Me with friends I made when walking the Camino de Santiago alone.

What I Learned From Walking The Camino de Santiago Alone

Read all about my experience walking the Camino de Santiago alone!

Walking the Camino de Santiago alone from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela over a 5 week period was one of the most special but also challenging travel adventures of my life.

Walking the Camino by yourself can be a daunting, lonely experience, (especially if you’re an introvert like me), but it was ultimately rewarding.

That’s why I’ve written this honest account of my experience, to shed some light on the reality of hiking across northern Spain without anyone else to rely on.

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What I Learned From Walking The Camino Alone

The most important thing I learned about walking the Camino by myself is not to be afraid of the prospect and to embrace the situation.

Yes, walking this famous route alone was lonely at times and that made it all the more challenging. But the truth is I had a hell of a lot of time to reflect on where I was at in my life and what I wanted to do next.

The beautiful region of Galicia as seen on the French route of the Camino.
The beautiful region of Galicia as seen on the French route of the Camino.

I could write a very long blog post rambling on about the romanticised spiritual life lessons of the Camino, which can sound quite airy-fairy.

Instead of that, let me bullet point some of the smaller, often overlooked details about what I took away from the experience:

  • Hiking boots aren’t necessary – believe it or not, I preferred walking the Camino in just a pair of well worn sandals! Everyone is different I guess, but you really don’t need to buy the most expensive pair of hiking boots in my opinion.
  • Northern Spain is sooo beautiful – I honestly didn’t expect it to be blown away, but the landscapes in this part of the world (especially Galicia) are absolutely gorgeous.
  • Octopus is actually very delicious – when walking through the Galicia section of the Camino, make sure you try ‘Pulpo‘ – boiled octopus with paprika and potato. It is seriously tasty!
  • It’s easy to make friends – as a self-confessed introvert I usually find it very difficult to open up and meet new people. But on the Camino you don’t have much choice!
  • Life can be really simple – what I learned on the Camino is that we honestly over-complicate our daily lives with work, technology, money etc. The Camino taught me that you don’t need a lot to be happy.
  • Your body adapts very quickly – despite the rigours of walking 20-30 km every day for 5 weeks, my body got used to the daily hiking routine pretty quickly. I honestly didn’t feel as exhausted as I expected to be.
Goofing around with newly made friends on the Camino.
Goofing around with newly made friends on the Camino.

My Mistakes Walking The Camino

Although I learned a lot on the Camino, I also made a ridiculous amount of silly amateur mistakes:

Not having enough money

The Camino can be a very cheap travel adventure, with hostels (known as ‘Albergues‘) available from as little as just a few Euros, and cheap cafes and restaurants along the way.

Having said that, I was in quite a bad financial situation at the time and didn’t budget very well for the entire 5 weeks of walking across northern Spain.

👉 Pro Tip: I recommend budgeting for around 30 euros each day on the Camino. You can spend way less (and way more), but this ballpark figure should enable you to complete the hike relatively comfortably from a financial perspective.

It’s worth keeping in mind that some Albergues are more expensive than others (especially in the big cities), so you may spend up to 40-50 Euros per day on certain days.

Not eating enough food

I know how crazy this sounds, but because of my perilous financial situation at the time, I actually skipped a fair few meals each day while walking the Camino.

This meant I lost an alarming amount of weight over the course of the 5 weeks, and I was already quite a skinny guy at the time.

I really can’t stress enough how important it is to eat big meals during each day on the Camino, as well as having enough snacks like fruit and protein bars to keep you fueled up during each walk.

Camino de Santiago
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    Noisy Albergues

    Albergues (the hostels on the Camino) were without doubt the worst aspect of my 5 week adventure.

    Despite them being really cheap, a lot of nights I was sharing huge dormitory rooms with sometimes as many as 100 or 200 fellow Pilgrims.

    This inevitably resulted in a few sleepless nights as you’re bound to get quite a few loud snorers. It was like a symphony of snorers some nights!

    As a light sleeper I really struggled with this and it’s not the most pleasant of experiences. I recommend investing in ear plugs before embarking on your Camino adventure.

    Packing too many clothes

    This was such a rookie error on my behalf, but I started the Camino with a huge rucksack that was stuffed with so many unnecessary clothing items.

    From multiple books to thick sweaters, I had so many clothes that it really slowed me down during my first few days on the way. After just the first night I ended up throwing away several items!

    👉 Pro Tip: I honestly can’t stress this enough – pack light for the Camino, the lighter the better! If walking during the summer months then you really only need a few t-shirts, shorts, underwear and socks and not much else. Trust me, you’ll only regret it if you pack extra!

    I'm on the left of the photo here with my huge rucksack packed with too many clothes!
    I’m on the left of the photo here with my huge rucksack packed with too many clothes!

    Being unprepared for walking the Camino

    Looking back with hindsight, it’s easy for me to say that I was so unprepared for spending 5 weeks hiking every day in northern Spain. I didn’t do any research or planning whatsoever and I seriously paid the price for that.

    You don’t have to plan everything in too much detail in terms of your route or where you’ll sleep each night. But it is important to prepare in terms of exercise and budget – which are the two most important aspects in my opinion.


    What To Expect When Walking The Camino Alone

    So what exactly can you expect when walking the Camino? Here’s what I think are the most important aspects to be aware of:

    The physical challenge of the Camino

    Yes, your body does adapt pretty quickly to the challenge of hiking anywhere between 20-30 km while on the Camino every day for an extended period of time.

    But if you’re not in good physical health or you’re not used to walking a lot most days, then it’s going to be a real shock to your system.

    👉 Pro Tip: I recommend joining a gym and focusing on improving your cardio, as well as going on a few long hikes before embarking on the Camino. This way your body can get used to walking for several hours a day and you won’t be so exhausted at the end of each day.

    The mental challenge of the Camino

    As much as the Camino is all about the physical challenge, it’s just as much about the mental challenge as well, especially when walking it all by yourself.

    You’ll have a lot of time alone with your thoughts walking the Camino solo, so it’s really important to be in a good place mentally before starting walking.

    There’s no denying that some days are going to be a lot tougher than others. This is the case during the ‘Meseta‘ part of the French route, where the landscape is flat and seemingly unchanging for several days.

    It’s important to have a good positive mental attitude to the Camino, otherwise you’re going to suffer.

    The flat desert landscape of the 'Meseta' section on the French route of the Camino.
    The flat desert landscape of the ‘Meseta’ section on the French route of the Camino.

    Cheap food and accommodation

    The reason why the Camino has become so popular with youngsters and students in recent times is because it is ridiculously cheap for a prolonged holiday.

    As mentioned, a lot of Albergues on the way can be as cheap as just a few Euros, and there are also a few ‘donativos‘ that rely solely on donations.

    As well as accommodation, food is relatively cheap in this part of the world as well. There are plenty of small cafes, restaurants and supermarkets where you can buy cheap items that will keep you nourished throughout each day.

    Plenty of wine

    Expect to drink a lot of wine on the Camino! Even if you’re not a big fan of wine, it is the drink of choice in northern Spain, especially red wine.

    And if you walk the French route, you’ll pass through a vineyard that has an actual wine fountain! This is completely free and quite a unique thing to turn on a tap and top up your bottle with red wine.

    Making lifelong friends

    Even if you don’t like talking to people, then you’re going to meet some fantastic people whether you like it or not.

    It’s most likely you’ll see the same people walking the same route as you at the same pace day after day, to the point where it’s just going to be super awkward if you don’t introduce yourself to them!

    I spent my first 2-3 weeks on the Camino not saying a word to anybody, but by the time I reached Santiago de Compostela I had made friends and special bonds with people who would remain in my life to this day.

    Me with friends I made on the Camino as we reached Finisterre - the end of our Camino adventure.
    Me with friends I made on the Camino as we reached Finisterre – the end of our Camino adventure.

    My Advice For Walking The Camino Alone

    So you’ve heard about what I learned on the Camino, the mistakes I made and what you can expect on the way. Now let me recap the main points of advice that I would give for walking the Camino on your own:

    • Travel light – the less items you carry with you the better! My advice is to only take the absolutely necessary items with you and nothing more.
    • Have enough money – budget for around 30 Euros each day, whether you plan to start the Camino in France, Pamplona or anywhere else.

      Remember that some Albergues are going to be more costly than others, so there may be a few days where you spend more in the region of 40-50 Euros.
    • Eat plenty of calories – don’t skip meals! Eat big portions at breakfast and lunch as well as snacks throughout your walk.
    • Give yourself enough time – remember that the Camino is not a race! You don’t have to wake up super early and start walking if you don’t want to.

      There’s really no point in hurrying your walk in one of the most beautiful places in the world, so take your time and enjoy your surroundings.
    • Take some days off from walking – I really recommend taking a day off to relax when you hit some of the big cities on the Camino. I took days off to explore Burgos and León and I’m so glad I did.
    • Finish at Finisterre – finishing the Camino at Santiago de Compostela can be an emotional experience as you’re so used to walking at that point!

      I carried on walking for a further 3 days to Finisterre and I recommend doing this if you have enough time.
    Beautiful beaches and sunsets on the way to Finisterre.
    Beautiful beaches and sunsets on the way to Finisterre.

    Camino De Santiago FAQs

    Still have a lot of questions about walking the Camino? That’s absolutely understandable, so let me answer some of those questions for you here:

    Is it safe to walk the Camino alone?

    Yes, absolutely! There are very few crimes that happen throughout the year along the Camino. Generally it is considered a very safe part of Spain regardless of which route you decide to walk.

    I never experienced any crime of any sort during my 5 weeks on the Camino, and everyone was very friendly overall.

    However, I’d recommend keeping an eye on your belongings when staying at Albergues and having a padlock when storing your backpack in a locker. It’s always better to be safe rather than sorry.

    When is the best time to walk the Camino?

    I would definitely recommend walking the Camino de Santiago alone during the off peak season, either in the spring or autumn months.

    I walked it during the summer when temperatures can get really high. The French route in particular can get overcrowded the closer you get to Santiago de Compostela during summer too.

    For a more detailed answer on this topic, check out my Best Time To Walk The Camino de Santiago (& The Worst!) blog post.

    How can you prepare for walking the Camino?

    As mentioned earlier, I recommend joining a gym several weeks (or months) before starting the Camino and focus on cardio activities.

    Also walking several hikes over a 20-30 km range would be ideal to get an idea of how exhausting the Camino will be at times.

    Is walking the Camino by yourself lonely?

    Yes, of course it can be lonely at times when walking the Camino by yourself. But to be honest there’s so much going on in terms of beautiful scenery, nature and so on that it never really affected me too much.

    And as I said previously, you’re going to meet a lot of people also walking the same route as you every day. I walked with several different groups of people at different stages of the Camino, so I was never really that lonely at all.


    Conclusion: Walking The Camino de Santiago Alone

    So that concludes my story of walking the Camino de Santiago alone and what I learned. The Camino is undoubtedly one of the best travel bucket list things to do in Spain. It is more rewarding than a city trip to the likes of Madrid in my opinion.

    For me, it is and always will be a special, unique activity to undertake, regardless of whether you’re by yourself or in a group of people.

    Although it can be extremely tiring, demanding and challenging mentally just as much as it is physically, it remains probably my best travel experience and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

    I hope this blog post has enlightened you about what to expect when walking the Camino de Santiago alone, and you’re now a little bit more inspired to take on what will surely be one of the best trips of your life!

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    ➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:

    🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
    🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
    ❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
    ✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights

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