Walking the Camino Solo as a Woman
Walking the Camino Solo as a Woman
Walking the Camino solo gave me a kind of freedom I did not know I was craving. I have traveled alone before, plenty of times. Still, walking across Spain with my own two feet asked something different of me.
It asked me to trust myself in the morning. It asked me to listen to my body by noon. It asked me to make peace with my own thoughts by evening.
For my first Camino, I am glad I went alone.
Solo Does Not Mean Lonely
Katie and I talked about this after the Camino. She felt that doing it solo was the best way to go, and I agreed. Families, couples, and friends have their own beautiful experience. However, when you come with someone, part of you remains attached to their pace, their needs, their moods, and their expectations.
When you walk alone, the day belongs to you in a different way.
That does not mean you are isolated. The Camino is full of people. You can walk alone for hours, then share dinner with pilgrims from five countries. You can spend the morning in silence, then end the day laughing in an albergue kitchen.
The Freedom to Become Yourself Again
Solo travel has always given me room to breathe. The Camino gave me room to become.
There was no one there to tell me who I had been. No one to hold me inside an old version of myself. I could be tired, joyful, quiet, emotional, strong, slow, or uncertain without explaining every shift.
That kind of freedom is powerful, especially for women who have spent years taking care of everybody else’s comfort.
Why I Want More Women to Walk Alone
I especially want more women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond to consider the Camino. I met plenty of women along the way, but many were with partners, friends, or groups.
There is nothing wrong with that. But I kept thinking about how much growth happens when a woman gives herself permission to do something big without waiting for company.
We do not need to wait until someone else is ready. We do not need to ask the world for permission to challenge ourselves.
If you need help planning, I offer travel coaching through Calendly. I also recommend using SafetyWing for travel insurance and checking visa needs through iVisa before international trips.
Safety Still Matters
Let me be clear. Solo does not mean careless. I paid attention. I watched my surroundings. I listened to my intuition. I shared enough information with trusted people. I made practical choices about where I slept and when I walked.
The Camino felt safer than many places I have traveled, but safety is never something I take for granted.
Women are allowed to be adventurous and wise at the same time.
Walking Alone, Meeting Everyone
The magic of walking solo is that you become more open to the world around you. Had I walked with someone from home, I might not have met the same people. I might not have had the same conversations. I might not have trusted the Camino to bring companionship when I needed it.
That is the difference. Walking alone did not close me off. It opened me up.
The Gift of My Own Pace
Some mornings I moved with purpose. Other days, my body said, girl, absolutely not. Because I was alone, I could honor that.
I could stop for coffee. I could take photos. I could slow down. I could decide that today was not the day for proving anything.
That became one of the greatest gifts of the Camino: learning that my pace was enough.
Solo Was the Right Beginning
I may walk future Caminos with other people. I can imagine that being beautiful in a different way. But for the first one, I needed the road to myself.
I needed the silence. I needed the strangers. I needed the freedom. I needed to know that I could begin in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and make it to Santiago as me.
Start with the Camino de Santiago hub, then read The Camino Family I Did Not Know I Needed and The Camino Changed Me for more of the story.
