Reasons you should walk Camino de Santiago
ATLEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE
The Camino de Santiago is an ancient network of routes that were historically used by pilgrims. The majority of them lead to a shrine in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Initially, this may not sound overly relatable to the everyday person in 2024, but it’s an experience that is bringing together travelers from all corners of the globe.
Whether it’s a spiritual journey or a physical feat, below are some of the reasons why you should consider walking the Camino de Santiago at least once in your life.
Self-discovery
Walking the Camino de Santiago provides a unique respite from our ordinary life. In the daily stresses of work and life, heading off on a 3, 5 or even 14-day walk is proven to help us recharge and reconnect. The long daily walks provide us quiet time to think and reflect, while the challenge of completing it can help inspire us to set other goals in life, or simply realize what we’re capable of.
The Camino de Santiago trails are suited to everyone in that, they can be either a journey of solitude, or a highly social one, depending on your trail and motivations.
Cultural and historical richness
The Camino de Santiago is unique in respect to its history. Because the trail dates back to medieval times and was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, it influenced the areas along the way. From the trade, commerce, and infrastructure that come with such an important route, we can find historic villages, old churches, and interesting ruins dotted throughout.
Each path has its own history. For instance, the Camino Ingles from Ferrol provides a coastal route with maritime history, while the Camino Portuguese offers a blend of rich Portuguese and Spanish heritage.
Physical challenge and reward
Completing the Camino de Santiago strikes a good balance of being a physical challenge that will leave you proud, but also an accessible one even for beginners (different routes have different levels of difficulty).
The journey can improve your physical health and test your mental resilience. Better still, when using a packaged tour, all of the mental effort towards logistics is freed, allowing you to focus entirely on the physical endeavor.
Building lifelong connections
One of the most beautiful aspects of the Camino de Santiago is the sense of community it fosters. While some people understandably want to find otherworldly solitude in nature by heading deep into a national park, the popularity of the Camino de Santiago trails is to its benefit.
You will meet people from all walks of life, each with their own stories and reasons for being there. Some are religious, many are not. You can stay in pilgrim hostels to meet such travelers, but you’ll also pass many by when walking, too.
Walking the Camino de Santiago is a transformative experience. For some, it’s a physical feat to test their mentality. For others, it’s a slower process that heals their mentality. Whatever the reason for being there, the options for routes can cater to it.