. And if this is something you are seeking, the Camino offers wonderful opportunities. Many of the cities where we stayed had a local church or cathedral offering a pilgrim mass in the evening. In between are churches and chapels open for quiet prayer and reflection. And of course there is the spectacular Santiago Cathedral at the end and the famous pilgrim mass at noon. 

Challenge yourself

I work out regularly and consider myself fit. However, I don’t usually attempt to walk 115 kilometers in nine days. I do love an occasional physical challenge and the Camino provided it. It also gave me something to work towards and look forward to over several months. 

A few thoughts on challenging yourself. We met people of all fitness levels and abilities along the way. The Camino is a pilgrimage, not a race. So while I definitely recommend training, this isn’t about extreme physical feats. Take as many days as you need and know that if you’re struggling, you can always call a cab to your hotel or take a rest day. 

Eat delicious food

The food along the Camino was not the best I’ve had in Spain, but it was always tasty, filling, and often locally sourced. And I always enjoy learning about regional specialties which was easy to do with so many days in the area.

Let’s start with the seafood which becomes more common on menus the closer you get to Santiago. Galicia is probably best known for its octopus or Pulpo Gallego. It’s a simple preparation of sliced and boiled octopus tentacles topped with olive oil and paprika. Served with a side of french fries and you have an amazing dinner. But don’t miss out on the squid, scallops, and shrimp.

Next let’s talk about cakes. The best known in the area is Tarta de Santiago or almond cake. This dairy and gluten free dessert can be enjoyed by anyone. But equally as good is the local cheesecake which I found much better than our American version. And finally, just try any of the cakes you’ll see along the route in the cafes. They will probably be delicious and you deserve it after all that walking.

Finally, this is not the time to limit your carbs because the bread in Galicia is wonderful. You’ll be served bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you do not want to skip it. Again, you’re walking all day so you need this.

Explore Santiago

If the Camino is the sundae, Santiago is the cherry on top. Arriving in Santiago is the reward for your Camino, however long it was. It’s full of gorgeous buildings and cool museums along with loads of great cafes and restaurants. Wander through the narrow streets of old town lined with boutique shops, bakeries, and bars. You could go to Santiago without walking the Camino, but where’s the fun in that? Instead you arrive and feel like you are entitled to every epic moment.

Just a few quick suggestions about your time in Santiago. First, I strongly recommend two nights in the city. This will allow time to get your compostela at the Pilgrim Office and have plenty of time for sightseeing. Start with the pilgrim mass at Santiago Cathedral and arrive early if you want a seat. There are multiple masses a day, but noon tends to be the one most popular with pilgrims. Jennifer and I arrived at 11 a.m. and got a seat in the last row.

Take a tour of the Cathedral museum, it’s worth every penny. Then go to the Pilgrim Museum nearby which is free. Combined, these two experiences provide an excellent history and understanding of both your walk and the amazing city. 

I hope I’ve given you plenty of reasons to stop thinking about walking the Camino and to start planning it. No matter where you start and how long you walk, you will remember this experience for the rest of your life. For me, it not only lived up to the hype, but exceeded it.

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