What if you could stay in one country and come face-to-face with people from around the world?
What if you had the time to converse with those people for uninterrupted hours, if you so chose?
What if you could wake up each morning knowing there was only one thing you had to do that day yet excited for all the other unknown opportunities that you know will show up?
What if your trip left you believing in the good of humanity?
What if your trip left you in awe of the kindness of strangers?
What if you could meet people of all ages and walks of life—all of you working towards the same goal?
What if you could choose to spend 5 days, two weeks, a month, or longer working towards this goal?
What if your trip challenged you to do something you never imagined you’d do?
What if a trip challenged you in the best of ways—emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally?
What if your trip opened you to things you’d never before thought to even think about?
What if you came back from a trip with a filled heart?
What if, looking back, you realized all the challenges of the trip were absolutely worth it?
Would you do it?
The Camino de Santiago is a unique experience that offers all of the above. It’s not easy. But in my 12 years of walking, volunteering, living on, and helping people plan their Camino, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t count it as an incredible experience.
When people return from it, many want to do it again. Or find something else just like it.
Yes, there are walking trips one can do around the world. Many are more solitary. Or are more like a “vacation” than a transformative experience. I have yet to hear of anything quite like the Camino—something that meets all of the above criteria.
If you know of something similar, let me know—as over 500,000 people walked some part of the Camino de Santiago last year and are asking the same question.
Camino Planning Tip:
“I read that the Santiago airport is closing!” he said to me. “You should know about that for your clients!”
“Closing? For good?” I asked suspiciously.
“No, no. For renovations. But it’s going to be closed for a while. I think in the spring.”
Having lived in Spain for over three years, I know it is not a place for planning your life too far in advance (as I wrote about here). But this seemed a little extreme.
So as with any second-hand information, I went to find a source. And I’m here to tell you that if you are planning a Camino for 2025, you have nothing to worry about.
However, for those of you planning ahead to 2026, note that the Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) is indeed closing for renovations from April 27 to May 23. They will have overnight closures as well, but those should not affect aspiring Camino pilgrims.
Often pilgrims who are planning a 7-10 day walk into Santiago de Compostela will fly into SCQ airport and take public transit or a private transfer to their starting point. In 2025, this is still a great option. In 2026, consider flying into Vigo (for the Camino Portuguese) or A Coruna (for the Camino Ingles) or Asturias Airport (Camino Primitivo).
Are you 45 or over and looking for help planning your walk on the Camino de Santiago? Click here to learn more about my Camino Planning calls.
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Yes, I would do it!!! Your questions had me feeling the anticipation and now I want to do the Camino!